Whatho!whatho!thisfellowisdancingmad!HehathbeenbittenbytheTarantula._--AllintheWrong._MANYyearsago,IcontractedanintimacywithaMr.WilliamLegrand.HewasofanancientHuguenotfamily,andhadoncebeenwealthy;butaseriesofmisfortuneshadreducedhimtowant.Toavoidthemortificationconsequentuponhisdisasters,heleftNewOrleans,thecityofhisforefathers,andtookuphisresidenceatSullivan'sIsland,nearCharleston,SouthCarolina.ThisIslandisaverysingularone.Itconsistsoflittleelsethantheseasand,andisaboutthreemileslong.Itsbreadthatnopointexceedsaquarterofamile.Itisseparatedfromthemainlandbyascarcelyperceptiblecreek,oozingitswaythroughawildernessofreedsandslime,afavoriteresortofthemarshhen.Thevegetation,asmightbesupposed,isscant,oratleastdwarfish.Notreesofanymagnitudearetobeseen.Nearthewesternextremity,whereFortMoultriestands,andwherearesomemiserableframebuildings,tenanted,duringsummer,bythefugitivesfromCharlestondustandfever,maybefound,indeed,thebristlypalmetto;butthewholeisland,withtheexceptionofthiswesternpoint,andalineofhard,whitebeachontheseacoast,iscoveredwithadenseundergrowthofthesweetmyrtle,somuchprizedbythehorticulturistsofEngland.Theshrubhereoftenattainstheheightoffifteenortwentyfeet,andformsanalmostimpenetrablecoppice,burtheningtheairwithitsfragrance.Intheinmostrecessesofthiscoppice,notfarfromtheeasternormoreremoteendoftheisland,Legrandhadbuilthimselfasmallhut,whichheoccupiedwhenIfirst,bymereaccident,madehisacquaintance.Thissoonripenedintofriendship-fortherewasmuchinthereclusetoexciteinterestandesteem.Ifoundhimwelleducated,withunusualpowersofmind,butinfectedwithmisanthropy,andsubjecttoperversemoodsofalternateenthusiasmandmelancholy.Hehadwithhimmanybooks,butrarelyemployedthem.Hischiefamusementsweregunningandfishing,orsaunteringalongthebeachandthroughthemyrtles,inquestofshellsorentomologicalspecimens;-hiscollectionofthelattermighthavebeenenviedbyaSwammerdamm.Intheseexcursionshewasusuallyaccompaniedbyanoldnegro,calledJupiter,whohadbeenmanumittedbeforethereversesofthefamily,butwhocouldbeinduced,neitherbythreatsnorbypromises,toabandonwhatheconsideredhisrightofattendanceuponthefootstepsofhisyoung"MassaWill."ItisnotimprobablethattherelativesofLegrand,conceivinghimtobesomewhatunsettledinintellect,hadcontrivedtoinstilthisobstinacyintoJupiter,withaviewtothesupervisionandguardianshipofthewanderer.ThewintersinthelatitudeofSullivan'sIslandareseldomverysevere,andinthefalloftheyearitisarareeventindeedwhenafireisconsiderednecessary.AboutthemiddleofOctober,18-,thereoccurred,however,adayofremarkablechilliness.JustbeforesunsetIscrambledmywaythroughtheevergreenstothehutofmyfriend,whomIhadnotvisitedforseveralweeks-myresidencebeing,atthattime,inCharleston,adistanceofninemilesfromtheIsland,whilethefacilitiesofpassageandre-passagewereveryfarbehindthoseofthepresentday.UponreachingthehutIrapped,aswasmycustom,andgettingnoreply,soughtforthekeywhereIknewitwassecreted,unlockedthedoorandwentin.Afinefirewasblazinguponthehearth.Itwasanovelty,andbynomeansanungratefulone.Ithrewoffanovercoat,tookanarm-chairbythecracklinglogs,andawaitedpatientlythearrivalofmyhosts.Soonafterdarktheyarrived,andgavemeamostcordialwelcome.Jupiter,grinningfromeartoear,bustledabouttopreparesomemarsh-hensforsupper.Legrandwasinoneofhisfits-howelseshallItermthem?-ofenthusiasm.Hehadfoundanunknownbivalve,forminganewgenus,and,morethanthis,hehadhunteddownandsecured,withJupiter'sassistance,ascarabæuswhichhebelievedtobetotallynew,butinrespecttowhichhewishedtohavemyopiniononthemorrow."Andwhynotto-night?"Iasked,rubbingmyhandsovertheblaze,andwishingthewholetribeofscarabæiatthedevil."Ah,ifIhadonlyknownyouwerehere!"saidLegrand,"butit'ssolongsinceIsawyou;andhowcouldIforeseethatyouwouldpaymeavisitthisverynightofallothers?AsIwascominghomeImetLieutenantG--,fromthefort,and,veryfoolishly,Ilenthimthebug;soitwillbeimpossibleforyoutoseeituntilthemorning.Stayhereto-night,andIwillsendJupdownforitatsunrise.Itistheloveliestthingincreation!""What?-sunrise?""Nonsense!no!-thebug.Itisofabrilliantgoldcolor-aboutthesizeofalargehickory-nut-withtwojetblackspotsnearoneextremityoftheback,andanother,somewhatlonger,attheother.Theantennæare-""Deyaintnotininhim,MassaWill,Ikeepatellinonyou,"hereinterruptedJupiter;"debugisagoolebug,solid,eberybitofhim,insideandall,sephimwing-neberfeelhalfsohebbyabuginmylife.""Well,supposeitis,Jup,"repliedLegrand,somewhatmoreearnestly,itseemedtome,thanthecasedemanded,"isthatanyreasonforyourlettingthebirdsburn?Thecolor"-hereheturnedtome-"isreallyalmostenoughtowarrantJupiter'sidea.Youneversawamorebrilliantmetalliclustrethanthescalesemit-butofthisyoucannotjudgetilltomorrow.InthemeantimeIcangiveyousomeideaoftheshape."Sayingthis,heseatedhimselfatasmalltable,onwhichwereapenandink,butnopaper.Helookedforsomeinadrawer,butfoundnone."Nevermind,"saidheatlength,"thiswillanswer;"andhedrewfromhiswaistcoatpocketascrapofwhatItooktobeverydirtyfoolscap,andmadeuponitaroughdrawingwiththepen.Whilehedidthis,Iretainedmyseatbythefire,forIwasstillchilly.Whenthedesignwascomplete,hehandedittomewithoutrising.AsIreceivedit,aloudgrowlwasheard,succeededbyascratchingatthedoor.Jupiteropenedit,andalargeNewfoundland,belongingtoLegrand,rushedin,leapeduponmyshoulders,andloadedmewithcaresses;forIhadshownhimmuchattentionduringpreviousvisits.Whenhisgambolswereover,Ilookedatthepaper,and,tospeakthetruth,foundmyselfnotalittlepuzzledatwhatmyfriendhaddepicted."Well!"Isaid,aftercontemplatingitforsomeminutes,"thisisastrangescarabæus,Imustconfess:newtome:neversawanythinglikeitbefore-unlessitwasaskull,oradeath's-head-whichitmorenearlyresemblesthananythingelsethathascomeundermyobservation.""Adeath's-head!"echoedLegrand-"Oh-yes-well,ithassomethingofthatappearanceuponpaper,nodoubt.Thetwoupperblackspotslooklikeeyes,eh?andthelongeroneatthebottomlikeamouth-andthentheshapeofthewholeisoval.""Perhapsso,"saidI;"but,Legrand,Ifearyouarenoartist.ImustwaituntilIseethebeetleitself,ifIamtoformanyideaofitspersonalappearance.""Well,Idon'tknow,"saidhe,alittlenettled,"Idrawtolerably-shoulddoitatleast-havehadgoodmasters,andflattermyselfthatIamnotquiteablockhead.""But,mydearfellow,youarejokingthen,"saidI,"thisisaverypassableskull-indeed,Imaysaythatitisaveryexcellentskull,accordingtothevulgarnotionsaboutsuchspecimensofphysiology-andyourscarabæusmustbethequeerestscarabæusintheworldifitresemblesit.Why,wemaygetupaverythrillingbitofsuperstitionuponthishint.Ipresumeyouwillcallthebugscarabæuscaputhominis,orsomethingofthatkind-therearemanysimilartitlesintheNaturalHistories.Butwherearetheantennæyouspokeof?""Theantennæ!"saidLegrand,whoseemedtobegettingunaccountablywarmuponthesubject;"Iamsureyoumustseetheantennæ.Imadethemasdistinctastheyareintheoriginalinsect,andIpresumethatissufficient.""Well,well,"Isaid,"perhapsyouhave-stillIdon'tseethem;"andIhandedhimthepaperwithoutadditionalremark,notwishingtorufflehistemper;butIwasmuchsurprisedattheturnaffairshadtaken;hisillhumorpuzzledme-and,asforthedrawingofthebeetle,therewerepositivelynoantennævisible,andthewholedidbearaverycloseresemblancetotheordinarycutsofadeath's-head.Hereceivedthepaperverypeevishly,andwasabouttocrumpleit,apparentlytothrowitinthefire,whenacasualglanceatthedesignseemedsuddenlytorivethisattention.Inaninstanthisfacegrewviolentlyred-inanotherasexcessivelypale.Forsomeminuteshecontinuedtoscrutinizethedrawingminutelywherehesat.Atlengthhearose,tookacandlefromthetable,andproceededtoseathimselfuponasea-chestinthefarthestcorneroftheroom.Hereagainhemadeananxiousexaminationofthepaper;turningitinalldirections.Hesaidnothing,however,andhisconductgreatlyastonishedme;yetIthoughtitprudentnottoexacerbatethegrowingmoodinessofhistemperbyanycomment.Presentlyhetookfromhiscoatpocketawallet,placedthepapercarefullyinit,anddepositedbothinawriting-desk,whichhelocked.Henowgrewmorecomposedinhisdemeanor;buthisoriginalairofenthusiasmhadquitedisappeared.Yetheseemednotsomuchsulkyasabstracted.Astheeveningworeawayhebecamemoreandmoreabsorbedinreverie,fromwhichnosalliesofminecouldarousehim.Ithadbeenmyintentiontopassthenightatthehut,asIhadfrequentlydonebefore,but,seeingmyhostinthismood,Ideemeditpropertotakeleave.Hedidnotpressmetoremain,but,asIdeparted,heshookmyhandwithevenmorethanhisusualcordiality.Itwasaboutamonthafterthis(andduringtheintervalIhadseennothingofLegrand)whenIreceivedavisit,atCharleston,fromhisman,Jupiter.Ihadneverseenthegoodoldnegrolooksodispirited,andIfearedthatsomeseriousdisasterhadbefallenmyfriend."Well,Jup,"saidI,"whatisthematternow?-howisyourmaster?""Why,tospeakdetroof,massa,himnotsoberrywellasmoughtbe.""Notwell!Iamtrulysorrytohearit.Whatdoeshecomplainof?""Dar!dat'sit!-himneberplainofnotin-buthimberrysickforalldat.""Verysick,Jupiter!-whydidn'tyousaysoatonce?Isheconfinedtobed?""No,datheaint!-heaintfindnowhar-dat'sjustwhardeshoepinch-mymindisgottobeberryhebbyboutpoorMassaWill.""Jupiter,Ishouldliketounderstandwhatitisyouaretalkingabout.Yousayyourmasterissick.Hasn'thetoldyouwhatailshim?""Why,massa,taintworfwhilefortogitmadaboutdematter-MassaWillsaynoffinatallaintdematterwidhim-butdenwhatmakehimgoaboutlookingdishereway,widheheaddownandhesoldiersup,andaswhiteasagose?Anddenhekeepasyphonalldetime-""Keepsawhat,Jupiter?""Keepsasyphonwiddefiggursondeslate-dequeerestfiggursIebberdidsee.Isegittintobeskeered,Itellyou.Habfortokeepmightytighteyeponhimnoovers.Todderdayhegibmeslipforedesunupandwasgonedewholeobdeblessedday.Ihadabigstickreadycutfortogibhimdeucedgoodbeatingwhenhedidcome-butIsesichafooldatIhadn'tdeheartarterall-helooksoberrypoorly.""Eh?-what?-ahyes!-uponthewholeIthinkyouhadbetternotbetooseverewiththepoorfellow-don'tfloghim,Jupiter-hecan'tverywellstandit-butcanyouformnoideaofwhathasoccasionedthisillness,orratherthischangeofconduct?HasanythingunpleasanthappenedsinceIsawyou?""No,massa,deyaintbinnoffinunpleasantsinceden-'twasforedenI'mfeared-'twasdeberrydayyouwasdare.""How?whatdoyoumean?""Why,massa,Imeandebug-darenow.""Thewhat?""Debug,-I'mberrysartaindatMassaWillbinbitsomewhereboutdeheadbydatgoole-bug.""Andwhatcausehaveyou,Jupiter,forsuchasupposition?""Clawsenuff,massa,andmouthtoo.Inebberdidseesickadeucedbug-hekickandhebiteeberytingwhatcumnearhim.MassaWillcotchhimfuss,buthadfortolethimgoginmightyquick,Itellyou-denwasdetimehemusthagotdebite.Ididn'tlikedelookohdebugmouff,myself,nohow,soIwouldn'ttakeholdobhimwidmyfinger,butIcotchhimwidapieceobpaperdatIfound.Iraphimupindepaperandstuffpieceobitinhemouff-datwasdeway.""Andyouthink,then,thatyourmasterwasreallybittenbythebeetle,andthatthebitemadehimsick?""Idon'ttinknoffinaboutit-Inoseit.Whatmakehimdreamboutdegoolesomuch,iftaintcausehebitbydegoole-bug?Iseheerdboutdemgoole-bugsforedis.""Buthowdoyouknowhedreamsaboutgold?""HowIknow?whycausehetalkaboutitinhesleep-dat'showInose.""Well,Jup,perhapsyouareright;buttowhatfortunatecircumstanceamItoattributethehonorofavisitfromyouto-day?""Whatdematter,massa?""DidyoubringanymessagefromMr.Legrand""No,massa,Ibringdisherepissel;"andhereJupiterhandedmeanotewhichranthus:MYDEAR--WhyhaveInotseenyouforsolongatime?Ihopeyouhavenotbeensofoolishastotakeoffenceatanylittle_brusquerie_ofmine;butno,thatisimprobable.SinceIsawyouIhavehadgreatcauseforanxiety.Ihavesomethingtotellyou,yetscarcelyknowhowtotellit,orwhetherIshouldtellitatall.Ihavenotbeenquitewellforsomedayspast,andpooroldJupannoysme,almostbeyondendurance,byhiswell-meantattentionsWouldyoubelieveit?-hehadpreparedahugestick,theotherday,withwhichtochastisemeforgivinghimtheslip,andspendingtheday,_solus_,amongthehillsonthemainland.Iverilybelievethatmyilllooksalonesavedmeaflogging.Ihavemadenoadditiontomycabinetsincewemet.Ifyoucan,inanyway,makeitconvenient,comeoverwithJupiter._Do_come.Iwishtoseeyouto-_night_,uponbusinessofimportance.Iassureyouthatitisofthe_highest_importance.Everyours,WILLIAMLEGRAND.Therewassomethinginthetoneofthisnotewhichgavemegreatuneasiness.ItswholestyledifferedmateriallyfromthatofLegrand.Whatcouldhebedreamingof?Whatnewcrotchetpossessedhisexcitablebrain?What"businessofthehighestimportance"couldhepossiblyhavetotransact?Jupiter'saccountofhimbodednogood.Idreadedlestthecontinuedpressureofmisfortunehad,atlength,fairlyunsettledthereasonofmyfriend.Withoutamoment'shesitation,therefore,Ipreparedtoaccompanythenegro.Uponreachingthewharf,Inoticedascytheandthreespades,allapparentlynew,lyinginthebottomoftheboatinwhichweweretoembark."Whatisthemeaningofallthis,Jup?"Iinquired."Himsyfe,massa,andspade.""Verytrue;butwhataretheydoinghere?""HimdesyfeanddespadewhatMassaWillsisponmybuyingforhimindetown,anddedebbilsownlotofmoneyIhadtogibforem.""Butwhat,inthenameofallthatismysterious,isyour'MassaWill'goingtodowithscythesandspades?""Dat'smoredanIknow,anddebbiltakemeifIdon'tblieve'tismoredanheknow,too.Butit'sallcumobdobug."FindingthatnosatisfactionwastobeobtainedofJupiter,whosewholeintellectseemedtobeabsorbedby"debug,"Inowsteppedintotheboatandmadesail.WithafairandstrongbreezewesoonranintothelittlecovetothenorthwardofFortMoultrie,andawalkofsometwomilesbroughtustothehut.Itwasaboutthreeintheafternoonwhenwearrived.Legrandhadbeenawaitingusineagerexpectation.Hegraspedmyhandwithanervousempressementwhichalarmedmeandstrengthenedthesuspicionsalreadyentertained.Hiscountenancewaspaleeventoghastliness,andhisdeep-seteyesglaredwithunnaturallustre.Aftersomeinquiriesrespectinghishealth,Iaskedhim,notknowingwhatbettertosay,ifhehadyetobtainedthescarabæusfromLieutenantG--."Oh,yes,"hereplied,coloringviolently,"Igotitfromhimthenextmorning.Nothingshouldtemptmetopartwiththatscarabæus.DoyouknowthatJupiterisquiterightaboutit?""Inwhatway?"Iasked,withasadforebodingatheart."Insupposingittobeabugofrealgold."Hesaidthiswithanairofprofoundseriousness,andIfeltinexpressiblyshocked."Thisbugistomakemyfortune,"hecontinued,withatriumphantsmile,"toreinstatemeinmyfamilypossessions.Isitanywonder,then,thatIprizeit?SinceFortunehasthoughtfittobestowituponme,IhaveonlytouseitproperlyandIshallarriveatthegoldofwhichitistheindex.Jupiter;bringmethatscarabæus!""What!debug,massa?I'druddernotgofertrubbledatbug-youmusgithimforyourownself."HereuponLegrandarose,withagraveandstatelyair,andbroughtmethebeetlefromaglasscaseinwhichitwasenclosed.Itwasabeautifulscarabæus,and,atthattime,unknowntonaturalists-ofcourseagreatprizeinascientificpointofview.Thereweretworound,blackspotsnearoneextremityoftheback,andalongoneneartheother.Thescaleswereexceedinglyhardandglossy,withalltheappearanceofburnishedgold.Theweightoftheinsectwasveryremarkable,and,takingallthingsintoconsideration,IcouldhardlyblameJupiterforhisopinionrespectingit;butwhattomakeofLegrand'sconcordancewiththatopinion,Icouldnot,forthelifeofme,tell."Isentforyou,"saidhe,inagrandiloquenttone,whenIhadcompletedmyexaminationofthebeetle,"Isentforyou,thatImighthaveyourcounselandassistanceinfurtheringtheviewsofFateandofthebug"-"MydearLegrand,"Icried,interruptinghim,"youarecertainlyunwell,andhadbetterusesomelittleprecautions.Youshallgotobed,andIwillremainwithyouafewdays,untilyougetoverthis.Youarefeverishand"-"Feelmypulse,"saidhe.Ifeltit,and,tosaythetruth,foundnottheslightestindicationoffever."Butyoumaybeillandyethavenofever.Allowmethisoncetoprescribeforyou.Inthefirstplace,gotobed.Inthenext"-"Youaremistaken,"heinterposed,"IamaswellasIcanexpecttobeundertheexcitementwhichIsuffer.Ifyoureallywishmewell,youwillrelievethisexcitement.""Andhowisthistobedone?""Veryeasily.Jupiterandmyselfaregoinguponanexpeditionintothehills,uponthemainland,and,inthisexpeditionweshallneedtheaidofsomepersoninwhomwecanconfide.Youaretheonlyonewecantrust.Whetherwesucceedorfail,theexcitementwhichyounowperceiveinmewillbeequallyallayed.""Iamanxioustoobligeyouinanyway,"Ireplied;"butdoyoumeantosaythatthisinfernalbeetlehasanyconnectionwithyourexpeditionintothehills?""Ithas.""Then,Legrand,Icanbecomeapartytonosuchabsurdproceeding.""Iamsorry-verysorry-forweshallhavetotryitbyourselves.""Tryitbyyourselves!Themanissurelymad!-butstay!-howlongdoyouproposetobeabsent?""Probablyallnight.Weshallstartimmediately,andbeback,atallevents,bysunrise.""Andwillyoupromiseme,uponyourhonor,thatwhenthisfreakofyoursisover,andthebugbusiness(goodGod!)settledtoyoursatisfaction,youwillthenreturnhomeandfollowmyadviceimplicitly,asthatofyourphysician?""Yes;Ipromise;andnowletusbeoff,forwehavenotimetolose."WithaheavyheartIaccompaniedmyfriend.Westartedaboutfouro'clock-Legrand,Jupiter,thedog,andmyself.Jupiterhadwithhimthescytheandspades-thewholeofwhichheinsisteduponcarrying-morethroughfear,itseemedtome,oftrustingeitheroftheimplementswithinreachofhismaster,thanfromanyexcessofindustryorcomplaisance.Hisdemeanorwasdoggedintheextreme,and"datdeucedbug"werethesolewordswhichescapedhislipsduringthejourney.Formyownpart,Ihadchargeofacoupleofdarklanterns,whileLegrandcontentedhimselfwiththescarabæus,whichhecarriedattachedtotheendofabitofwhip-cord;twirlingittoandfro,withtheairofaconjuror,ashewent.WhenIobservedthislast,plainevidenceofmyfriend'saberrationofmind,Icouldscarcelyrefrainfromtears.Ithoughtitbest,however,tohumorhisfancy,atleastforthepresent,oruntilIcouldadoptsomemoreenergeticmeasureswithachanceofsuccess.InthemeantimeIendeavored,butallinvain,tosoundhiminregardtotheobjectoftheexpedition.Havingsucceededininducingmetoaccompanyhim,heseemedunwillingtoholdconversationuponanytopicofminorimportance,andtoallmyquestionsvouchsafednootherreplythan"weshallsee!"Wecrossedthecreekattheheadoftheislandbymeansofaskiff;and,ascendingthehighgroundsontheshoreofthemainland,proceededinanorthwesterlydirection,throughatractofcountryexcessivelywildanddesolate,wherenotraceofahumanfootstepwastobeseen.Legrandledthewaywithdecision;pausingonlyforaninstant,hereandthere,toconsultwhatappearedtobecertainlandmarksofhisowncontrivanceuponaformeroccasion.Inthismannerwejourneyedforabouttwohours,andthesunwasjustsettingwhenweenteredaregioninfinitelymoredrearythananyyetseen.Itwasaspeciesoftableland,nearthesummitofanalmostinaccessiblehill,denselywoodedfrombasetopinnacle,andinterspersedwithhugecragsthatappearedtolielooselyuponthesoil,andinmanycaseswerepreventedfromprecipitatingthemselvesintothevalleysbelow,merelybythesupportofthetreesagainstwhichtheyreclined.Deepravines,invariousdirections,gaveanairofstillsternersolemnitytothescene.Thenaturalplatformtowhichwehadclamberedwasthicklyovergrownwithbrambles,throughwhichwesoondiscoveredthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoforceourwaybutforthescythe;andJupiter,bydirectionofhismaster,proceededtoclearforusapathtothefootofanenormouslytalltulip-tree,whichstood,withsomeeightortenoaks,uponthelevel,andfarsurpassedthemall,andallothertreeswhichIhadtheneverseen,inthebeautyofitsfoliageandform,inthewidespreadofitsbranches,andinthegeneralmajestyofitsappearance.Whenwereachedthistree,LegrandturnedtoJupiter,andaskedhimifhethoughthecouldclimbit.Theoldmanseemedalittlestaggeredbythequestion,andforsomemomentsmadenoreply.Atlengthheapproachedthehugetrunk,walkedslowlyaroundit,andexamineditwithminuteattention.Whenhehadcompletedhisscrutiny,hemerelysaid,"Yes,massa,Jupclimbanytreeheebberseeinhelife.""Thenupwithyouassoonaspossible,foritwillsoonbetoodarktoseewhatweareabout.""Howfarmusgoup,massa?"inquiredJupiter."Getupthemaintrunkfirst,andthenIwilltellyouwhichwaytogo-andhere-stop!takethisbeetlewithyou.""Debug,MassaWill!-degoolebug!"criedthenegro,drawingbackindismay-"whatformustotedebugwayupdetree?-d-nifIdo!""Ifyouareafraid,Jup,agreatbignegrolikeyou,totakeholdofaharmlesslittledeadbeetle,whyyoucancarryitupbythisstring-but,ifyoudonottakeitupwithyouinsomeway,Ishallbeunderthenecessityofbreakingyourheadwiththisshovel.""Whatdematternow,massa?"saidJup,evidentlyshamedintocompliance;"alwayswantfortoraisefusswidoldnigger.Wasonlyfunninanyhow.Mefeereddebug!whatIkeerfordebug?"Herehetookcautiouslyholdoftheextremeendofthestring,and,maintainingtheinsectasfarfromhispersonascircumstanceswouldpermit,preparedtoascendthetree.Inyouth,thetulip-tree,orLiriodendronTulipferum,themostmagnificentofAmericanforesters,hasatrunkpeculiarlysmooth,andoftenrisestoagreatheightwithoutlateralbranches;but,initsriperage,thebarkbecomesgnarledanduneven,whilemanyshortlimbsmaketheirappearanceonthestem.Thusthedifficultyofascension,inthepresentcase,laymoreinsemblancethaninreality.Embracingthehugecylinder,ascloselyaspossible,withhisarmsandknees,seizingwithhishandssomeprojections,andrestinghisnakedtoesuponothers,Jupiter,afteroneortwonarrowescapesfromfalling,atlengthwriggledhimselfintothefirstgreatfork,andseemedtoconsiderthewholebusinessasvirtuallyaccomplished.Theriskoftheachievementwas,infact,nowover,althoughtheclimberwassomesixtyorseventyfeetfromtheground."Whichwaymusgonow,MassaWill?"heasked."Keepupthelargestbranch-theoneonthisside,"saidLegrand.Thenegroobeyedhimpromptly,andapparentlywithbutlittletrouble;ascendinghigherandhigher,untilnoglimpseofhissquatfigurecouldbeobtainedthroughthedensefoliagewhichenvelopedit.Presentlyhisvoicewasheardinasortofhalloo."Howmuchfudderisgotforgo?""Howhighupareyou?"askedLegrand."Ebbersofur,"repliedthenegro;"canseedeskyfrudetopobdetree.""Nevermindthesky,butattendtowhatIsay.Lookdownthetrunkandcountthelimbsbelowyouonthisside.Howmanylimbshaveyoupassed?""One,two,tree,four,fibe-Idonepassfibebiglimb,massa,pondisside.""Thengoonelimbhigher."Inafewminutesthevoicewasheardagain,announcingthattheseventhlimbwasattained."Now,Jup,"criedLegrand,evidentlymuchexcited,"Iwantyoutoworkyourwayoutuponthatlimbasfarasyoucan.Ifyouseeanythingstrange,letmeknow."BythistimewhatlittledoubtImighthaveentertainedofmypoorfriend'sinsanity,wasputfinallyatrest.Ihadnoalternativebuttoconcludehimstrickenwithlunacy,andIbecameseriouslyanxiousaboutgettinghimhome.WhileIwasponderinguponwhatwasbesttobedone,Jupiter'svoicewasagainheard."Mosfeerdfortoventurpondislimbberryfar-tisdeadlimbputtymuchalldeway.""Didyousayitwasadeadlimb,Jupiter?"criedLegrandinaquaveringvoice."Yes,massa,himdeadasdedoor-nail-doneupforsartain-donedeparteddisherelife.""WhatinthenameheavenshallIdo?"askedLegrand,seeminglyinthegreatestdistress."Do!"saidI,gladofanopportunitytointerposeaword,"whycomehomeandgotobed.Comenow!-that'safinefellow.It'sgettinglate,and,besides,yourememberyourpromise.""Jupiter,"criedhe,withoutheedingmeintheleast,"doyouhearme?""Yes,MassaWill,hearyouebbersoplain.""Trythewoodwell,then,withyourknife,andseeifyouthinkitveryrotten.""Himrotten,massa,surenuff,"repliedthenegroinafewmoments,"butnotsoberryrottenasmoughtbe.Moughtventuroutleetlewaypondelimbbymyself,dat'strue.""Byyourself!-whatdoyoumean?""WhyImeandebug.'Tisberryhebbybug.SposeIdrophimdownfuss,anddendelimbwon'tbreakwidjustdeweightobonenigger.""Youinfernalscoundrel!"criedLegrand,apparentlymuchrelieved,"whatdoyoumeanbytellingmesuchnonsenseasthat?AssureasyoudropthatbeetleI'llbreakyourneck.Lookhere,Jupiter,doyouhearme?""Yes,massa,needn'tholloatpoorniggerdatstyle.""Well!nowlisten!-ifyouwillventureoutonthelimbasfarasyouthinksafe,andnotletgothebeetle,I'llmakeyouapresentofasilverdollarassoonasyougetdown.""I'mgwine,MassaWill-deedIis,"repliedthenegroverypromptly-"mosouttotheeendnow.""Outtotheend!"herefairlyscreamedLegrand,"doyousayyouareouttotheendofthatlimb?""Soonbetodeeend,massa,-o-o-o-o-oh!Lor-gol-a-marcy!whatisdisherepondetree?""Well!"criedLegrand,highlydelighted,"whatisit?""Whytaintnoffinbutaskull-somebodybinlefhimheadupdetree,anddecrowsdonegobbleeberybitobdemeatoff.""Askull,yousay!-verywell!-howisitfastenedtothelimb?-whatholdsiton?""Surenuff,massa;muslook.Whydisberrycuroussarcumstance,ponmyword-dare'sagreatbignailindeskull,whatfastensobitontodetree.""Wellnow,Jupiter,doexactlyasItellyou-doyouhear?""Yes,massa.""Payattention,then!-findthelefteyeoftheskull.""Hum!hoo!dat'sgood!whydareaintnoeyelefatall.""Curseyourstupidity!doyouknowyourrighthandfromyourleft?""Yes,Inosedat-noseallboutdat-tismylefhandwhatIchopsdewoodwid.""Tobesure!youareleft-handed;andyourleft.eyeisonthesamesideasyourlefthand.Now,Isuppose,youcanfindthelefteyeoftheskull,ortheplacewherethelefteyehasbeen.Haveyoufoundit?"Herewasalongpause.Atlengththenegroasked,"Isdelefeyeofdeskullpondesamesideasdelefhandofdeskull,too?-causedeskullaintgotnotabitobahandatall-nebbermind!Igotdelefeyenow-heredelefeye!whatmusdowidit?""Letthebeetledropthroughit,asfarasthestringwillreach-butbecarefulandnotletgoyourholdofthestring.""Alldatdone,MassaWill;mightyeasytingfortoputdebugfrudehole-lookoutforhimdarebelow!"DuringthiscolloquynoportionofJupiter'spersoncouldbeseen;butthebeetle,whichhehadsufferedtodescend,wasnowvisibleattheendofthestring,andglistened,likeaglobeofburnishedgold,inthelastraysofthesettingsun,someofwhichstillfaintlyilluminedtheeminenceuponwhichwestood.Thescarabæushungquiteclearofanybranches,and,ifallowedtofall,wouldhavefallenatourfeet.Legrandimmediatelytookthescythe,andclearedwithitacircularspace,threeorfouryardsindiameter,justbeneaththeinsect,and,havingaccomplishedthis,orderedJupitertoletgothestringandcomedownfromthetree.Drivingapeg,withgreatnicety,intotheground,attheprecisespotwherethebeetlefell,myfriendnowproducedfromhispocketatapemeasure.Fasteningoneendofthisatthatpointofthetrunk,ofthetreewhichwasnearestthepeg,heunrolledittillitreachedthepeg,andthencefartherunrolledit,inthedirectionalreadyestablishedbythetwopointsofthetreeandthepeg,forthedistanceoffiftyfeet-Jupiterclearingawaythebrambleswiththescythe.Atthespotthusattainedasecondpegwasdriven,andaboutthis,asacentre,arudecircle,aboutfourfeetindiameter,described.Takingnowaspadehimself,andgivingonetoJupiterandonetome,Legrandbeggedustosetaboutdiggingasquicklyaspossible.Tospeakthetruth,Ihadnoespecialrelishforsuchamusementatanytime,and,atthatparticularmoment,wouldmostwillinglyhavedeclinedit;forthenightwascomingon,andIfeltmuchfatiguedwiththeexercisealreadytaken;butIsawnomodeofescape,andwasfearfulofdisturbingmypoorfriend'sequanimitybyarefusal.CouldIhavedepended,indeed,uponJupiter'said,Iwouldhavehadnohesitationinattemptingtogetthelunatichomebyforce;butIwastoowellassuredoftheoldnegro'sdisposition,tohopethathewouldassistme,underanycircumstances,inapersonalcontestwithhismaster.ImadenodoubtthatthelatterhadbeeninfectedwithsomeoftheinnumerableSouthernsuperstitionsaboutmoneyburied,andthathisphantasyhadreceivedconfirmationbythefindingofthescarabæus,or,perhaps,byJupiter'sobstinacyinmaintainingittobe"abugofrealgold."Aminddisposedtolunacywouldreadilybeledawaybysuchsuggestions-especiallyifchiminginwithfavoritepreconceivedideas-andthenIcalledtomindthepoorfellow'sspeechaboutthebeetle'sbeing"theindexofhisfortune."Uponthewhole,Iwassadlyvexedandpuzzled,but,atlength,Iconcludedtomakeavirtueofnecessity-todigwithagoodwill,andthusthesoonertoconvincethevisionary,byoculardemonstration,ofthefallacyoftheopinionsheentertained.Thelanternshavingbeenlit,weallfelltoworkwithazealworthyamorerationalcause;and,astheglarefelluponourpersonsandimplements,Icouldnothelpthinkinghowpicturesqueagroupwecomposed,andhowstrangeandsuspiciousourlaborsmusthaveappearedtoanyinterloperwho,bychance,mighthavestumbleduponourwhereabouts.Wedugverysteadilyfortwohours.Littlewassaid;andourchiefembarrassmentlayintheyelpingsofthedog,whotookexceedinginterestinourproceedings.He,atlength,becamesoobstreperousthatwegrewfearfulofhisgivingthealarmtosomestragglersinthevicinity;-or,rather,thiswastheapprehensionofLegrand;-formyself,Ishouldhaverejoicedatanyinterruptionwhichmighthaveenabledmetogetthewandererhome.Thenoisewas,atlength,veryeffectuallysilencedbyJupiter,who,gettingoutoftheholewithadoggedairofdeliberation,tiedthebrute'smouthupwithoneofhissuspenders,andthenreturned,withagravechuckle,tohistask.Whenthetimementionedhadexpired,wehadreachedadepthoffivefeet,andyetnosignsofanytreasurebecamemanifest.Ageneralpauseensued,andIbegantohopethatthefarcewasatanend.Legrand,however,althoughevidentlymuchdisconcerted,wipedhisbrowthoughtfullyandrecommenced.Wehadexcavatedtheentirecircleoffourfeetdiameter,andnowweslightlyenlargedthelimit,andwenttothefartherdepthoftwofeet.Stillnothingappeared.Thegold-seeker,whomIsincerelypitied,atlengthclamberedfromthepit,withthebitterestdisappointmentimprinteduponeveryfeature,andproceeded,slowlyandreluctantly,toputonhiscoat,whichhehadthrownoffatthebeginningofhislabor.InthemeantimeImadenoremark.Jupiter,atasignalfromhismaster,begantogatheruphistools.Thisdone,andthedoghavingbeenunmuzzled,weturnedinprofoundsilencetowardshome.Wehadtaken,perhaps,adozenstepsinthisdirection,when,withaloudoath,LegrandstrodeuptoJupiter,andseizedhimbythecollar.Theastonishednegroopenedhiseyesandmouthtothefullestextent,letfallthespades,andfelluponhisknees."Youscoundrel,"saidLegrand,hissingoutthesyllablesfrombetweenhisclenchedteeth-"youinfernalblackvillain!-speak,Itellyou!-answermethisinstant,withoutprevarication!-which-whichisyourlefteye?""Oh,mygolly,MassaWill!aintdisheremylefeyeforsartain?"roaredtheterrifiedJupiter,placinghishanduponhisrightorganofvision,andholdingittherewithadesperatepertinacity,asifinimmediatedreadofhismaster'sattemptatagouge."Ithoughtso!-Iknewit!hurrah!"vociferatedLegrand,lettingthenegrogo,andexecutingaseriesofcurvetsandcaracols,muchtotheastonishmentofhisvalet,who,arisingfromhisknees,looked,mutely,fromhismastertomyself,andthenfrommyselftohismaster."Come!wemustgoback,"saidthelatter,"thegame'snotupyet;"andheagainledthewaytothetulip-tree."Jupiter,"saidhe,whenwereacheditsfoot,"comehere!wastheskullnailedtothelimbwiththefaceoutwards,orwiththefacetothelimb?""Defacewasout,massa,sodatdecrowscouldgetatdeeyesgood,widoutanytrouble.""Well,then,wasitthiseyeorthatthroughwhichyoudroppedthebeetle?"-hereLegrandtouchedeachofJupiter'seyes."Twasdiseye,massa-delefeye-jisasyoutellme,"andhereitwashisrighteyethatthenegroindicated."Thatwilldo-musttryitagain."Heremyfriend,aboutwhosemadnessInowsaw,orfanciedthatIsaw,certainindicationsofmethod,removedthepegwhichmarkedthespotwherethebeetlefell,toaspotaboutthreeinchestothewestwardofitsformerposition.Taking,now,thetapemeasurefromthenearestpointofthetrunktothepeg,asbefore,andcontinuingtheextensioninastraightlinetothedistanceoffiftyfeet,aspotwasindicated,removed,byseveralyards,fromthepointatwhichwehadbeendigging.Aroundthenewpositionacircle,somewhatlargerthanintheformerinstance,wasnowdescribed,andweagainsettoworkwiththespades.Iwasdreadfullyweary,but,scarcelyunderstandingwhathadoccasionedthechangeinmythoughts,Ifeltnolongeranygreataversionfromthelaborimposed.Ihadbecomemostunaccountablyinterested-nay,evenexcited.Perhapstherewassomething,amidalltheextravagantdemeanorofLegrand-someairofforethought,orofdeliberation,whichimpressedme.Idugeagerly,andnowandthencaughtmyselfactuallylooking,withsomethingthatverymuchresembledexpectation,forthefanciedtreasure,thevisionofwhichhaddementedmyunfortunatecompanion.Ataperiodwhensuchvagariesofthoughtmostfullypossessedme,andwhenwehadbeenatworkperhapsanhourandahalf,wewereagaininterruptedbytheviolenthowlingsofthedog.Hisuneasiness,inthefirstinstance,hadbeen,evidently,buttheresultofplayfulnessorcaprice,buthenowassumedabitterandserioustone.UponJupiter'sagainattemptingtomuzzlehim,hemadefuriousresistance,and,leapingintothehole,toreupthemouldfranticallywithhisclaws.Inafewsecondshehaduncoveredamassofhumanbones,formingtwocompleteskeletons,intermingledwithseveralbuttonsofmetal,andwhatappearedtobethedustofdecayedwoollen.OneortwostrokesofaspadeupturnedthebladeofalargeSpanishknife,and,aswedugfarther,threeorfourloosepiecesofgoldandsilvercoincametolight.AtsightofthesethejoyofJupitercouldscarcelyberestrained,butthecountenanceofhismasterworeanairofextremedisappointmentHeurgedus,however,tocontinueourexertions,andthewordswerehardlyutteredwhenIstumbledandfellforward,havingcaughtthetoeofmybootinalargeringofironthatlayhalfburiedinthelooseearth.Wenowworkedinearnest,andneverdidIpasstenminutesofmoreintenseexcitement.Duringthisintervalwehadfairlyunearthedanoblongchestofwood,which,fromitsperfectpreservationandwonderfulhardness,hadplainlybeensubjectedtosomemineralizingprocess-perhapsthatoftheBi-chlorideofMercury.Thisboxwasthreefeetandahalflong,threefeetbroad,andtwoandahalffeetdeep.Itwasfirmlysecuredbybandsofwroughtiron,riveted,andformingakindofopentrellisworkoverthewhole.Oneachsideofthechest,nearthetop,werethreeringsofiron-sixinall-bymeansofwhichafirmholdcouldbeobtainedbysixpersons.Ourutmostunitedendeavorsservedonlytodisturbthecofferveryslightlyinitsbed.Weatoncesawtheimpossibilityofremovingsogreataweight.Luckily,thesolefasteningsofthelidconsistedoftwoslidingbolts.Thesewedrewback-tremblingandpantingwithanxiety.Inaninstant,atreasureofincalculablevaluelaygleamingbeforeus.Astheraysofthelanternsfellwithinthepit,thereflashedupwardsaglowandaglare,fromaconfusedheapofgoldandofjewels,thatabsolutelydazzledoureyes.IshallnotpretendtodescribethefeelingswithwhichIgazed.Amazementwas,ofcourse,predominant.Legrandappearedexhaustedwithexcitement,andspokeveryfewwords.Jupiter'scountenancewore,forsomeminutes,asdeadlyapallorasitispossible,innatureofthings,foranynegro'svisagetoassume.Heseemedstupified-thunderstricken.Presentlyhefelluponhiskneesinthepit,and,buryinghisnakedarmsuptotheelbowsingold,letthemthereremain,asifenjoyingtheluxuryofabath.Atlength,withadeepsigh,heexclaimed,asifinasoliloquy,"Anddisallcumobdegoole-bug!deputtygoolebug!depoorlittlegoole-bug,whatIboosedindatsabagekindobstyle!Aintyoushamedobyourself,nigger?-answermedat!"Itbecamenecessary,atlast,thatIshouldarousebothmasterandvalettotheexpediencyofremovingthetreasure.Itwasgrowinglate,anditbehoovedustomakeexertion,thatwemightgeteverythinghousedbeforedaylight.Itwasdifficulttosaywhatshouldbedone,andmuchtimewasspentindeliberation-soconfusedweretheideasofall.We,finally,lightenedtheboxbyremovingtwothirdsofitscontents,whenwewereenabled,withsometrouble,toraiseitfromthehole.Thearticlestakenoutweredepositedamongthebrambles,andthedoglefttoguardthem,withstrictordersfromJupiterneither,uponanypretence,tostirfromthespot,nortoopenhismouthuntilourreturn.Wethenhurriedlymadeforhomewiththechest;reachingthehutinsafety,butafterexcessivetoil,atoneo'clockinthemorning.Wornoutaswewere,itwasnotinhumannaturetodomoreimmediately.Weresteduntiltwo,andhadsupper;startingforthehillsimmediatelyafterwards,armedwiththreestoutsacks,which,bygoodluck,wereuponthepremises.Alittlebeforefourwearrivedatthepit,dividedtheremainderofthebooty,asequallyasmightbe,amongus,and,leavingtheholesunfilled,againsetoutforthehut,atwhich,forthesecondtime,wedepositedourgoldenburthens,justasthefirstfaintstreaksofthedawngleamedfromoverthetree-topsintheEast.Wewerenowthoroughlybrokendown;buttheintenseexcitementofthetimedeniedusrepose.Afteranunquietslumberofsomethreeorfourhours'duration,wearose,asifbypreconcert,tomakeexaminationofourtreasure.Thechesthadbeenfulltothebrim,andwespentthewholeday,andthegreaterpartofthenextnight,inascrutinyofitscontents.Therehadbeennothinglikeorderorarrangement.Everythinghadbeenheapedinpromiscuously.Havingassortedallwithcare,wefoundourselvespossessedofevenvasterwealththanwehadatfirstsupposed.Incointherewasrathermorethanfourhundredandfiftythousanddollars-estimatingthevalueofthepieces,asaccuratelyaswecould,bythetablesoftheperiod.Therewasnotaparticleofsilver.Allwasgoldofantiquedateandofgreatvariety-French,Spanish,andGermanmoney,withafewEnglishguineas,andsomecounters,ofwhichwehadneverseenspecimensbefore.Therewereseveralverylargeandheavycoins,sowornthatwecouldmakenothingoftheirinscriptions.TherewasnoAmericanmoney.Thevalueofthejewelswefoundmoredifficultyinestimating.Therewerediamonds-someofthemexceedinglylargeandfine-ahundredandteninall,andnotoneofthemsmall;eighteenrubiesofremarkablebrilliancy;-threehundredandtenemeralds,allverybeautiful;andtwenty-onesapphires,withanopal.Thesestoneshadallbeenbrokenfromtheirsettingsandthrownlooseinthechest.Thesettingsthemselves,whichwepickedoutfromamongtheothergold,appearedtohavebeenbeatenupwithhammers,asiftopreventidentification.Besidesallthis,therewasavastquantityofsolidgoldornaments;-nearlytwohundredmassivefingerandearrings;-richchains-thirtyofthese,ifIremember;-eighty-threeverylargeandheavycrucifixes;-fivegoldcensersofgreatvalue;-aprodigiousgoldenpunchbowl,ornamentedwithrichlychasedvine-leavesandBacchanalianfigures;withtwosword-handlesexquisitelyembossed,andmanyothersmallerarticleswhichIcannotrecollect.Theweightofthesevaluablesexceededthreehundredandfiftypoundsavoirdupois;andinthisestimateIhavenotincludedonehundredandninety-sevensuperbgoldwatches;threeofthenumberbeingwortheachfivehundreddollars,ifone.Manyofthemwereveryold,andastimekeepersvalueless;theworkshavingsuffered,moreorless,fromcorrosion-butallwererichlyjewelledandincasesofgreatworth.Weestimatedtheentirecontentsofthechest,thatnight,atamillionandahalfofdollars;anduponthesubsequentdisposalofthetrinketsandjewels(afewbeingretainedforourownuse),itwasfoundthatwehadgreatlyundervaluedthetreasure.When,atlength,wehadconcludedourexamination,andtheintenseexcitementofthetimehad,insomemeasure,subsided,Legrand,whosawthatIwasdyingwithimpatienceforasolutionofthismostextraordinaryriddle,enteredintoafulldetailofallthecircumstancesconnectedwithit."Youremember;"saidhe,"thenightwhenIhandedyoutheroughsketchIhadmadeofthescarabæus.Yourecollectalso,thatIbecamequitevexedatyouforinsistingthatmydrawingresembledadeath's-head.WhenyoufirstmadethisassertionIthoughtyouwerejesting;butafterwardsIcalledtomindthepeculiarspotsonthebackoftheinsect,andadmittedtomyselfthatyourremarkhadsomelittlefoundationinfact.Still,thesneeratmygraphicpowersirritatedme-forIamconsideredagoodartist-and,therefore,whenyouhandedmethescrapofparchment,Iwasabouttocrumpleitupandthrowitangrilyintothefire.""Thescrapofpaper,youmean,"saidI."No;ithadmuchoftheappearanceofpaper,andatfirstIsupposedittobesuch,butwhenIcametodrawuponit,Idiscoveredit,atonce,tobeapieceofverythinparchment.Itwasquitedirty,youremember.Well,asIwasintheveryactofcrumplingitup,myglancefelluponthesketchatwhichyouhadbeenlooking,andyoumayimaginemyastonishmentwhenIperceived,infact,thefigureofadeath's-headjustwhere,itseemedtome,Ihadmadethedrawingofthebeetle.ForamomentIwastoomuchamazedtothinkwithaccuracy.Iknewthatmydesignwasverydifferentindetailfromthis-althoughtherewasacertainsimilarityingeneraloutline.PresentlyItookacandle,andseatingmyselfattheotherendoftheroom,proceededtoscrutinizetheparchmentmoreclosely.Uponturningitover,Isawmyownsketchuponthereverse,justasIhadmadeit.Myfirstidea,now,wasmeresurpriseatthereallyremarkablesimilarityofoutline-atthesingularcoincidenceinvolvedinthefact,thatunknowntome,thereshouldhavebeenaskullupontheothersideoftheparchment,immediatelybeneathmyfigureofthescarabæus,andthatthisskull,notonlyinoutline,butinsize,shouldsocloselyresemblemydrawing.Isaythesingularityofthiscoincidenceabsolutelystupifiedmeforatime.Thisistheusualeffectofsuchcoincidences.Themindstrugglestoestablishaconnexion-asequenceofcauseandeffect-and,beingunabletodoso,suffersaspeciesoftemporaryparalysis.But,whenIrecoveredfromthisstupor,theredawneduponmegraduallyaconvictionwhichstartledmeevenfarmorethanthecoincidence.Ibegandistinctly,positively,torememberthattherehadbeennodrawingupontheparchmentwhenImademysketchofthescarabæus.Ibecameperfectlycertainofthis;forIrecollectedturningupfirstonesideandthentheother,insearchofthecleanestspot.Hadtheskullbeenthenthere,ofcourseIcouldnothavefailedtonoticeit.HerewasindeedamysterywhichIfeltitimpossibletoexplain;but,evenatthatearlymoment,thereseemedtoglimmer,faintly,withinthemostremoteandsecretchambersofmyintellect,aglow-worm-likeconceptionofthattruthwhichlastnight'sadventurebroughttosomagnificentademonstration.Iaroseatonce,andputtingtheparchmentsecurelyaway,dismissedallfartherreflectionuntilIshouldbealone."Whenyouhadgone,andwhenJupiterwasfastasleep,Ibetookmyselftoamoremethodicalinvestigationoftheaffair.InthefirstplaceIconsideredthemannerinwhichtheparchmenthadcomeintomypossession.Thespotwherewediscoveredthescarabaeuswasonthecoastofthemainland,aboutamileeastwardoftheisland,andbutashortdistanceabovehighwatermark.Uponmytakingholdofit,itgavemeasharpbite,whichcausedmetoletitdrop.Jupiter,withhisaccustomedcaution,beforeseizingtheinsect,whichhadflowntowardshim,lookedabouthimforaleaf,orsomethingofthatnature,bywhichtotakeholdofit.Itwasatthismomentthathiseyes,andminealso,felluponthescrapofparchment,whichIthensupposedtobepaper.Itwaslyinghalfburiedinthesand,acornerstickingup.Nearthespotwherewefoundit,Iobservedtheremnantsofthehullofwhatappearedtohavebeenaship'slongboat.Thewreckseemedtohavebeenthereforaverygreatwhile;fortheresemblancetoboattimberscouldscarcelybetraced."Well,Jupiterpickeduptheparchment,wrappedthebeetleinit,andgaveittome.Soonafterwardsweturnedtogohome,andonthewaymetLieutenantG-.Ishowedhimtheinsect,andhebeggedmetolethimtakeittothefort.Uponmyconsenting,hethrustitforthwithintohiswaistcoatpocket,withouttheparchmentinwhichithadbeenwrapped,andwhichIhadcontinuedtoholdinmyhandduringhisinspection.Perhapshedreadedmychangingmymind,andthoughtitbesttomakesureoftheprizeatonce-youknowhowenthusiasticheisonallsubjectsconnectedwithNaturalHistory.Atthesametime,withoutbeingconsciousofit,Imusthavedepositedtheparchmentinmyownpocket."YourememberthatwhenIwenttothetable,forthepurposeofmakingasketchofthebeetle,Ifoundnopaperwhereitwasusuallykept.Ilookedinthedrawer,andfoundnonethere.Isearchedmypockets,hopingtofindanoldletter,whenmyhandfellupontheparchment.Ithusdetailtheprecisemodeinwhichitcameintomypossession;forthecircumstancesimpressedmewithpeculiarforce."Nodoubtyouwillthinkmefanciful-butIhadalreadyestablishedakindofconnexion.Ihadputtogethertwolinksofagreatchain.Therewasaboatlyinguponasea-coast,andnotfarfromtheboatwasaparchment-notapaper-withaskulldepicteduponit.Youwill,ofcourse,ask'whereistheconnexion?'Ireplythattheskull,ordeath's-head,isthewell-knownemblemofthepirate.Theflagofthedeath'sheadishoistedinallengagements."Ihavesaidthatthescrapwasparchment,andnotpaper.Parchmentisdurable-almostimperishable.Mattersoflittlemomentarerarelyconsignedtoparchment;since,forthemereordinarypurposesofdrawingorwriting,itisnotnearlysowelladaptedaspaper.Thisreflectionsuggestedsomemeaning-somerelevancy-inthedeath's-head.Ididnotfailtoobserve,also,theformoftheparchment.Althoughoneofitscornershadbeen,bysomeaccident,destroyed,itcouldbeseenthattheoriginalformwasoblong.Itwasjustsuchaslip,indeed,asmighthavebeenchosenforamemorandum-forarecordofsomethingtobelongrememberedandcarefullypreserved.""But,"Iinterposed,"yousaythattheskullwasnotupontheparchmentwhenyoumadethedrawingofthebeetle.Howthendoyoutraceanyconnexionbetweentheboatandtheskull-sincethislatter,accordingtoyourownadmission,musthavebeendesigned(Godonlyknowshoworbywhom)atsomeperiodsubsequenttoyoursketchingthescarabæus?""Ah,hereuponturnsthewholemystery;althoughthesecret,atthispoint,Ihadcomparativelylittledifficultyinsolving.Mystepsweresure,andcouldaffordbutasingleresult.Ireasoned,forexample,thus:WhenIdrewthescarabæus,therewasnoskullapparentupontheparchment.WhenIhadcompletedthedrawingIgaveittoyou,andobservedyounarrowlyuntilyoureturnedit.You,therefore,didnotdesigntheskull,andnooneelsewaspresenttodoit.Thenitwasnotdonebyhumanagency.Andneverthelessitwasdone."AtthisstageofmyreflectionsIendeavoredtoremember,anddidremember,withentiredistinctness,everyincidentwhichoccurredabouttheperiodinquestion.Theweatherwaschilly(ohrareandhappyaccident!),andafirewasblazinguponthehearth.Iwasheatedwithexerciseandsatnearthetable.You,however,haddrawnachairclosetothechimney.JustasIplacedtheparchmentinyourhand,andasyouwereintheactofin.inspectingit,Wolf,theNewfoundland,entered,andleapeduponyourshoulders.Withyourlefthandyoucaressedhimandkepthimoff,whileyourright,holdingtheparchment,waspermittedtofalllistlesslybetweenyourknees,andincloseproximitytothefire.AtonemomentIthoughttheblazehadcaughtit,andwasabouttocautionyou,but,beforeIcouldspeak,youhadwithdrawnit,andwereengagedinitsexamination.WhenIconsideredalltheseparticulars,Idoubtednotforamomentthatheathadbeentheagentinbringingtolight,upontheparchment,theskullwhichIsawdesigneduponit.Youarewellawarethatchemicalpreparationsexist,andhaveexistedtimeoutofmind,bymeansofwhichitispossibletowriteuponeitherpaperorvellum,sothatthecharactersshallbecomevisibleonlywhensubjectedtotheactionoffire.Zaffre,digestedinaquaregia,anddilutedwithfourtimesitsweightofwater,issometimesemployed;agreentintresults.Theregulusofcobalt,dissolvedinspiritofnitre,givesared.Thesecolorsdisappearatlongerorshorterintervalsafterthematerialwrittenuponcools,butagainbecomeapparentuponthere-applicationofheat."Inowscrutinizedthedeath's-headwithcare.Itsouteredges-theedgesofthedrawingnearesttheedgeofthevellum-werefarmoredistinctthantheothers.Itwasclearthattheactionofthecalorichadbeenimperfectorunequal.Iimmediatelykindledafire,andsubjectedeveryportionoftheparchmenttoaglowingheat.Atfirst,theonlyeffectwasthestrengtheningofthefaintlinesintheskull;but,uponperseveringintheexperiment,therebecamevisible,atthecorneroftheslip,diagonallyoppositetothespotinwhichthedeath's-headwasdelineated,thefigureofwhatIatfirstsupposedtobeagoat.Acloserscrutiny,however,satisfiedmethatitwasintendedforakid.""Ha!ha!"saidI,"tobesureIhavenorighttolaughatyou-amillionandahalfofmoneyistooseriousamatterformirth-butyouarenotabouttoestablishathirdlinkinyourchain-youwillnotfindanyespecialconnexionbetweenyourpiratesandagoat-pirates,youknow,havenothingtodowithgoats;theyappertaintothefarminginterest.""ButIhavejustsaidthatthefigurewasnotthatofagoat.""Well,akidthen-prettymuchthesamething.""Prettymuch,butnotaltogether,"saidLegrand."YoumayhaveheardofoneCaptainKidd.Iatoncelookeduponthefigureoftheanimalasakindofpunningorhieroglyphicalsignature.Isaysignature;becauseitspositionuponthevellumsuggestedthisidea.Thedeath's-headatthecornerdiagonallyopposite,had,inthesamemanner,theairofastamp,orseal.ButIwassorelyputoutbytheabsenceofallelse-ofthebodytomyimaginedinstrument-ofthetextformycontext.""Ipresumeyouexpectedtofindaletterbetweenthestampandthesignature.""Somethingofthatkind.Thefactis,Ifeltirresistiblyimpressedwithapresentimentofsomevastgoodfortuneimpending.Icanscarcelysaywhy.Perhaps,afterall,itwasratheradesirethananactualbelief;-butdoyouknowthatJupiter'ssillywords,aboutthebugbeingofsolidgold,hadaremarkableeffectuponmyfancy?Andthentheseriesofaccidentsandcoincidences-theseweresoveryextraordinary.Doyouobservehowmereanaccidentitwasthattheseeventsshouldhaveoccurreduponthesoledayofalltheyearinwhichithasbeen,ormaybe,sufficientlycoolforfire,andthatwithoutthefire,orwithouttheinterventionofthedogattheprecisemomentinwhichheappeared,Ishouldneverhavebecomeawareofthedeath's-head,andsoneverthepossessorofthetreasure?""Butproceed-Iamallimpatience.""Well;youhaveheard,ofcourse,themanystoriescurrent-thethousandvaguerumorsafloataboutmoneyburied,somewhereupontheAtlanticcoast,byKiddandhisassociates.Theserumorsmusthavehadsomefoundationinfact.Andthattherumorshaveexistedsolongandsocontinuous,couldhaveresulted,itappearedtome,onlyfromthecircumstanceoftheburiedtreasurestillremainingentombed.HadKiddconcealedhisplunderforatime,andafterwardsreclaimedit,therumorswouldscarcelyhavereachedusintheirpresentunvaryingform.Youwillobservethatthestoriestoldareallaboutmoney-seekers,notaboutmoney-finders.Hadthepiraterecoveredhismoney,theretheaffairwouldhavedropped.Itseemedtomethatsomeaccident-saythelossofamemorandumindicatingitslocality-haddeprivedhimofthemeansofrecoveringit,andthatthisaccidenthadbecomeknowntohisfollowers,whootherwisemightneverhaveheardthattreasurehadbeenconcealedatall,andwho,busyingthemselvesinvain,becauseunguidedattempts,toregainit,hadgivenfirstbirth,andthenuniversalcurrency,tothereportswhicharenowsocommon.Haveyoueverheardofanyimportanttreasurebeingunearthedalongthecoast?""Never.""ButthatKidd'saccumulationswereimmense,iswellknown.Itookitforgranted,therefore,thattheearthstillheldthem;andyouwillscarcelybesurprisedwhenItellyouthatIfeltahope,nearlyamountingtocertainty,thattheparchmentsostrangelyfound,involvedalostrecordoftheplaceofdeposit.""Buthowdidyouproceed?""Iheldthevellumagaintothefire,afterincreasingtheheat;butnothingappeared.Inowthoughtitpossiblethatthecoatingofdirtmighthavesomethingtodowiththefailure;soIcarefullyrinsedtheparchmentbypouringwarmwateroverit,and,havingdonethis,Iplaceditinatinpan,withtheskulldownwards,andputthepanuponafurnaceoflightedcharcoal.Inafewminutes,thepanhavingbecomethoroughlyheated,Iremovedtheslip,and,tomyinexpressiblejoy,founditspotted,inseveralplaces,withwhatappearedtobefiguresarrangedinlines.AgainIplaceditinthepan,andsufferedittoremainanotherminute.Upontakingitoff,thewholewasjustasyouseeitnow."HereLegrand,havingre-heatedtheparchment,submittedittomyinspection.Thefollowingcharacterswererudelytraced,inaredtint,betweenthedeath's-headandthegoat:"53‡‡†305))6*;4826)4‡)4‡;806*;48‡8¶60))85;1-(;:*8-83(88)5*‡;46(;88*96*?;8)*‡(;485);5*†2:*‡(;4956*2(5*-4)8¶8*;4069285);)6†8)4;1(‡9;48081;8:8‡1;48†85;4)485†528806*81(‡9;48;(88;4(‡?34;48)4‡;161;:188;‡?;""But,"saidI,returninghimtheslip,"Iamasmuchinthedarkasever.WereallthejewelsofGolcondaawaitingmeuponmysolutionofthisenigma,IamquitesurethatIshouldbeunabletoearnthem.""Andyet,"saidLegrand,"thesolutionisbynomeanssodifficultasyoumightbeleadtoimaginefromthefirsthastyinspectionofthecharacters.Thesecharacters,asanyonemightreadilyguess,formacipher-thatistosay,theyconveyameaning;butthen,fromwhatisknownofKidd,Icouldnotsupposehimcapableofconstructinganyofthemoreabstrusecryptographs.Imadeupmymind,atonce,thatthiswasofasimplespecies-such,however,aswouldappear,tothecrudeintellectofthesailor,absolutelyinsolublewithoutthekey.""Andyoureallysolvedit?""Readily;Ihavesolvedothersofanabstrusenesstenthousandtimesgreater.Circumstances,andacertainbiasofmind,haveledmetotakeinterestinsuchriddles,anditmaywellbedoubtedwhetherhumaningenuitycanconstructanenigmaofthekindwhichhumaningenuitymaynot,byproperapplication,resolve.Infact,havingonceestablishedconnectedandlegiblecharacters,Iscarcelygaveathoughttothemeredifficultyofdevelopingtheirimport."Inthepresentcase-indeedinallcasesofsecretwriting-thefirstquestionregardsthelanguageofthecipher;fortheprinciplesofsolution,sofar,especially,asthemoresimpleciphersareconcerned,dependupon,andarevariedby,thegeniusoftheparticularidiom.Ingeneral,thereisnoalternativebutexperiment(directedbyprobabilities)ofeverytongueknowntohimwhoattemptsthesolution,untilthetrueonebeattained.But,withtheciphernowbeforeus,alldifficultywasremovedbythesignature.Thepunupontheword'Kidd'isappreciableinnootherlanguagethantheEnglish.ButforthisconsiderationIshouldhavebegunmyattemptswiththeSpanishandFrench,asthetonguesinwhichasecretofthiskindwouldmostnaturallyhavebeenwrittenbyapirateoftheSpanishmain.Asitwas,IassumedthecryptographtobeEnglish."Youobservetherearenodivisionsbetweenthewords.Hadtherebeendivisions,thetaskwouldhavebeencomparativelyeasy.InsuchcaseIshouldhavecommencedwithacollationandanalysisoftheshorterwords,and,hadawordofasingleletteroccurred,asismostlikely,(aorI,forexample,)Ishouldhaveconsideredthesolutionasassured.But,therebeingnodivision,myfirststepwastoascertainthepredominantletters,aswellastheleastfrequent.Countingall,Iconstructedatable,thus:Ofthecharacter8thereare33.;"26.4"19.‡)"16.*"13.5"12.6"11.†1"8.0"6.92"5.:3"4.?"3.¶"2.-."1."Now,inEnglish,theletterwhichmostfrequentlyoccursise.Afterwards,successionrunsthus:_aoidhnrstuycfglmwbkpqxz_._E_predominatessoremarkablythatanindividualsentenceofanylengthisrarelyseen,inwhichitisnottheprevailingcharacter."Here,then,weleave,intheverybeginning,thegroundworkforsomethingmorethanamereguess.Thegeneralusewhichmaybemadeofthetableisobvious-but,inthisparticularcipher,weshallonlyverypartiallyrequireitsaid.Asourpredominantcharacteris8,wewillcommencebyassumingitasthe_e_ofthenaturalalphabet.Toverifythesupposition,letusobserveifthe8beseenoftenincouples-for_e_isdoubledwithgreatfrequencyinEnglish-insuchwords,forexample,as'meet,''.fleet,''speed,''seen,'been,''agree,'&c.Inthepresentinstanceweseeitdoublednolessthanfivetimes,althoughthecryptographisbrief."Letusassume8,then,as_e_.Now,ofall_words_inthelanguage,'the'ismostusual;letussee,therefore,whethertherearenotrepetitionsofanythreecharacters,inthesameorderofcollocation,thelastofthembeing8.Ifwediscoverrepetitionsofsuchletters,soarranged,theywillmostprobablyrepresenttheword'the.'Uponinspection,wefindnolessthansevensucharrangements,thecharactersbeing;48.Wemay,therefore,assumethat;represents_t_,4represents_h_,and8represents_e_-thelastbeingnowwellconfirmed.Thusagreatstephasbeentaken."But,havingestablishedasingleword,weareenabledtoestablishavastlyimportantpoint;thatistosay,severalcommencementsandterminationsofotherwords.Letusrefer,forexample,tothelastinstancebutone,inwhichthecombination;48occurs-notfarfromtheendofthecipher.Weknowthatthe;immediatelyensuingisthecommencementofaword,and,ofthesixcharacterssucceedingthis'the,'wearecognizantofnolessthanfive.Letussetthesecharactersdown,thus,bythelettersweknowthemtorepresent,leavingaspacefortheunknown-teeth."Hereweareenabled,atonce,todiscardthe'th,'asformingnoportionofthewordcommencingwiththefirstt;since,byexperimentoftheentirealphabetforaletteradaptedtothevacancy,weperceivethatnowordcanbeformedofwhichthis_th_canbeapart.Wearethusnarrowedintotee,and,goingthroughthealphabet,ifnecessary,asbefore,wearriveattheword'tree,'asthesolepossiblereading.Wethusgainanotherletter,_r_,representedby(,withthewords'thetree'injuxtaposition."Lookingbeyondthesewords,forashortdistance,weagainseethecombination;48,andemployitbywayof_termination_towhatimmediatelyprecedes.Wehavethusthisarrangement:thetree;4(‡?34the,or,substitutingthenaturalletters,whereknown,itreadsthus:thetreethr‡?3hthe."Now,if,inplaceoftheunknowncharacters,weleaveblankspaces,orsubstitutedots,wereadthus:thetreethr...hthe,whentheword'_through_'makesitselfevidentatonce.Butthisdiscoverygivesusthreenewletters,_o_,_u_and_g_,representedby‡?and3."Lookingnow,narrowly,throughthecipherforcombinationsofknowncharacters,wefind,notveryfarfromthebeginning,thisarrangement,83(88,oregree,which,plainly,istheconclusionoftheword'degree,'andgivesusanotherletter,_d_,representedby†."Fourlettersbeyondtheword'degree,'weperceivethecombination;46(;88."Translatingtheknowncharacters,andrepresentingtheunknownbydots,asbefore,wereadthus:thrtee.anarrangementimmediatelysuggestiveoftheword'thirteen,'andagainfurnishinguswithtwonewcharacters,_i_and_n_,representedby6and*."Referring,now,tothebeginningofthecryptograph,wefindthecombination,53‡‡†."Translating,asbefore,weobtaingood,whichassuresusthatthefirstletteris_A_,andthatthefirsttwowordsare'Agood.'"Itisnowtimethatwearrangeourkey,asfarasdiscovered,inatabularform,toavoidconfusion.Itwillstandthus:5representsa†"d8"e3"g4"h6"i*"n‡"o("r;"t"Wehave,therefore,nolessthantenofthemostimportantlettersrepresented,anditwillbeunnecessarytoproceedwiththedetailsofthesolution.Ihavesaidenoughtoconvinceyouthatciphersofthisnaturearereadilysoluble,andtogiveyousomeinsightintotherationaleoftheirdevelopment.Butbeassuredthatthespecimenbeforeusappertainstotheverysimplestspeciesofcryptograph.Itnowonlyremainstogiveyouthefulltranslationofthecharactersupontheparchment,asunriddled.Hereitis:"'_Agoodglassinthebishop'shostelinthedevil'sseatforty-onedegreesandthirteenminutesnortheastandbynorthmainbranchseventhlimbeastsideshootfromthelefteyeofthedeath's-headabeelinefromthetreethroughtheshotfiftyfeetout_.'""But,"saidI,"theenigmaseemsstillinasbadaconditionasever.Howisitpossibletoextortameaningfromallthisjargonabout'devil'sseats,''death'sheads,'and'bishop'shotels?'""Iconfess,"repliedLegrand,"thatthematterstillwearsaseriousaspect,whenregardedwithacasualglance.Myfirstendeavorwastodividethesentenceintothenaturaldivisionintendedbythecryptographist.""Youmean,topunctuateit?""Somethingofthatkind.""Buthowwasitpossibletoeffectthis?""Ireflectedthatithadbeenapointwiththewritertorunhiswordstogetherwithoutdivision,soastoincreasethedifficultyofsolution.Now,anotover-acuteman,inpursuingsuchanobjectwouldbenearlycertaintooverdothematter.When,inthecourseofhiscomposition,hearrivedatabreakinhissubjectwhichwouldnaturallyrequireapause,orapoint,hewouldbeexceedinglyapttorunhischaracters,atthisplace,morethanusuallyclosetogether.IfyouwillobservetheMS.,inthepresentinstance,youwilleasilydetectfivesuchcasesofunusualcrowding.Actinguponthishint,Imadethedivisionthus:'AgoodglassintheBishop'shostelintheDevil'sseat-forty-onedegreesandthirteenminutes-northeastandbynorth-mainbranchseventhlimbeastside-shootfromthelefteyeofthedeath's-head-abee-linefromthetreethroughtheshotfiftyfeetout.'""Eventhisdivision,"saidI,"leavesmestillinthedark.""Itleftmealsointhedark,"repliedLegrand,"forafewdays;duringwhichImadediligentinquiry,intheneighborhoodofSullivan'sIsland,foranybuildingwhichwentbythenameofthe'Bishop'sHotel;'for,ofcourse,Idroppedtheobsoleteword'hostel.'Gainingnoinformationonthesubject,Iwasonthepointofextendingmysphereofsearch,andproceedinginamoresystematicmanner,when,onemorning,itenteredintomyhead,quitesuddenly,thatthis'Bishop'sHostel'mighthavesomereferencetoanoldfamily,ofthenameofBessop,which,timeoutofmind,hadheldpossessionofanancientmanor-house,aboutfourmilestothenorthwardoftheIsland.Iaccordinglywentovertotheplantation,andre-institutedmyinquiriesamongtheoldernegroesoftheplace.AtlengthoneofthemostagedofthewomensaidthatshehadheardofsuchaplaceasBessop'sCastle,andthoughtthatshecouldguidemetoit,butthatitwasnotacastlenoratavern,butahighrock."Iofferedtopayherwellforhertrouble,and,aftersomedemur,sheconsentedtoaccompanymetothespot.Wefounditwithoutmuchdifficulty,when,dismissingher,Iproceededtoexaminetheplace.The'castle'consistedofanirregularassemblageofcliffsandrocks-oneofthelatterbeingquiteremarkableforitsheightaswellasforitsinsulatedandartificialappearanceIclamberedtoitsapex,andthenfeltmuchatalossastowhatshouldbenextdone."WhileIwasbusiedinreflection,myeyesfelluponanarrowledgeintheeasternfaceoftherock,perhapsayardbelowthesummituponwhichIstood.Thisledgeprojectedabouteighteeninches,andwasnotmorethanafootwide,whileanicheinthecliffjustaboveit,gaveitaruderesemblancetooneofthehollow-backedchairsusedbyourancestors.Imadenodoubtthatherewasthe'devil'sseat'alludedtointheMS.,andnowIseemedtograspthefullsecretoftheriddle."The'goodglass,'Iknew,couldhavereferencetonothingbutatelescope;fortheword'glass'israrelyemployedinanyothersensebyseamen.Nowhere,Iatoncesaw,wasatelescopetobeused,andadefinitepointofview,admittingnovariation,fromwhichtouseit.NordidIhesitatetobelievethatthephrases,"forty-onedegreesandthirteenminutes,'and'northeastandbynorth,'wereintendedasdirectionsforthelevellingoftheglass.Greatlyexcitedbythesediscoveries,Ihurriedhome,procuredatelescope,andreturnedtotherock."Iletmyselfdowntotheledge,andfoundthatitwasimpossibletoretainaseatuponitexceptinoneparticularposition.Thisfactconfirmedmypreconceivedidea.Iproceededtousetheglass.Ofcourse,the'forty-onedegreesandthirteenminutes'couldalludetonothingbutelevationabovethevisiblehorizon,sincethehorizontaldirectionwasclearlyindicatedbythewords,'northeastandbynorth.'ThislatterdirectionIatonceestablishedbymeansofapocket-compass;then,pointingtheglassasnearlyatanangleofforty-onedegreesofelevationasIcoulddoitbyguess,Imoveditcautiouslyupordown,untilmyattentionwasarrestedbyacircularriftoropeninginthefoliageofalargetreethatovertoppeditsfellowsinthedistance.InthecentreofthisriftIperceivedawhitespot,butcouldnot,atfirst,distinguishwhatitwas.Adjustingthefocusofthetelescope,Iagainlooked,andnowmadeitouttobeahumanskull."UponthisdiscoveryIwassosanguineastoconsidertheenigmasolved;forthephrase'mainbranch,seventhlimb,eastside,'couldreferonlytothepositionoftheskulluponthetree,while'shootfromthelefteyeofthedeath'shead'admitted,also,ofbutoneinterpretation,inregardtoasearchforburiedtreasure.Iperceivedthatthedesignwastodropabulletfromthelefteyeoftheskull,andthatabee-line,or,inotherwords,astraightline,drawnfromthenearestpointofthetrunkthrough'theshot,'(orthespotwherethebulletfell,)andthenceextendedtoadistanceoffiftyfeet,wouldindicateadefinitepoint-andbeneaththispointIthoughtitatleastpossiblethatadepositofvaluelayconcealed.""Allthis,"Isaid,"isexceedinglyclear,and,althoughingenious,stillsimpleandexplicit.WhenyoulefttheBishop'sHotel,whatthen?""Why,havingcarefullytakenthebearingsofthetree,Iturnedhomewards.TheinstantthatIleft'thedevil'sseat,'however,thecircularriftvanished;norcouldIgetaglimpseofitafterwards,turnasIwould.Whatseemstomethechiefingenuityinthiswholebusiness,isthefact(forrepeatedexperimenthasconvincedmeitisafact)thatthecircularopeninginquestionisvisiblefromnootherattainablepointofviewthanthataffordedbythenarrowledgeuponthefaceoftherock."Inthisexpeditiontothe'Bishop'sHotel'IhadbeenattendedbyJupiter,whohad,nodoubt,observed,forsomeweekspast,theabstractionofmydemeanor,andtookespecialcarenottoleavemealone.But,onthenextday,gettingupveryearly,Icontrivedtogivehimtheslip,andwentintothehillsinsearchofthetree.AftermuchtoilIfoundit.WhenIcamehomeatnightmyvaletproposedtogivemeaflogging.WiththerestoftheadventureIbelieveyouareaswellacquaintedasmyself.""Isuppose,"saidI,"youmissedthespot,inthefirstattemptatdigging,throughJupiter'sstupidityinlettingthebugfallthroughtherightinsteadofthroughthelefteyeoftheskull.""Precisely.Thismistakemadeadifferenceofabouttwoinchesandahalfinthe'shot'-thatistosay,inthepositionofthepegnearestthetree;andhadthetreasurebeenbeneaththe'shot,'theerrorwouldhavebeenoflittlemoment;but'theshot,'togetherwiththenearestpointofthetree,weremerelytwopointsfortheestablishmentofalineofdirection;ofcoursetheerror,howevertrivialinthebeginning,increasedasweproceededwiththeline,andbythetimewehadgonefiftyfeet,threwusquiteoffthescent.Butformydeep-seatedimpressionsthattreasurewasheresomewhereactuallyburied,wemighthavehadallourlaborinvain.""Butyourgrandiloquence,andyourconductinswingingthebeetle-howexcessivelyodd!Iwassureyouweremad.Andwhydidyouinsistuponlettingfallthebug,insteadofabullet,fromtheskull?""Why,tobefrank,Ifeltsomewhatannoyedbyyourevidentsuspicionstouchingmysanity,andsoresolvedtopunishyouquietly,inmyownway,byalittlebitofsobermystification.ForthisreasonIswungthebeetle,andforthisreasonIletitfallitfromthetree.Anobservationofyoursaboutitsgreatweightsuggestedthelatteridea.""Yes,Iperceive;andnowthereisonlyonepointwhichpuzzlesme.Whatarewetomakeoftheskeletonsfoundinthehole?""ThatisaquestionIamnomoreabletoanswerthanyourself.Thereseems,however,onlyoneplausiblewayofaccountingforthem-andyetitisdreadfultobelieveinsuchatrocityasmysuggestionwouldimply.ItisclearthatKidd-ifKiddindeedsecretedthistreasure,whichIdoubtnot-itisclearthathemusthavehadassistanceinthelabor.Butthislaborconcluded,hemayhavethoughtitexpedienttoremoveallparticipantsinhissecret.Perhapsacoupleofblowswithamattockweresufficient,whilehiscoadjutorswerebusyinthepit;perhapsitrequiredadozen-whoshalltell?"~~~