When the graveyard's protective rowan tree is uprooted by workmen, Solomon has bad dreams and hears mysterious whispers. Driven by his father's behaviour to spend the night in the graveyard, he witnesses one of the workmen being swallowed up by the ground after unearthing a mysterious chest marked with the word "Malefice".
I hope this is correct, I haven’t read the book so I just searched the answer. I apologize if it is incorrect:(