WHATHO!WHATHO!THISFELLOWISDANCINGMAD!HEHATHBEENBITTENBYTHETARANT
ULA._--ALLINTHEWRONG._MANYYEARSAGO,ICONTRACTEDANINTIMACYWITHAMR.
WILLIAMLEGRAND.HEWASOFANANCIENTHUGUENOTFAMILY,ANDHADONCEBEENWEAL
THY;BUTASERIESOFMISFORTUNESHADREDUCEDHIMTOWANT.TOAVOIDTHEMORTIFI
CATIONCONSEQUENTUPONHISDISASTERS,HELEFTNEWORLEANS,THECITYOFHISFO
REFATHERS,ANDTOOKUPHISRESIDENCEATSULLIVAN'SISLAND,NEARCHARLESTON
,SOUTHCAROLINA.THISISLANDISAVERYSINGULARONE.ITCONSISTSOFLITTLEEL
SETHANTHESEASAND,ANDISABOUTTHREEMILESLONG.ITSBREADTHATNOPOINTEXC
EEDSAQUARTEROFAMILE.ITISSEPARATEDFROMTHEMAINLANDBYASCARCELYPERCE
PTIBLECREEK,OOZINGITSWAYTHROUGHAWILDERNESSOFREEDSANDSLIME,AFAVOR
ITERESORTOFTHEMARSHHEN.THEVEGETATION,ASMIGHTBESUPPOSED,ISSCANT,O
RATLEASTDWARFISH.NOTREESOFANYMAGNITUDEARETOBESEEN.NEARTHEWESTERN
EXTREMITY,WHEREFORTMOULTRIESTANDS,ANDWHEREARESOMEMISERABLEFRAMEB
UILDINGS,TENANTED,DURINGSUMMER,BYTHEFUGITIVESFROMCHARLESTONDUSTA
NDFEVER,MAYBEFOUND,INDEED,THEBRISTLYPALMETTO;BUTTHEWHOLEISLAND,W
ITHTHEEXCEPTIONOFTHISWESTERNPOINT,ANDALINEOFHARD,WHITEBEACHONTHE
SEACOAST,ISCOVEREDWITHADENSEUNDERGROWTHOFTHESWEETMYRTLE,SOMUCHPR
IZEDBYTHEHORTICULTURISTSOFENGLAND.THESHRUBHEREOFTENATTAINSTHEHEI
GHTOFFIFTEENORTWENTYFEET,ANDFORMSANALMOSTIMPENETRABLECOPPICE,BUR
THENINGTHEAIRWITHITSFRAGRANCE.INTHEINMOSTRECESSESOFTHISCOPPICE,N
OTFARFROMTHEEASTERNORMOREREMOTEENDOFTHEISLAND,LEGRANDHADBUILTHIM
SELFASMALLHUT,WHICHHEOCCUPIEDWHENIFIRST,BYMEREACCIDENT,MADEHISAC
QUAINTANCE.THISSOONRIPENEDINTOFRIENDSHIP-FORTHEREWASMUCHINTHEREC
LUSETOEXCITEINTERESTANDESTEEM.IFOUNDHIMWELLEDUCATED,WITHUNUSUALP
OWERSOFMIND,BUTINFECTEDWITHMISANTHROPY,ANDSUBJECTTOPERVERSEMOODS
OFALTERNATEENTHUSIASMANDMELANCHOLY.HEHADWITHHIMMANYBOOKS,BUTRARE
LYEMPLOYEDTHEM.HISCHIEFAMUSEMENTSWEREGUNNINGANDFISHING,ORSAUNTER
INGALONGTHEBEACHANDTHROUGHTHEMYRTLES,INQUESTOFSHELLSORENTOMOLOGI
CALSPECIMENS;-HISCOLLECTIONOFTHELATTERMIGHTHAVEBEENENVIEDBYASWAM
MERDAMM.INTHESEEXCURSIONSHEWASUSUALLYACCOMPANIEDBYANOLDNEGRO,CAL
LEDJUPITER,WHOHADBEENMANUMITTEDBEFORETHEREVERSESOFTHEFAMILY,BUTW
HOCOULDBEINDUCED,NEITHERBYTHREATSNORBYPROMISES,TOABANDONWHATHECO
NSIDEREDHISRIGHTOFATTENDANCEUPONTHEFOOTSTEPSOFHISYOUNG"MASSAWILL
."ITISNOTIMPROBABLETHATTHERELATIVESOFLEGRAND,CONCEIVINGHIMTOBESO
MEWHATUNSETTLEDININTELLECT,HADCONTRIVEDTOINSTILTHISOBSTINACYINTO
JUPITER,WITHAVIEWTOTHESUPERVISIONANDGUARDIANSHIPOFTHEWANDERER.TH
EWINTERSINTHELATITUDEOFSULLIVAN'SISLANDARESELDOMVERYSEVERE,ANDIN
THEFALLOFTHEYEARITISARAREEVENTINDEEDWHENAFIREISCONSIDEREDNECESSA
RY.ABOUTTHEMIDDLEOFOCTOBER,18-,THEREOCCURRED,HOWEVER,ADAYOFREMAR
KABLECHILLINESS.JUSTBEFORESUNSETISCRAMBLEDMYWAYTHROUGHTHEEVERGRE
ENSTOTHEHUTOFMYFRIEND,WHOMIHADNOTVISITEDFORSEVERALWEEKS-MYRESIDE
NCEBEING,ATTHATTIME,INCHARLESTON,ADISTANCEOFNINEMILESFROMTHEISLA
ND,WHILETHEFACILITIESOFPASSAGEANDRE-PASSAGEWEREVERYFARBEHINDTHOS
EOFTHEPRESENTDAY.UPONREACHINGTHEHUTIRAPPED,ASWASMYCUSTOM,ANDGETT
INGNOREPLY,SOUGHTFORTHEKEYWHEREIKNEWITWASSECRETED,UNLOCKEDTHEDOO
RANDWENTIN.AFINEFIREWASBLAZINGUPONTHEHEARTH.ITWASANOVELTY,ANDBYN
OMEANSANUNGRATEFULONE.ITHREWOFFANOVERCOAT,TOOKANARM-CHAIRBYTHECR
ACKLINGLOGS,ANDAWAITEDPATIENTLYTHEARRIVALOFMYHOSTS.SOONAFTERDARK
THEYARRIVED,ANDGAVEMEAMOSTCORDIALWELCOME.JUPITER,GRINNINGFROMEAR
TOEAR,BUSTLEDABOUTTOPREPARESOMEMARSH-HENSFORSUPPER.LEGRANDWASINO
NEOFHISFITS-HOWELSESHALLITERMTHEM?-OFENTHUSIASM.HEHADFOUNDANUNKN
OWNBIVALVE,FORMINGANEWGENUS,AND,MORETHANTHIS,HEHADHUNTEDDOWNANDS
ECURED,WITHJUPITER'SASSISTANCE,ASCARABæUSWHICHHEBELIEVEDTOBETOTA
LLYNEW,BUTINRESPECTTOWHICHHEWISHEDTOHAVEMYOPINIONONTHEMORROW."AN
DWHYNOTTO-NIGHT?"IASKED,RUBBINGMYHANDSOVERTHEBLAZE,ANDWISHINGTHE
WHOLETRIBEOFSCARABæIATTHEDEVIL."AH,IFIHADONLYKNOWNYOUWEREHERE!"S
AIDLEGRAND,"BUTIT'SSOLONGSINCEISAWYOU;ANDHOWCOULDIFORESEETHATYOU
WOULDPAYMEAVISITTHISVERYNIGHTOFALLOTHERS?ASIWASCOMINGHOMEIMETLIE
UTENANTG--,FROMTHEFORT,AND,VERYFOOLISHLY,ILENTHIMTHEBUG;SOITWILL
BEIMPOSSIBLEFORYOUTOSEEITUNTILTHEMORNING.STAYHERETO-NIGHT,ANDIWI
LLSENDJUPDOWNFORITATSUNRISE.ITISTHELOVELIESTTHINGINCREATION!""WH
AT?-SUNRISE?""NONSENSE!NO!-THEBUG.ITISOFABRILLIANTGOLDCOLOR-ABOU
TTHESIZEOFALARGEHICKORY-NUT-WITHTWOJETBLACKSPOTSNEARONEEXTREMITY
OFTHEBACK,ANDANOTHER,SOMEWHATLONGER,ATTHEOTHER.THEANTENNæARE-""D
EYAINTNOTININHIM,MASSAWILL,IKEEPATELLINONYOU,"HEREINTERRUPTEDJUP
ITER;"DEBUGISAGOOLEBUG,SOLID,EBERYBITOFHIM,INSIDEANDALL,SEPHIMWI
NG-NEBERFEELHALFSOHEBBYABUGINMYLIFE.""WELL,SUPPOSEITIS,JUP,"REPL
IEDLEGRAND,SOMEWHATMOREEARNESTLY,ITSEEMEDTOME,THANTHECASEDEMANDE
D,"ISTHATANYREASONFORYOURLETTINGTHEBIRDSBURN?THECOLOR"-HEREHETUR
NEDTOME-"ISREALLYALMOSTENOUGHTOWARRANTJUPITER'SIDEA.YOUNEVERSAWA
MOREBRILLIANTMETALLICLUSTRETHANTHESCALESEMIT-BUTOFTHISYOUCANNOTJ
UDGETILLTOMORROW.INTHEMEANTIMEICANGIVEYOUSOMEIDEAOFTHESHAPE."SAY
INGTHIS,HESEATEDHIMSELFATASMALLTABLE,ONWHICHWEREAPENANDINK,BUTNO
PAPER.HELOOKEDFORSOMEINADRAWER,BUTFOUNDNONE."NEVERMIND,"SAIDHEAT
LENGTH,"THISWILLANSWER;"ANDHEDREWFROMHISWAISTCOATPOCKETASCRAPOFW
HATITOOKTOBEVERYDIRTYFOOLSCAP,ANDMADEUPONITAROUGHDRAWINGWITHTHEP
EN.WHILEHEDIDTHIS,IRETAINEDMYSEATBYTHEFIRE,FORIWASSTILLCHILLY.WH
ENTHEDESIGNWASCOMPLETE,HEHANDEDITTOMEWITHOUTRISING.ASIRECEIVEDIT
,ALOUDGROWLWASHEARD,SUCCEEDEDBYASCRATCHINGATTHEDOOR.JUPITEROPENE
DIT,ANDALARGENEWFOUNDLAND,BELONGINGTOLEGRAND,RUSHEDIN,LEAPEDUPON
MYSHOULDERS,ANDLOADEDMEWITHCARESSES;FORIHADSHOWNHIMMUCHATTENTION
DURINGPREVIOUSVISITS.WHENHISGAMBOLSWEREOVER,ILOOKEDATTHEPAPER,AN
D,TOSPEAKTHETRUTH,FOUNDMYSELFNOTALITTLEPUZZLEDATWHATMYFRIENDHADD
EPICTED."WELL!"ISAID,AFTERCONTEMPLATINGITFORSOMEMINUTES,"THISISA
STRANGESCARABæUS,IMUSTCONFESS:NEWTOME:NEVERSAWANYTHINGLIKEITBEFO
RE-UNLESSITWASASKULL,ORADEATH'S-HEAD-WHICHITMORENEARLYRESEMBLEST
HANANYTHINGELSETHATHASCOMEUNDERMYOBSERVATION.""ADEATH'S-HEAD!"EC
HOEDLEGRAND-"OH-YES-WELL,ITHASSOMETHINGOFTHATAPPEARANCEUPONPAPER
,NODOUBT.THETWOUPPERBLACKSPOTSLOOKLIKEEYES,EH?ANDTHELONGERONEATT
HEBOTTOMLIKEAMOUTH-ANDTHENTHESHAPEOFTHEWHOLEISOVAL.""PERHAPSSO,"
SAIDI;"BUT,LEGRAND,IFEARYOUARENOARTIST.IMUSTWAITUNTILISEETHEBEET
LEITSELF,IFIAMTOFORMANYIDEAOFITSPERSONALAPPEARANCE.""WELL,IDON'T
KNOW,"SAIDHE,ALITTLENETTLED,"IDRAWTOLERABLY-SHOULDDOITATLEAST-HA
VEHADGOODMASTERS,ANDFLATTERMYSELFTHATIAMNOTQUITEABLOCKHEAD.""BUT
,MYDEARFELLOW,YOUAREJOKINGTHEN,"SAIDI,"THISISAVERYPASSABLESKULL-
INDEED,IMAYSAYTHATITISAVERYEXCELLENTSKULL,ACCORDINGTOTHEVULGARNO
TIONSABOUTSUCHSPECIMENSOFPHYSIOLOGY-ANDYOURSCARABæUSMUSTBETHEQUE
ERESTSCARABæUSINTHEWORLDIFITRESEMBLESIT.WHY,WEMAYGETUPAVERYTHRIL
LINGBITOFSUPERSTITIONUPONTHISHINT.IPRESUMEYOUWILLCALLTHEBUGSCARA
BæUSCAPUTHOMINIS,ORSOMETHINGOFTHATKIND-THEREAREMANYSIMILARTITLES
INTHENATURALHISTORIES.BUTWHEREARETHEANTENNæYOUSPOKEOF?""THEANTEN
Næ!"SAIDLEGRAND,WHOSEEMEDTOBEGETTINGUNACCOUNTABLYWARMUPONTHESUBJ
ECT;"IAMSUREYOUMUSTSEETHEANTENNæ.IMADETHEMASDISTINCTASTHEYAREINT
HEORIGINALINSECT,ANDIPRESUMETHATISSUFFICIENT.""WELL,WELL,"ISAID,
"PERHAPSYOUHAVE-STILLIDON'TSEETHEM;"ANDIHANDEDHIMTHEPAPERWITHOUT
ADDITIONALREMARK,NOTWISHINGTORUFFLEHISTEMPER;BUTIWASMUCHSURPRISE
DATTHETURNAFFAIRSHADTAKEN;HISILLHUMORPUZZLEDME-AND,ASFORTHEDRAWI
NGOFTHEBEETLE,THEREWEREPOSITIVELYNOANTENNæVISIBLE,ANDTHEWHOLEDID
BEARAVERYCLOSERESEMBLANCETOTHEORDINARYCUTSOFADEATH'S-HEAD.HERECE
IVEDTHEPAPERVERYPEEVISHLY,ANDWASABOUTTOCRUMPLEIT,APPARENTLYTOTHR
OWITINTHEFIRE,WHENACASUALGLANCEATTHEDESIGNSEEMEDSUDDENLYTORIVETH
ISATTENTION.INANINSTANTHISFACEGREWVIOLENTLYRED-INANOTHERASEXCESS
IVELYPALE.FORSOMEMINUTESHECONTINUEDTOSCRUTINIZETHEDRAWINGMINUTEL
YWHEREHESAT.ATLENGTHHEAROSE,TOOKACANDLEFROMTHETABLE,ANDPROCEEDED
TOSEATHIMSELFUPONASEA-CHESTINTHEFARTHESTCORNEROFTHEROOM.HEREAGAI
NHEMADEANANXIOUSEXAMINATIONOFTHEPAPER;TURNINGITINALLDIRECTIONS.H
ESAIDNOTHING,HOWEVER,ANDHISCONDUCTGREATLYASTONISHEDME;YETITHOUGH
TITPRUDENTNOTTOEXACERBATETHEGROWINGMOODINESSOFHISTEMPERBYANYCOMM
ENT.PRESENTLYHETOOKFROMHISCOATPOCKETAWALLET,PLACEDTHEPAPERCAREFU
LLYINIT,ANDDEPOSITEDBOTHINAWRITING-DESK,WHICHHELOCKED.HENOWGREWM
ORECOMPOSEDINHISDEMEANOR;BUTHISORIGINALAIROFENTHUSIASMHADQUITEDI
SAPPEARED.YETHESEEMEDNOTSOMUCHSULKYASABSTRACTED.ASTHEEVENINGWORE
AWAYHEBECAMEMOREANDMOREABSORBEDINREVERIE,FROMWHICHNOSALLIESOFMIN
ECOULDAROUSEHIM.ITHADBEENMYINTENTIONTOPASSTHENIGHTATTHEHUT,ASIHA
DFREQUENTLYDONEBEFORE,BUT,SEEINGMYHOSTINTHISMOOD,IDEEMEDITPROPER
TOTAKELEAVE.HEDIDNOTPRESSMETOREMAIN,BUT,ASIDEPARTED,HESHOOKMYHAN
DWITHEVENMORETHANHISUSUALCORDIALITY.ITWASABOUTAMONTHAFTERTHIS(AN
DDURINGTHEINTERVALIHADSEENNOTHINGOFLEGRAND)WHENIRECEIVEDAVISIT,A
TCHARLESTON,FROMHISMAN,JUPITER.IHADNEVERSEENTHEGOODOLDNEGROLOOKS
ODISPIRITED,ANDIFEAREDTHATSOMESERIOUSDISASTERHADBEFALLENMYFRIEND
."WELL,JUP,"SAIDI,"WHATISTHEMATTERNOW?-HOWISYOURMASTER?""WHY,TOS
PEAKDETROOF,MASSA,HIMNOTSOBERRYWELLASMOUGHTBE.""NOTWELL!IAMTRULY
SORRYTOHEARIT.WHATDOESHECOMPLAINOF?""DAR!DAT'SIT!-HIMNEBERPLAINO
FNOTIN-BUTHIMBERRYSICKFORALLDAT.""VERYSICK,JUPITER!-WHYDIDN'TYOU
SAYSOATONCE?ISHECONFINEDTOBED?""NO,DATHEAINT!-HEAINTFINDNOWHAR-D
AT'SJUSTWHARDESHOEPINCH-MYMINDISGOTTOBEBERRYHEBBYBOUTPOORMASSAWI
LL.""JUPITER,ISHOULDLIKETOUNDERSTANDWHATITISYOUARETALKINGABOUT.Y
OUSAYYOURMASTERISSICK.HASN'THETOLDYOUWHATAILSHIM?""WHY,MASSA,TAI
NTWORFWHILEFORTOGITMADABOUTDEMATTER-MASSAWILLSAYNOFFINATALLAINTD
EMATTERWIDHIM-BUTDENWHATMAKEHIMGOABOUTLOOKINGDISHEREWAY,WIDHEHEA
DDOWNANDHESOLDIERSUP,ANDASWHITEASAGOSE?ANDDENHEKEEPASYPHONALLDET
IME-""KEEPSAWHAT,JUPITER?""KEEPSASYPHONWIDDEFIGGURSONDESLATE-DEQ
UEERESTFIGGURSIEBBERDIDSEE.ISEGITTINTOBESKEERED,ITELLYOU.HABFORT
OKEEPMIGHTYTIGHTEYEPONHIMNOOVERS.TODDERDAYHEGIBMESLIPFOREDESUNUP
ANDWASGONEDEWHOLEOBDEBLESSEDDAY.IHADABIGSTICKREADYCUTFORTOGIBHIM
DEUCEDGOODBEATINGWHENHEDIDCOME-BUTISESICHAFOOLDATIHADN'TDEHEARTA
RTERALL-HELOOKSOBERRYPOORLY.""EH?-WHAT?-AHYES!-UPONTHEWHOLEITHIN
KYOUHADBETTERNOTBETOOSEVEREWITHTHEPOORFELLOW-DON'TFLOGHIM,JUPITE
R-HECAN'TVERYWELLSTANDIT-BUTCANYOUFORMNOIDEAOFWHATHASOCCASIONEDT
HISILLNESS,ORRATHERTHISCHANGEOFCONDUCT?HASANYTHINGUNPLEASANTHAPP
ENEDSINCEISAWYOU?""NO,MASSA,DEYAINTBINNOFFINUNPLEASANTSINCEDEN-'
TWASFOREDENI'MFEARED-'TWASDEBERRYDAYYOUWASDARE.""HOW?WHATDOYOUME
AN?""WHY,MASSA,IMEANDEBUG-DARENOW.""THEWHAT?""DEBUG,-I'MBERRYSAR
TAINDATMASSAWILLBINBITSOMEWHEREBOUTDEHEADBYDATGOOLE-BUG.""ANDWHA
TCAUSEHAVEYOU,JUPITER,FORSUCHASUPPOSITION?""CLAWSENUFF,MASSA,AND
MOUTHTOO.INEBBERDIDSEESICKADEUCEDBUG-HEKICKANDHEBITEEBERYTINGWHA
TCUMNEARHIM.MASSAWILLCOTCHHIMFUSS,BUTHADFORTOLETHIMGOGINMIGHTYQU
ICK,ITELLYOU-DENWASDETIMEHEMUSTHAGOTDEBITE.IDIDN'TLIKEDELOOKOHDE
BUGMOUFF,MYSELF,NOHOW,SOIWOULDN'TTAKEHOLDOBHIMWIDMYFINGER,BUTICO
TCHHIMWIDAPIECEOBPAPERDATIFOUND.IRAPHIMUPINDEPAPERANDSTUFFPIECEO
BITINHEMOUFF-DATWASDEWAY.""ANDYOUTHINK,THEN,THATYOURMASTERWASREA
LLYBITTENBYTHEBEETLE,ANDTHATTHEBITEMADEHIMSICK?""IDON'TTINKNOFFI
NABOUTIT-INOSEIT.WHATMAKEHIMDREAMBOUTDEGOOLESOMUCH,IFTAINTCAUSEH
EBITBYDEGOOLE-BUG?ISEHEERDBOUTDEMGOOLE-BUGSFOREDIS.""BUTHOWDOYOU
KNOWHEDREAMSABOUTGOLD?""HOWIKNOW?WHYCAUSEHETALKABOUTITINHESLEEP-
DAT'SHOWINOSE.""WELL,JUP,PERHAPSYOUARERIGHT;BUTTOWHATFORTUNATECI
RCUMSTANCEAMITOATTRIBUTETHEHONOROFAVISITFROMYOUTO-DAY?""WHATDEMA
TTER,MASSA?""DIDYOUBRINGANYMESSAGEFROMMR.LEGRAND""NO,MASSA,IBRIN
GDISHEREPISSEL;"ANDHEREJUPITERHANDEDMEANOTEWHICHRANTHUS:MYDEAR--
WHYHAVEINOTSEENYOUFORSOLONGATIME?IHOPEYOUHAVENOTBEENSOFOOLISHAST
OTAKEOFFENCEATANYLITTLE_BRUSQUERIE_OFMINE;BUTNO,THATISIMPROBABLE
.SINCEISAWYOUIHAVEHADGREATCAUSEFORANXIETY.IHAVESOMETHINGTOTELLYO
U,YETSCARCELYKNOWHOWTOTELLIT,ORWHETHERISHOULDTELLITATALL.IHAVENO
TBEENQUITEWELLFORSOMEDAYSPAST,ANDPOOROLDJUPANNOYSME,ALMOSTBEYOND
ENDURANCE,BYHISWELL-MEANTATTENTIONSWOULDYOUBELIEVEIT?-HEHADPREPA
REDAHUGESTICK,THEOTHERDAY,WITHWHICHTOCHASTISEMEFORGIVINGHIMTHESL
IP,ANDSPENDINGTHEDAY,_SOLUS_,AMONGTHEHILLSONTHEMAINLAND.IVERILYB
ELIEVETHATMYILLLOOKSALONESAVEDMEAFLOGGING.IHAVEMADENOADDITIONTOM
YCABINETSINCEWEMET.IFYOUCAN,INANYWAY,MAKEITCONVENIENT,COMEOVERWI
THJUPITER._DO_COME.IWISHTOSEEYOUTO-_NIGHT_,UPONBUSINESSOFIMPORTA
NCE.IASSUREYOUTHATITISOFTHE_HIGHEST_IMPORTANCE.EVERYOURS,WILLIAM
LEGRAND.THEREWASSOMETHINGINTHETONEOFTHISNOTEWHICHGAVEMEGREATUNEA
SINESS.ITSWHOLESTYLEDIFFEREDMATERIALLYFROMTHATOFLEGRAND.WHATCOUL
DHEBEDREAMINGOF?WHATNEWCROTCHETPOSSESSEDHISEXCITABLEBRAIN?WHAT"B
USINESSOFTHEHIGHESTIMPORTANCE"COULDHEPOSSIBLYHAVETOTRANSACT?JUPI
TER'SACCOUNTOFHIMBODEDNOGOOD.IDREADEDLESTTHECONTINUEDPRESSUREOFM
ISFORTUNEHAD,ATLENGTH,FAIRLYUNSETTLEDTHEREASONOFMYFRIEND.WITHOUT
AMOMENT'SHESITATION,THEREFORE,IPREPAREDTOACCOMPANYTHENEGRO.UPONR
EACHINGTHEWHARF,INOTICEDASCYTHEANDTHREESPADES,ALLAPPARENTLYNEW,L
YINGINTHEBOTTOMOFTHEBOATINWHICHWEWERETOEMBARK."WHATISTHEMEANINGO
FALLTHIS,JUP?"IINQUIRED."HIMSYFE,MASSA,ANDSPADE.""VERYTRUE;BUTWH
ATARETHEYDOINGHERE?""HIMDESYFEANDDESPADEWHATMASSAWILLSISPONMYBUY
INGFORHIMINDETOWN,ANDDEDEBBILSOWNLOTOFMONEYIHADTOGIBFOREM.""BUTW
HAT,INTHENAMEOFALLTHATISMYSTERIOUS,ISYOUR'MASSAWILL'GOINGTODOWIT
HSCYTHESANDSPADES?""DAT'SMOREDANIKNOW,ANDDEBBILTAKEMEIFIDON'TBLI
EVE'TISMOREDANHEKNOW,TOO.BUTIT'SALLCUMOBDOBUG."FINDINGTHATNOSATI
SFACTIONWASTOBEOBTAINEDOFJUPITER,WHOSEWHOLEINTELLECTSEEMEDTOBEAB
SORBEDBY"DEBUG,"INOWSTEPPEDINTOTHEBOATANDMADESAIL.WITHAFAIRANDST
RONGBREEZEWESOONRANINTOTHELITTLECOVETOTHENORTHWARDOFFORTMOULTRIE
,ANDAWALKOFSOMETWOMILESBROUGHTUSTOTHEHUT.ITWASABOUTTHREEINTHEAFT
ERNOONWHENWEARRIVED.LEGRANDHADBEENAWAITINGUSINEAGEREXPECTATION.H
EGRASPEDMYHANDWITHANERVOUSEMPRESSEMENTWHICHALARMEDMEANDSTRENGTHE
NEDTHESUSPICIONSALREADYENTERTAINED.HISCOUNTENANCEWASPALEEVENTOGH
ASTLINESS,ANDHISDEEP-SETEYESGLAREDWITHUNNATURALLUSTRE.AFTERSOMEI
NQUIRIESRESPECTINGHISHEALTH,IASKEDHIM,NOTKNOWINGWHATBETTERTOSAY,
IFHEHADYETOBTAINEDTHESCARABæUSFROMLIEUTENANTG--."OH,YES,"HEREPLI
ED,COLORINGVIOLENTLY,"IGOTITFROMHIMTHENEXTMORNING.NOTHINGSHOULDT
EMPTMETOPARTWITHTHATSCARABæUS.DOYOUKNOWTHATJUPITERISQUITERIGHTAB
OUTIT?""INWHATWAY?"IASKED,WITHASADFOREBODINGATHEART."INSUPPOSING
ITTOBEABUGOFREALGOLD."HESAIDTHISWITHANAIROFPROFOUNDSERIOUSNESS,A
NDIFELTINEXPRESSIBLYSHOCKED."THISBUGISTOMAKEMYFORTUNE,"HECONTINU
ED,WITHATRIUMPHANTSMILE,"TOREINSTATEMEINMYFAMILYPOSSESSIONS.ISIT
ANYWONDER,THEN,THATIPRIZEIT?SINCEFORTUNEHASTHOUGHTFITTOBESTOWITU
PONME,IHAVEONLYTOUSEITPROPERLYANDISHALLARRIVEATTHEGOLDOFWHICHITI
STHEINDEX.JUPITER;BRINGMETHATSCARABæUS!""WHAT!DEBUG,MASSA?I'DRUD
DERNOTGOFERTRUBBLEDATBUG-YOUMUSGITHIMFORYOUROWNSELF."HEREUPONLEG
RANDAROSE,WITHAGRAVEANDSTATELYAIR,ANDBROUGHTMETHEBEETLEFROMAGLAS
SCASEINWHICHITWASENCLOSED.ITWASABEAUTIFULSCARABæUS,AND,ATTHATTIM
E,UNKNOWNTONATURALISTS-OFCOURSEAGREATPRIZEINASCIENTIFICPOINTOFVI
EW.THEREWERETWOROUND,BLACKSPOTSNEARONEEXTREMITYOFTHEBACK,ANDALON
GONENEARTHEOTHER.THESCALESWEREEXCEEDINGLYHARDANDGLOSSY,WITHALLTH
EAPPEARANCEOFBURNISHEDGOLD.THEWEIGHTOFTHEINSECTWASVERYREMARKABLE
,AND,TAKINGALLTHINGSINTOCONSIDERATION,ICOULDHARDLYBLAMEJUPITERFO
RHISOPINIONRESPECTINGIT;BUTWHATTOMAKEOFLEGRAND'SCONCORDANCEWITHT
HATOPINION,ICOULDNOT,FORTHELIFEOFME,TELL."ISENTFORYOU,"SAIDHE,IN
AGRANDILOQUENTTONE,WHENIHADCOMPLETEDMYEXAMINATIONOFTHEBEETLE,"IS
ENTFORYOU,THATIMIGHTHAVEYOURCOUNSELANDASSISTANCEINFURTHERINGTHEV
IEWSOFFATEANDOFTHEBUG"-"MYDEARLEGRAND,"ICRIED,INTERRUPTINGHIM,"Y
OUARECERTAINLYUNWELL,ANDHADBETTERUSESOMELITTLEPRECAUTIONS.YOUSHA
LLGOTOBED,ANDIWILLREMAINWITHYOUAFEWDAYS,UNTILYOUGETOVERTHIS.YOUA
REFEVERISHAND"-"FEELMYPULSE,"SAIDHE.IFELTIT,AND,TOSAYTHETRUTH,FO
UNDNOTTHESLIGHTESTINDICATIONOFFEVER."BUTYOUMAYBEILLANDYETHAVENOF
EVER.ALLOWMETHISONCETOPRESCRIBEFORYOU.INTHEFIRSTPLACE,GOTOBED.IN
THENEXT"-"YOUAREMISTAKEN,"HEINTERPOSED,"IAMASWELLASICANEXPECTTOB
EUNDERTHEEXCITEMENTWHICHISUFFER.IFYOUREALLYWISHMEWELL,YOUWILLREL
IEVETHISEXCITEMENT.""ANDHOWISTHISTOBEDONE?""VERYEASILY.JUPITERAN
DMYSELFAREGOINGUPONANEXPEDITIONINTOTHEHILLS,UPONTHEMAINLAND,AND,
INTHISEXPEDITIONWESHALLNEEDTHEAIDOFSOMEPERSONINWHOMWECANCONFIDE.
YOUARETHEONLYONEWECANTRUST.WHETHERWESUCCEEDORFAIL,THEEXCITEMENTW
HICHYOUNOWPERCEIVEINMEWILLBEEQUALLYALLAYED.""IAMANXIOUSTOOBLIGEY
OUINANYWAY,"IREPLIED;"BUTDOYOUMEANTOSAYTHATTHISINFERNALBEETLEHAS
ANYCONNECTIONWITHYOUREXPEDITIONINTOTHEHILLS?""ITHAS.""THEN,LEGRA
ND,ICANBECOMEAPARTYTONOSUCHABSURDPROCEEDING.""IAMSORRY-VERYSORRY
-FORWESHALLHAVETOTRYITBYOURSELVES.""TRYITBYYOURSELVES!THEMANISSU
RELYMAD!-BUTSTAY!-HOWLONGDOYOUPROPOSETOBEABSENT?""PROBABLYALLNIG
HT.WESHALLSTARTIMMEDIATELY,ANDBEBACK,ATALLEVENTS,BYSUNRISE.""AND
WILLYOUPROMISEME,UPONYOURHONOR,THATWHENTHISFREAKOFYOURSISOVER,AN
DTHEBUGBUSINESS(GOODGOD!)SETTLEDTOYOURSATISFACTION,YOUWILLTHENRE
TURNHOMEANDFOLLOWMYADVICEIMPLICITLY,ASTHATOFYOURPHYSICIAN?""YES;
IPROMISE;ANDNOWLETUSBEOFF,FORWEHAVENOTIMETOLOSE."WITHAHEAVYHEART
IACCOMPANIEDMYFRIEND.WESTARTEDABOUTFOURO'CLOCK-LEGRAND,JUPITER,T
HEDOG,ANDMYSELF.JUPITERHADWITHHIMTHESCYTHEANDSPADES-THEWHOLEOFWH
ICHHEINSISTEDUPONCARRYING-MORETHROUGHFEAR,ITSEEMEDTOME,OFTRUSTIN
GEITHEROFTHEIMPLEMENTSWITHINREACHOFHISMASTER,THANFROMANYEXCESSOF
INDUSTRYORCOMPLAISANCE.HISDEMEANORWASDOGGEDINTHEEXTREME,AND"DATD
EUCEDBUG"WERETHESOLEWORDSWHICHESCAPEDHISLIPSDURINGTHEJOURNEY.FOR
MYOWNPART,IHADCHARGEOFACOUPLEOFDARKLANTERNS,WHILELEGRANDCONTENTE
DHIMSELFWITHTHESCARABæUS,WHICHHECARRIEDATTACHEDTOTHEENDOFABITOFW
HIP-CORD;TWIRLINGITTOANDFRO,WITHTHEAIROFACONJUROR,ASHEWENT.WHENI
OBSERVEDTHISLAST,PLAINEVIDENCEOFMYFRIEND'SABERRATIONOFMIND,ICOUL
DSCARCELYREFRAINFROMTEARS.ITHOUGHTITBEST,HOWEVER,TOHUMORHISFANCY
,ATLEASTFORTHEPRESENT,ORUNTILICOULDADOPTSOMEMOREENERGETICMEASURE
SWITHACHANCEOFSUCCESS.INTHEMEANTIMEIENDEAVORED,BUTALLINVAIN,TOSO
UNDHIMINREGARDTOTHEOBJECTOFTHEEXPEDITION.HAVINGSUCCEEDEDININDUCI
NGMETOACCOMPANYHIM,HESEEMEDUNWILLINGTOHOLDCONVERSATIONUPONANYTOP
ICOFMINORIMPORTANCE,ANDTOALLMYQUESTIONSVOUCHSAFEDNOOTHERREPLYTHA
N"WESHALLSEE!"WECROSSEDTHECREEKATTHEHEADOFTHEISLANDBYMEANSOFASKI
FF;AND,ASCENDINGTHEHIGHGROUNDSONTHESHOREOFTHEMAINLAND,PROCEEDEDI
NANORTHWESTERLYDIRECTION,THROUGHATRACTOFCOUNTRYEXCESSIVELYWILDAN
DDESOLATE,WHERENOTRACEOFAHUMANFOOTSTEPWASTOBESEEN.LEGRANDLEDTHEW
AYWITHDECISION;PAUSINGONLYFORANINSTANT,HEREANDTHERE,TOCONSULTWHA
TAPPEAREDTOBECERTAINLANDMARKSOFHISOWNCONTRIVANCEUPONAFORMEROCCAS
ION.INTHISMANNERWEJOURNEYEDFORABOUTTWOHOURS,ANDTHESUNWASJUSTSETT
INGWHENWEENTEREDAREGIONINFINITELYMOREDREARYTHANANYYETSEEN.ITWASA
SPECIESOFTABLELAND,NEARTHESUMMITOFANALMOSTINACCESSIBLEHILL,DENSE
LYWOODEDFROMBASETOPINNACLE,ANDINTERSPERSEDWITHHUGECRAGSTHATAPPEA
REDTOLIELOOSELYUPONTHESOIL,ANDINMANYCASESWEREPREVENTEDFROMPRECIP
ITATINGTHEMSELVESINTOTHEVALLEYSBELOW,MERELYBYTHESUPPORTOFTHETREE
SAGAINSTWHICHTHEYRECLINED.DEEPRAVINES,INVARIOUSDIRECTIONS,GAVEAN
AIROFSTILLSTERNERSOLEMNITYTOTHESCENE.THENATURALPLATFORMTOWHICHWE
HADCLAMBEREDWASTHICKLYOVERGROWNWITHBRAMBLES,THROUGHWHICHWESOONDI
SCOVEREDTHATITWOULDHAVEBEENIMPOSSIBLETOFORCEOURWAYBUTFORTHESCYTH
E;ANDJUPITER,BYDIRECTIONOFHISMASTER,PROCEEDEDTOCLEARFORUSAPATHTO
THEFOOTOFANENORMOUSLYTALLTULIP-TREE,WHICHSTOOD,WITHSOMEEIGHTORTE
NOAKS,UPONTHELEVEL,ANDFARSURPASSEDTHEMALL,ANDALLOTHERTREESWHICHI
HADTHENEVERSEEN,INTHEBEAUTYOFITSFOLIAGEANDFORM,INTHEWIDESPREADOF
ITSBRANCHES,ANDINTHEGENERALMAJESTYOFITSAPPEARANCE.WHENWEREACHEDT
HISTREE,LEGRANDTURNEDTOJUPITER,ANDASKEDHIMIFHETHOUGHTHECOULDCLIM
BIT.THEOLDMANSEEMEDALITTLESTAGGEREDBYTHEQUESTION,ANDFORSOMEMOMEN
TSMADENOREPLY.ATLENGTHHEAPPROACHEDTHEHUGETRUNK,WALKEDSLOWLYAROUN
DIT,ANDEXAMINEDITWITHMINUTEATTENTION.WHENHEHADCOMPLETEDHISSCRUTI
NY,HEMERELYSAID,"YES,MASSA,JUPCLIMBANYTREEHEEBBERSEEINHELIFE.""T
HENUPWITHYOUASSOONASPOSSIBLE,FORITWILLSOONBETOODARKTOSEEWHATWEAR
EABOUT.""HOWFARMUSGOUP,MASSA?"INQUIREDJUPITER."GETUPTHEMAINTRUNK
FIRST,ANDTHENIWILLTELLYOUWHICHWAYTOGO-ANDHERE-STOP!TAKETHISBEETL
EWITHYOU.""DEBUG,MASSAWILL!-DEGOOLEBUG!"CRIEDTHENEGRO,DRAWINGBAC
KINDISMAY-"WHATFORMUSTOTEDEBUGWAYUPDETREE?-D-NIFIDO!""IFYOUAREAF
RAID,JUP,AGREATBIGNEGROLIKEYOU,TOTAKEHOLDOFAHARMLESSLITTLEDEADBE
ETLE,WHYYOUCANCARRYITUPBYTHISSTRING-BUT,IFYOUDONOTTAKEITUPWITHYO
UINSOMEWAY,ISHALLBEUNDERTHENECESSITYOFBREAKINGYOURHEADWITHTHISSH
OVEL.""WHATDEMATTERNOW,MASSA?"SAIDJUP,EVIDENTLYSHAMEDINTOCOMPLIA
NCE;"ALWAYSWANTFORTORAISEFUSSWIDOLDNIGGER.WASONLYFUNNINANYHOW.ME
FEEREDDEBUG!WHATIKEERFORDEBUG?"HEREHETOOKCAUTIOUSLYHOLDOFTHEEXTR
EMEENDOFTHESTRING,AND,MAINTAININGTHEINSECTASFARFROMHISPERSONASCI
RCUMSTANCESWOULDPERMIT,PREPAREDTOASCENDTHETREE.INYOUTH,THETULIP-
TREE,ORLIRIODENDRONTULIPFERUM,THEMOSTMAGNIFICENTOFAMERICANFOREST
ERS,HASATRUNKPECULIARLYSMOOTH,ANDOFTENRISESTOAGREATHEIGHTWITHOUT
LATERALBRANCHES;BUT,INITSRIPERAGE,THEBARKBECOMESGNARLEDANDUNEVEN
,WHILEMANYSHORTLIMBSMAKETHEIRAPPEARANCEONTHESTEM.THUSTHEDIFFICUL
TYOFASCENSION,INTHEPRESENTCASE,LAYMOREINSEMBLANCETHANINREALITY.E
MBRACINGTHEHUGECYLINDER,ASCLOSELYASPOSSIBLE,WITHHISARMSANDKNEES,
SEIZINGWITHHISHANDSSOMEPROJECTIONS,ANDRESTINGHISNAKEDTOESUPONOTH
ERS,JUPITER,AFTERONEORTWONARROWESCAPESFROMFALLING,ATLENGTHWRIGGL
EDHIMSELFINTOTHEFIRSTGREATFORK,ANDSEEMEDTOCONSIDERTHEWHOLEBUSINE
SSASVIRTUALLYACCOMPLISHED.THERISKOFTHEACHIEVEMENTWAS,INFACT,NOWO
VER,ALTHOUGHTHECLIMBERWASSOMESIXTYORSEVENTYFEETFROMTHEGROUND."WH
ICHWAYMUSGONOW,MASSAWILL?"HEASKED."KEEPUPTHELARGESTBRANCH-THEONE
ONTHISSIDE,"SAIDLEGRAND.THENEGROOBEYEDHIMPROMPTLY,ANDAPPARENTLYW
ITHBUTLITTLETROUBLE;ASCENDINGHIGHERANDHIGHER,UNTILNOGLIMPSEOFHIS
SQUATFIGURECOULDBEOBTAINEDTHROUGHTHEDENSEFOLIAGEWHICHENVELOPEDIT
.PRESENTLYHISVOICEWASHEARDINASORTOFHALLOO."HOWMUCHFUDDERISGOTFOR
GO?""HOWHIGHUPAREYOU?"ASKEDLEGRAND."EBBERSOFUR,"REPLIEDTHENEGRO;
"CANSEEDESKYFRUDETOPOBDETREE.""NEVERMINDTHESKY,BUTATTENDTOWHATIS
AY.LOOKDOWNTHETRUNKANDCOUNTTHELIMBSBELOWYOUONTHISSIDE.HOWMANYLIM
BSHAVEYOUPASSED?""ONE,TWO,TREE,FOUR,FIBE-IDONEPASSFIBEBIGLIMB,MA
SSA,PONDISSIDE.""THENGOONELIMBHIGHER."INAFEWMINUTESTHEVOICEWASHE
ARDAGAIN,ANNOUNCINGTHATTHESEVENTHLIMBWASATTAINED."NOW,JUP,"CRIED
LEGRAND,EVIDENTLYMUCHEXCITED,"IWANTYOUTOWORKYOURWAYOUTUPONTHATLI
MBASFARASYOUCAN.IFYOUSEEANYTHINGSTRANGE,LETMEKNOW."BYTHISTIMEWHA
TLITTLEDOUBTIMIGHTHAVEENTERTAINEDOFMYPOORFRIEND'SINSANITY,WASPUT
FINALLYATREST.IHADNOALTERNATIVEBUTTOCONCLUDEHIMSTRICKENWITHLUNAC
Y,ANDIBECAMESERIOUSLYANXIOUSABOUTGETTINGHIMHOME.WHILEIWASPONDERI
NGUPONWHATWASBESTTOBEDONE,JUPITER'SVOICEWASAGAINHEARD."MOSFEERDF
ORTOVENTURPONDISLIMBBERRYFAR-TISDEADLIMBPUTTYMUCHALLDEWAY.""DIDY
OUSAYITWASADEADLIMB,JUPITER?"CRIEDLEGRANDINAQUAVERINGVOICE."YES,
MASSA,HIMDEADASDEDOOR-NAIL-DONEUPFORSARTAIN-DONEDEPARTEDDISHEREL
IFE.""WHATINTHENAMEHEAVENSHALLIDO?"ASKEDLEGRAND,SEEMINGLYINTHEGR
EATESTDISTRESS."DO!"SAIDI,GLADOFANOPPORTUNITYTOINTERPOSEAWORD,"W
HYCOMEHOMEANDGOTOBED.COMENOW!-THAT'SAFINEFELLOW.IT'SGETTINGLATE,
AND,BESIDES,YOUREMEMBERYOURPROMISE.""JUPITER,"CRIEDHE,WITHOUTHEE
DINGMEINTHELEAST,"DOYOUHEARME?""YES,MASSAWILL,HEARYOUEBBERSOPLAI
N.""TRYTHEWOODWELL,THEN,WITHYOURKNIFE,ANDSEEIFYOUTHINKITVERYROTT
EN.""HIMROTTEN,MASSA,SURENUFF,"REPLIEDTHENEGROINAFEWMOMENTS,"BUT
NOTSOBERRYROTTENASMOUGHTBE.MOUGHTVENTUROUTLEETLEWAYPONDELIMBBYMY
SELF,DAT'STRUE.""BYYOURSELF!-WHATDOYOUMEAN?""WHYIMEANDEBUG.'TISB
ERRYHEBBYBUG.SPOSEIDROPHIMDOWNFUSS,ANDDENDELIMBWON'TBREAKWIDJUST
DEWEIGHTOBONENIGGER.""YOUINFERNALSCOUNDREL!"CRIEDLEGRAND,APPAREN
TLYMUCHRELIEVED,"WHATDOYOUMEANBYTELLINGMESUCHNONSENSEASTHAT?ASSU
REASYOUDROPTHATBEETLEI'LLBREAKYOURNECK.LOOKHERE,JUPITER,DOYOUHEA
RME?""YES,MASSA,NEEDN'THOLLOATPOORNIGGERDATSTYLE.""WELL!NOWLISTE
N!-IFYOUWILLVENTUREOUTONTHELIMBASFARASYOUTHINKSAFE,ANDNOTLETGOTH
EBEETLE,I'LLMAKEYOUAPRESENTOFASILVERDOLLARASSOONASYOUGETDOWN.""I
'MGWINE,MASSAWILL-DEEDIIS,"REPLIEDTHENEGROVERYPROMPTLY-"MOSOUTTO
THEEENDNOW.""OUTTOTHEEND!"HEREFAIRLYSCREAMEDLEGRAND,"DOYOUSAYYOU
AREOUTTOTHEENDOFTHATLIMB?""SOONBETODEEEND,MASSA,-O-O-O-O-OH!LOR-
GOL-A-MARCY!WHATISDISHEREPONDETREE?""WELL!"CRIEDLEGRAND,HIGHLYDE
LIGHTED,"WHATISIT?""WHYTAINTNOFFINBUTASKULL-SOMEBODYBINLEFHIMHEA
DUPDETREE,ANDDECROWSDONEGOBBLEEBERYBITOBDEMEATOFF.""ASKULL,YOUSA
Y!-VERYWELL!-HOWISITFASTENEDTOTHELIMB?-WHATHOLDSITON?""SURENUFF,
MASSA;MUSLOOK.WHYDISBERRYCUROUSSARCUMSTANCE,PONMYWORD-DARE'SAGRE
ATBIGNAILINDESKULL,WHATFASTENSOBITONTODETREE.""WELLNOW,JUPITER,D
OEXACTLYASITELLYOU-DOYOUHEAR?""YES,MASSA.""PAYATTENTION,THEN!-FI
NDTHELEFTEYEOFTHESKULL.""HUM!HOO!DAT'SGOOD!WHYDAREAINTNOEYELEFAT
ALL.""CURSEYOURSTUPIDITY!DOYOUKNOWYOURRIGHTHANDFROMYOURLEFT?""YE
S,INOSEDAT-NOSEALLBOUTDAT-TISMYLEFHANDWHATICHOPSDEWOODWID.""TOBE
SURE!YOUARELEFT-HANDED;ANDYOURLEFT.EYEISONTHESAMESIDEASYOURLEFTH
AND.NOW,ISUPPOSE,YOUCANFINDTHELEFTEYEOFTHESKULL,ORTHEPLACEWHERET
HELEFTEYEHASBEEN.HAVEYOUFOUNDIT?"HEREWASALONGPAUSE.ATLENGTHTHENE
GROASKED,"ISDELEFEYEOFDESKULLPONDESAMESIDEASDELEFHANDOFDESKULL,T
OO?-CAUSEDESKULLAINTGOTNOTABITOBAHANDATALL-NEBBERMIND!IGOTDELEFE
YENOW-HEREDELEFEYE!WHATMUSDOWIDIT?""LETTHEBEETLEDROPTHROUGHIT,AS
FARASTHESTRINGWILLREACH-BUTBECAREFULANDNOTLETGOYOURHOLDOFTHESTRI
NG.""ALLDATDONE,MASSAWILL;MIGHTYEASYTINGFORTOPUTDEBUGFRUDEHOLE-L
OOKOUTFORHIMDAREBELOW!"DURINGTHISCOLLOQUYNOPORTIONOFJUPITER'SPER
SONCOULDBESEEN;BUTTHEBEETLE,WHICHHEHADSUFFEREDTODESCEND,WASNOWVI
SIBLEATTHEENDOFTHESTRING,ANDGLISTENED,LIKEAGLOBEOFBURNISHEDGOLD,
INTHELASTRAYSOFTHESETTINGSUN,SOMEOFWHICHSTILLFAINTLYILLUMINEDTHE
EMINENCEUPONWHICHWESTOOD.THESCARABæUSHUNGQUITECLEAROFANYBRANCHES
,AND,IFALLOWEDTOFALL,WOULDHAVEFALLENATOURFEET.LEGRANDIMMEDIATELY
TOOKTHESCYTHE,ANDCLEAREDWITHITACIRCULARSPACE,THREEORFOURYARDSIND
IAMETER,JUSTBENEATHTHEINSECT,AND,HAVINGACCOMPLISHEDTHIS,ORDEREDJ
UPITERTOLETGOTHESTRINGANDCOMEDOWNFROMTHETREE.DRIVINGAPEG,WITHGRE
ATNICETY,INTOTHEGROUND,ATTHEPRECISESPOTWHERETHEBEETLEFELL,MYFRIE
NDNOWPRODUCEDFROMHISPOCKETATAPEMEASURE.FASTENINGONEENDOFTHISATTH
ATPOINTOFTHETRUNK,OFTHETREEWHICHWASNEARESTTHEPEG,HEUNROLLEDITTIL
LITREACHEDTHEPEG,ANDTHENCEFARTHERUNROLLEDIT,INTHEDIRECTIONALREAD
YESTABLISHEDBYTHETWOPOINTSOFTHETREEANDTHEPEG,FORTHEDISTANCEOFFIF
TYFEET-JUPITERCLEARINGAWAYTHEBRAMBLESWITHTHESCYTHE.ATTHESPOTTHUS
ATTAINEDASECONDPEGWASDRIVEN,ANDABOUTTHIS,ASACENTRE,ARUDECIRCLE,A
BOUTFOURFEETINDIAMETER,DESCRIBED.TAKINGNOWASPADEHIMSELF,ANDGIVIN
GONETOJUPITERANDONETOME,LEGRANDBEGGEDUSTOSETABOUTDIGGINGASQUICKL
YASPOSSIBLE.TOSPEAKTHETRUTH,IHADNOESPECIALRELISHFORSUCHAMUSEMENT
ATANYTIME,AND,ATTHATPARTICULARMOMENT,WOULDMOSTWILLINGLYHAVEDECLI
NEDIT;FORTHENIGHTWASCOMINGON,ANDIFELTMUCHFATIGUEDWITHTHEEXERCISE
ALREADYTAKEN;BUTISAWNOMODEOFESCAPE,ANDWASFEARFULOFDISTURBINGMYPO
ORFRIEND'SEQUANIMITYBYAREFUSAL.COULDIHAVEDEPENDED,INDEED,UPONJUP
ITER'SAID,IWOULDHAVEHADNOHESITATIONINATTEMPTINGTOGETTHELUNATICHO
MEBYFORCE;BUTIWASTOOWELLASSUREDOFTHEOLDNEGRO'SDISPOSITION,TOHOPE
THATHEWOULDASSISTME,UNDERANYCIRCUMSTANCES,INAPERSONALCONTESTWITH
HISMASTER.IMADENODOUBTTHATTHELATTERHADBEENINFECTEDWITHSOMEOFTHEI
NNUMERABLESOUTHERNSUPERSTITIONSABOUTMONEYBURIED,ANDTHATHISPHANTA
SYHADRECEIVEDCONFIRMATIONBYTHEFINDINGOFTHESCARABæUS,OR,PERHAPS,B
YJUPITER'SOBSTINACYINMAINTAININGITTOBE"ABUGOFREALGOLD."AMINDDISP
OSEDTOLUNACYWOULDREADILYBELEDAWAYBYSUCHSUGGESTIONS-ESPECIALLYIFC
HIMINGINWITHFAVORITEPRECONCEIVEDIDEAS-ANDTHENICALLEDTOMINDTHEPOO
RFELLOW'SSPEECHABOUTTHEBEETLE'SBEING"THEINDEXOFHISFORTUNE."UPONT
HEWHOLE,IWASSADLYVEXEDANDPUZZLED,BUT,ATLENGTH,ICONCLUDEDTOMAKEAV
IRTUEOFNECESSITY-TODIGWITHAGOODWILL,ANDTHUSTHESOONERTOCONVINCETH
EVISIONARY,BYOCULARDEMONSTRATION,OFTHEFALLACYOFTHEOPINIONSHEENTE
RTAINED.THELANTERNSHAVINGBEENLIT,WEALLFELLTOWORKWITHAZEALWORTHYA
MORERATIONALCAUSE;AND,ASTHEGLAREFELLUPONOURPERSONSANDIMPLEMENTS,
ICOULDNOTHELPTHINKINGHOWPICTURESQUEAGROUPWECOMPOSED,ANDHOWSTRANG
EANDSUSPICIOUSOURLABORSMUSTHAVEAPPEAREDTOANYINTERLOPERWHO,BYCHAN
CE,MIGHTHAVESTUMBLEDUPONOURWHEREABOUTS.WEDUGVERYSTEADILYFORTWOHO
URS.LITTLEWASSAID;ANDOURCHIEFEMBARRASSMENTLAYINTHEYELPINGSOFTHED
OG,WHOTOOKEXCEEDINGINTERESTINOURPROCEEDINGS.HE,ATLENGTH,BECAMESO
OBSTREPEROUSTHATWEGREWFEARFULOFHISGIVINGTHEALARMTOSOMESTRAGGLERS
INTHEVICINITY;-OR,RATHER,THISWASTHEAPPREHENSIONOFLEGRAND;-FORMYS
ELF,ISHOULDHAVEREJOICEDATANYINTERRUPTIONWHICHMIGHTHAVEENABLEDMET
OGETTHEWANDERERHOME.THENOISEWAS,ATLENGTH,VERYEFFECTUALLYSILENCED
BYJUPITER,WHO,GETTINGOUTOFTHEHOLEWITHADOGGEDAIROFDELIBERATION,TI
EDTHEBRUTE'SMOUTHUPWITHONEOFHISSUSPENDERS,ANDTHENRETURNED,WITHAG
RAVECHUCKLE,TOHISTASK.WHENTHETIMEMENTIONEDHADEXPIRED,WEHADREACHE
DADEPTHOFFIVEFEET,ANDYETNOSIGNSOFANYTREASUREBECAMEMANIFEST.AGENE
RALPAUSEENSUED,ANDIBEGANTOHOPETHATTHEFARCEWASATANEND.LEGRAND,HOW
EVER,ALTHOUGHEVIDENTLYMUCHDISCONCERTED,WIPEDHISBROWTHOUGHTFULLYA
NDRECOMMENCED.WEHADEXCAVATEDTHEENTIRECIRCLEOFFOURFEETDIAMETER,AN
DNOWWESLIGHTLYENLARGEDTHELIMIT,ANDWENTTOTHEFARTHERDEPTHOFTWOFEET
.STILLNOTHINGAPPEARED.THEGOLD-SEEKER,WHOMISINCERELYPITIED,ATLENG
THCLAMBEREDFROMTHEPIT,WITHTHEBITTERESTDISAPPOINTMENTIMPRINTEDUPO
NEVERYFEATURE,ANDPROCEEDED,SLOWLYANDRELUCTANTLY,TOPUTONHISCOAT,W
HICHHEHADTHROWNOFFATTHEBEGINNINGOFHISLABOR.INTHEMEANTIMEIMADENOR
EMARK.JUPITER,ATASIGNALFROMHISMASTER,BEGANTOGATHERUPHISTOOLS.THI
SDONE,ANDTHEDOGHAVINGBEENUNMUZZLED,WETURNEDINPROFOUNDSILENCETOWA
RDSHOME.WEHADTAKEN,PERHAPS,ADOZENSTEPSINTHISDIRECTION,WHEN,WITHA
LOUDOATH,LEGRANDSTRODEUPTOJUPITER,ANDSEIZEDHIMBYTHECOLLAR.THEAST
ONISHEDNEGROOPENEDHISEYESANDMOUTHTOTHEFULLESTEXTENT,LETFALLTHESP
ADES,ANDFELLUPONHISKNEES."YOUSCOUNDREL,"SAIDLEGRAND,HISSINGOUTTH
ESYLLABLESFROMBETWEENHISCLENCHEDTEETH-"YOUINFERNALBLACKVILLAIN!-
SPEAK,ITELLYOU!-ANSWERMETHISINSTANT,WITHOUTPREVARICATION!-WHICH-
WHICHISYOURLEFTEYE?""OH,MYGOLLY,MASSAWILL!AINTDISHEREMYLEFEYEFOR
SARTAIN?"ROAREDTHETERRIFIEDJUPITER,PLACINGHISHANDUPONHISRIGHTORG
ANOFVISION,ANDHOLDINGITTHEREWITHADESPERATEPERTINACITY,ASIFINIMME
DIATEDREADOFHISMASTER'SATTEMPTATAGOUGE."ITHOUGHTSO!-IKNEWIT!HURR
AH!"VOCIFERATEDLEGRAND,LETTINGTHENEGROGO,ANDEXECUTINGASERIESOFCU
RVETSANDCARACOLS,MUCHTOTHEASTONISHMENTOFHISVALET,WHO,ARISINGFROM
HISKNEES,LOOKED,MUTELY,FROMHISMASTERTOMYSELF,ANDTHENFROMMYSELFTO
HISMASTER."COME!WEMUSTGOBACK,"SAIDTHELATTER,"THEGAME'SNOTUPYET;"
ANDHEAGAINLEDTHEWAYTOTHETULIP-TREE."JUPITER,"SAIDHE,WHENWEREACHE
DITSFOOT,"COMEHERE!WASTHESKULLNAILEDTOTHELIMBWITHTHEFACEOUTWARDS
,ORWITHTHEFACETOTHELIMB?""DEFACEWASOUT,MASSA,SODATDECROWSCOULDGE
TATDEEYESGOOD,WIDOUTANYTROUBLE.""WELL,THEN,WASITTHISEYEORTHATTHR
OUGHWHICHYOUDROPPEDTHEBEETLE?"-HERELEGRANDTOUCHEDEACHOFJUPITER'S
EYES."TWASDISEYE,MASSA-DELEFEYE-JISASYOUTELLME,"ANDHEREITWASHISR
IGHTEYETHATTHENEGROINDICATED."THATWILLDO-MUSTTRYITAGAIN."HEREMYF
RIEND,ABOUTWHOSEMADNESSINOWSAW,ORFANCIEDTHATISAW,CERTAININDICATI
ONSOFMETHOD,REMOVEDTHEPEGWHICHMARKEDTHESPOTWHERETHEBEETLEFELL,TO
ASPOTABOUTTHREEINCHESTOTHEWESTWARDOFITSFORMERPOSITION.TAKING,NOW
,THETAPEMEASUREFROMTHENEARESTPOINTOFTHETRUNKTOTHEPEG,ASBEFORE,AN
DCONTINUINGTHEEXTENSIONINASTRAIGHTLINETOTHEDISTANCEOFFIFTYFEET,A
SPOTWASINDICATED,REMOVED,BYSEVERALYARDS,FROMTHEPOINTATWHICHWEHAD
BEENDIGGING.AROUNDTHENEWPOSITIONACIRCLE,SOMEWHATLARGERTHANINTHEF
ORMERINSTANCE,WASNOWDESCRIBED,ANDWEAGAINSETTOWORKWITHTHESPADES.I
WASDREADFULLYWEARY,BUT,SCARCELYUNDERSTANDINGWHATHADOCCASIONEDTHE
CHANGEINMYTHOUGHTS,IFELTNOLONGERANYGREATAVERSIONFROMTHELABORIMPO
SED.IHADBECOMEMOSTUNACCOUNTABLYINTERESTED-NAY,EVENEXCITED.PERHAP
STHEREWASSOMETHING,AMIDALLTHEEXTRAVAGANTDEMEANOROFLEGRAND-SOMEAI
ROFFORETHOUGHT,OROFDELIBERATION,WHICHIMPRESSEDME.IDUGEAGERLY,AND
NOWANDTHENCAUGHTMYSELFACTUALLYLOOKING,WITHSOMETHINGTHATVERYMUCHR
ESEMBLEDEXPECTATION,FORTHEFANCIEDTREASURE,THEVISIONOFWHICHHADDEM
ENTEDMYUNFORTUNATECOMPANION.ATAPERIODWHENSUCHVAGARIESOFTHOUGHTMO
STFULLYPOSSESSEDME,ANDWHENWEHADBEENATWORKPERHAPSANHOURANDAHALF,W
EWEREAGAININTERRUPTEDBYTHEVIOLENTHOWLINGSOFTHEDOG.HISUNEASINESS,
INTHEFIRSTINSTANCE,HADBEEN,EVIDENTLY,BUTTHERESULTOFPLAYFULNESSOR
CAPRICE,BUTHENOWASSUMEDABITTERANDSERIOUSTONE.UPONJUPITER'SAGAINA
TTEMPTINGTOMUZZLEHIM,HEMADEFURIOUSRESISTANCE,AND,LEAPINGINTOTHEH
OLE,TOREUPTHEMOULDFRANTICALLYWITHHISCLAWS.INAFEWSECONDSHEHADUNCO
VEREDAMASSOFHUMANBONES,FORMINGTWOCOMPLETESKELETONS,INTERMINGLEDW
ITHSEVERALBUTTONSOFMETAL,ANDWHATAPPEAREDTOBETHEDUSTOFDECAYEDWOOL
LEN.ONEORTWOSTROKESOFASPADEUPTURNEDTHEBLADEOFALARGESPANISHKNIFE,
AND,ASWEDUGFARTHER,THREEORFOURLOOSEPIECESOFGOLDANDSILVERCOINCAME
TOLIGHT.ATSIGHTOFTHESETHEJOYOFJUPITERCOULDSCARCELYBERESTRAINED,B
UTTHECOUNTENANCEOFHISMASTERWOREANAIROFEXTREMEDISAPPOINTMENTHEURG
EDUS,HOWEVER,TOCONTINUEOUREXERTIONS,ANDTHEWORDSWEREHARDLYUTTERED
WHENISTUMBLEDANDFELLFORWARD,HAVINGCAUGHTTHETOEOFMYBOOTINALARGERI
NGOFIRONTHATLAYHALFBURIEDINTHELOOSEEARTH.WENOWWORKEDINEARNEST,AN
DNEVERDIDIPASSTENMINUTESOFMOREINTENSEEXCITEMENT.DURINGTHISINTERV
ALWEHADFAIRLYUNEARTHEDANOBLONGCHESTOFWOOD,WHICH,FROMITSPERFECTPR
ESERVATIONANDWONDERFULHARDNESS,HADPLAINLYBEENSUBJECTEDTOSOMEMINE
RALIZINGPROCESS-PERHAPSTHATOFTHEBI-CHLORIDEOFMERCURY.THISBOXWAST
HREEFEETANDAHALFLONG,THREEFEETBROAD,ANDTWOANDAHALFFEETDEEP.ITWAS
FIRMLYSECUREDBYBANDSOFWROUGHTIRON,RIVETED,ANDFORMINGAKINDOFOPENT
RELLISWORKOVERTHEWHOLE.ONEACHSIDEOFTHECHEST,NEARTHETOP,WERETHREE
RINGSOFIRON-SIXINALL-BYMEANSOFWHICHAFIRMHOLDCOULDBEOBTAINEDBYSIX
PERSONS.OURUTMOSTUNITEDENDEAVORSSERVEDONLYTODISTURBTHECOFFERVERY
SLIGHTLYINITSBED.WEATONCESAWTHEIMPOSSIBILITYOFREMOVINGSOGREATAWE
IGHT.LUCKILY,THESOLEFASTENINGSOFTHELIDCONSISTEDOFTWOSLIDINGBOLTS
.THESEWEDREWBACK-TREMBLINGANDPANTINGWITHANXIETY.INANINSTANT,ATRE
ASUREOFINCALCULABLEVALUELAYGLEAMINGBEFOREUS.ASTHERAYSOFTHELANTER
NSFELLWITHINTHEPIT,THEREFLASHEDUPWARDSAGLOWANDAGLARE,FROMACONFUS
EDHEAPOFGOLDANDOFJEWELS,THATABSOLUTELYDAZZLEDOUREYES.ISHALLNOTPR
ETENDTODESCRIBETHEFEELINGSWITHWHICHIGAZED.AMAZEMENTWAS,OFCOURSE,
PREDOMINANT.LEGRANDAPPEAREDEXHAUSTEDWITHEXCITEMENT,ANDSPOKEVERYF
EWWORDS.JUPITER'SCOUNTENANCEWORE,FORSOMEMINUTES,ASDEADLYAPALLORA
SITISPOSSIBLE,INNATUREOFTHINGS,FORANYNEGRO'SVISAGETOASSUME.HESEE
MEDSTUPIFIED-THUNDERSTRICKEN.PRESENTLYHEFELLUPONHISKNEESINTHEPIT
,AND,BURYINGHISNAKEDARMSUPTOTHEELBOWSINGOLD,LETTHEMTHEREREMAIN,A
SIFENJOYINGTHELUXURYOFABATH.ATLENGTH,WITHADEEPSIGH,HEEXCLAIMED,A
SIFINASOLILOQUY,"ANDDISALLCUMOBDEGOOLE-BUG!DEPUTTYGOOLEBUG!DEPOO
RLITTLEGOOLE-BUG,WHATIBOOSEDINDATSABAGEKINDOBSTYLE!AINTYOUSHAMED
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NDUPON,ANDAREVARIEDBY,THEGENIUSOFTHEPARTICULARIDIOM.INGENERAL,TH
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ONGUEKNOWNTOHIMWHOATTEMPTSTHESOLUTION,UNTILTHETRUEONEBEATTAINED.
BUT,WITHTHECIPHERNOWBEFOREUS,ALLDIFFICULTYWASREMOVEDBYTHESIGNATU
RE.THEPUNUPONTHEWORD'KIDD'ISAPPRECIABLEINNOOTHERLANGUAGETHANTHEE
NGLISH.BUTFORTHISCONSIDERATIONISHOULDHAVEBEGUNMYATTEMPTSWITHTHES
PANISHANDFRENCH,ASTHETONGUESINWHICHASECRETOFTHISKINDWOULDMOSTNAT
URALLYHAVEBEENWRITTENBYAPIRATEOFTHESPANISHMAIN.ASITWAS,IASSUMEDT
HECRYPTOGRAPHTOBEENGLISH."YOUOBSERVETHEREARENODIVISIONSBETWEENTH
EWORDS.HADTHEREBEENDIVISIONS,THETASKWOULDHAVEBEENCOMPARATIVELYEA
SY.INSUCHCASEISHOULDHAVECOMMENCEDWITHACOLLATIONANDANALYSISOFTHES
HORTERWORDS,AND,HADAWORDOFASINGLELETTEROCCURRED,ASISMOSTLIKELY,(
AORI,FOREXAMPLE,)ISHOULDHAVECONSIDEREDTHESOLUTIONASASSURED.BUT,T
HEREBEINGNODIVISION,MYFIRSTSTEPWASTOASCERTAINTHEPREDOMINANTLETTE
RS,ASWELLASTHELEASTFREQUENT.COUNTINGALL,ICONSTRUCTEDATABLE,THUS:
OFTHECHARACTER8THEREARE33.;"26.4"19.ç)"16.*"13.5"12.6"11.†1"8.0"
6.92"5.:3"4.?"3.¶"2.-."1."NOW,INENGLISH,THELETTERWHICHMOSTFREQUE
NTLYOCCURSISE.AFTERWARDS,SUCCESSIONRUNSTHUS:_AOIDHNRSTUYCFGLMWBK
PQXZ_._E_PREDOMINATESSOREMARKABLYTHATANINDIVIDUALSENTENCEOFANYLE
NGTHISRARELYSEEN,INWHICHITISNOTTHEPREVAILINGCHARACTER."HERE,THEN
,WELEAVE,INTHEVERYBEGINNING,THEGROUNDWORKFORSOMETHINGMORETHANAME
REGUESS.THEGENERALUSEWHICHMAYBEMADEOFTHETABLEISOBVIOUS-BUT,INTHI
SPARTICULARCIPHER,WESHALLONLYVERYPARTIALLYREQUIREITSAID.ASOURPRE
DOMINANTCHARACTERIS8,WEWILLCOMMENCEBYASSUMINGITASTHE_E_OFTHENATU
RALALPHABET.TOVERIFYTHESUPPOSITION,LETUSOBSERVEIFTHE8BESEENOFTEN
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,FOREXAMPLE,AS'MEET,''.FLEET,''SPEED,''SEEN,'BEEN,''AGREE,'&C.IN
THEPRESENTINSTANCEWESEEITDOUBLEDNOLESSTHANFIVETIMES,ALTHOUGHTHEC
RYPTOGRAPHISBRIEF."LETUSASSUME8,THEN,AS_E_.NOW,OFALL_WORDS_INTHE
LANGUAGE,'THE'ISMOSTUSUAL;LETUSSEE,THEREFORE,WHETHERTHEREARENOTR
EPETITIONSOFANYTHREECHARACTERS,INTHESAMEORDEROFCOLLOCATION,THELA
STOFTHEMBEING8.IFWEDISCOVERREPETITIONSOFSUCHLETTERS,SOARRANGED,T
HEYWILLMOSTPROBABLYREPRESENTTHEWORD'THE.'UPONINSPECTION,WEFINDNO
LESSTHANSEVENSUCHARRANGEMENTS,THECHARACTERSBEING;48.WEMAY,THEREF
ORE,ASSUMETHAT;REPRESENTS_T_,4REPRESENTS_H_,AND8REPRESENTS_E_-TH
ELASTBEINGNOWWELLCONFIRMED.THUSAGREATSTEPHASBEENTAKEN."BUT,HAVIN
GESTABLISHEDASINGLEWORD,WEAREENABLEDTOESTABLISHAVASTLYIMPORTANTP
OINT;THATISTOSAY,SEVERALCOMMENCEMENTSANDTERMINATIONSOFOTHERWORDS
.LETUSREFER,FOREXAMPLE,TOTHELASTINSTANCEBUTONE,INWHICHTHECOMBINA
TION;48OCCURS-NOTFARFROMTHEENDOFTHECIPHER.WEKNOWTHATTHE;IMMEDIAT
ELYENSUINGISTHECOMMENCEMENTOFAWORD,AND,OFTHESIXCHARACTERSSUCCEED
INGTHIS'THE,'WEARECOGNIZANTOFNOLESSTHANFIVE.LETUSSETTHESECHARACT
ERSDOWN,THUS,BYTHELETTERSWEKNOWTHEMTOREPRESENT,LEAVINGASPACEFORT
HEUNKNOWN-TEETH."HEREWEAREENABLED,ATONCE,TODISCARDTHE'TH,'ASFORM
INGNOPORTIONOFTHEWORDCOMMENCINGWITHTHEFIRSTT;SINCE,BYEXPERIMENTO
FTHEENTIREALPHABETFORALETTERADAPTEDTOTHEVACANCY,WEPERCEIVETHATNO
WORDCANBEFORMEDOFWHICHTHIS_TH_CANBEAPART.WEARETHUSNARROWEDINTOTE
E,AND,GOINGTHROUGHTHEALPHABET,IFNECESSARY,ASBEFORE,WEARRIVEATTHE
WORD'TREE,'ASTHESOLEPOSSIBLEREADING.WETHUSGAINANOTHERLETTER,_R_,
REPRESENTEDBY(,WITHTHEWORDS'THETREE'INJUXTAPOSITION."LOOKINGBEYO
NDTHESEWORDS,FORASHORTDISTANCE,WEAGAINSEETHECOMBINATION;48,ANDEM
PLOYITBYWAYOF_TERMINATION_TOWHATIMMEDIATELYPRECEDES.WEHAVETHUSTH
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KNOWNCHARACTERS,WELEAVEBLANKSPACES,ORSUBSTITUTEDOTS,WEREADTHUS:T
HETREETHR...HTHE,WHENTHEWORD'_THROUGH_'MAKESITSELFEVIDENTATONCE.
BUTTHISDISCOVERYGIVESUSTHREENEWLETTERS,_O_,_U_AND_G_,REPRESENTED
BYç?AND3."LOOKINGNOW,NARROWLY,THROUGHTHECIPHERFORCOMBINATIONSOFK
NOWNCHARACTERS,WEFIND,NOTVERYFARFROMTHEBEGINNING,THISARRANGEMENT
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DGIVESUSANOTHERLETTER,_D_,REPRESENTEDBY†."FOURLETTERSBEYONDTHEWO
RD'DEGREE,'WEPERCEIVETHECOMBINATION;46(;88."TRANSLATINGTHEKNOWNC
HARACTERS,ANDREPRESENTINGTHEUNKNOWNBYDOTS,ASBEFORE,WEREADTHUS:TH
RTEE.ANARRANGEMENTIMMEDIATELYSUGGESTIVEOFTHEWORD'THIRTEEN,'ANDAG
AINFURNISHINGUSWITHTWONEWCHARACTERS,_I_AND_N_,REPRESENTEDBY6AND*
."REFERRING,NOW,TOTHEBEGINNINGOFTHECRYPTOGRAPH,WEFINDTHECOMBINAT
ION,53çç†."TRANSLATING,ASBEFORE,WEOBTAINGOOD,WHICHASSURESUSTHATT
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ETHATWEARRANGEOURKEY,ASFARASDISCOVERED,INATABULARFORM,TOAVOIDCON
FUSION.ITWILLSTANDTHUS:5REPRESENTSA†"D8"E3"G4"H6"I*"Nç"O("R;"T"W
EHAVE,THEREFORE,NOLESSTHANTENOFTHEMOSTIMPORTANTLETTERSREPRESENTE
D,ANDITWILLBEUNNECESSARYTOPROCEEDWITHTHEDETAILSOFTHESOLUTION.IHA
VESAIDENOUGHTOCONVINCEYOUTHATCIPHERSOFTHISNATUREAREREADILYSOLUBL
E,ANDTOGIVEYOUSOMEINSIGHTINTOTHERATIONALEOFTHEIRDEVELOPMENT.BUTB
EASSUREDTHATTHESPECIMENBEFOREUSAPPERTAINSTOTHEVERYSIMPLESTSPECIE
SOFCRYPTOGRAPH.ITNOWONLYREMAINSTOGIVEYOUTHEFULLTRANSLATIONOFTHEC
HARACTERSUPONTHEPARCHMENT,ASUNRIDDLED.HEREITIS:"'_AGOODGLASSINTH
EBISHOP'SHOSTELINTHEDEVIL'SSEATFORTY-ONEDEGREESANDTHIRTEENMINUTE
SNORTHEASTANDBYNORTHMAINBRANCHSEVENTHLIMBEASTSIDESHOOTFROMTHELEF
TEYEOFTHEDEATH'S-HEADABEELINEFROMTHETREETHROUGHTHESHOTFIFTYFEETO
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"THATTHEMATTERSTILLWEARSASERIOUSASPECT,WHENREGARDEDWITHACASUALGL
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INTENDEDBYTHECRYPTOGRAPHIST.""YOUMEAN,TOPUNCTUATEIT?""SOMETHINGO
FTHATKIND.""BUTHOWWASITPOSSIBLETOEFFECTTHIS?""IREFLECTEDTHATITHA
DBEENAPOINTWITHTHEWRITERTORUNHISWORDSTOGETHERWITHOUTDIVISION,SOA
STOINCREASETHEDIFFICULTYOFSOLUTION.NOW,ANOTOVER-ACUTEMAN,INPURSU
INGSUCHANOBJECTWOULDBENEARLYCERTAINTOOVERDOTHEMATTER.WHEN,INTHEC
OURSEOFHISCOMPOSITION,HEARRIVEDATABREAKINHISSUBJECTWHICHWOULDNAT
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USUALCROWDING.ACTINGUPONTHISHINT,IMADETHEDIVISIONTHUS:'AGOODGLAS
SINTHEBISHOP'SHOSTELINTHEDEVIL'SSEAT-FORTY-ONEDEGREESANDTHIRTEEN
MINUTES-NORTHEASTANDBYNORTH-MAINBRANCHSEVENTHLIMBEASTSIDE-SHOOTF
ROMTHELEFTEYEOFTHEDEATH'S-HEAD-ABEE-LINEFROMTHETREETHROUGHTHESHO
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.""ITLEFTMEALSOINTHEDARK,"REPLIEDLEGRAND,"FORAFEWDAYS;DURINGWHIC
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MATICMANNER,WHEN,ONEMORNING,ITENTEREDINTOMYHEAD,QUITESUDDENLY,TH
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RWELLFORHERTROUBLE,AND,AFTERSOMEDEMUR,SHECONSENTEDTOACCOMPANYMET
OTHESPOT.WEFOUNDITWITHOUTMUCHDIFFICULTY,WHEN,DISMISSINGHER,IPROC
EEDEDTOEXAMINETHEPLACE.THE'CASTLE'CONSISTEDOFANIRREGULARASSEMBLA
GEOFCLIFFSANDROCKS-ONEOFTHELATTERBEINGQUITEREMARKABLEFORITSHEIGH
TASWELLASFORITSINSULATEDANDARTIFICIALAPPEARANCEICLAMBEREDTOITSAP
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IFFJUSTABOVEIT,GAVEITARUDERESEMBLANCETOONEOFTHEHOLLOW-BACKEDCHAI
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DEDTOINTHEMS.,ANDNOWISEEMEDTOGRASPTHEFULLSECRETOFTHERIDDLE."THE'
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HEROCK."ILETMYSELFDOWNTOTHELEDGE,ANDFOUNDTHATITWASIMPOSSIBLETORE
TAINASEATUPONITEXCEPTINONEPARTICULARPOSITION.THISFACTCONFIRMEDMY
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IOUSLYUPORDOWN,UNTILMYATTENTIONWASARRESTEDBYACIRCULARRIFTOROPENI
NGINTHEFOLIAGEOFALARGETREETHATOVERTOPPEDITSFELLOWSINTHEDISTANCE.
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INTITHOUGHTITATLEASTPOSSIBLETHATADEPOSITOFVALUELAYCONCEALED.""AL
LTHIS,"ISAID,"ISEXCEEDINGLYCLEAR,AND,ALTHOUGHINGENIOUS,STILLSIMP
LEANDEXPLICIT.WHENYOULEFTTHEBISHOP'SHOTEL,WHATTHEN?""WHY,HAVINGC
AREFULLYTAKENTHEBEARINGSOFTHETREE,ITURNEDHOMEWARDS.THEINSTANTTHA
TILEFT'THEDEVIL'SSEAT,'HOWEVER,THECIRCULARRIFTVANISHED;NORCOULDI
GETAGLIMPSEOFITAFTERWARDS,TURNASIWOULD.WHATSEEMSTOMETHECHIEFINGE
NUITYINTHISWHOLEBUSINESS,ISTHEFACT(FORREPEATEDEXPERIMENTHASCONVI
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THERATTAINABLEPOINTOFVIEWTHANTHATAFFORDEDBYTHENARROWLEDGEUPONTHE
FACEOFTHEROCK."INTHISEXPEDITIONTOTHE'BISHOP'SHOTEL'IHADBEENATTEN
DEDBYJUPITER,WHOHAD,NODOUBT,OBSERVED,FORSOMEWEEKSPAST,THEABSTRAC
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EXTDAY,GETTINGUPVERYEARLY,ICONTRIVEDTOGIVEHIMTHESLIP,ANDWENTINTO
THEHILLSINSEARCHOFTHETREE.AFTERMUCHTOILIFOUNDIT.WHENICAMEHOMEATN
IGHTMYVALETPROPOSEDTOGIVEMEAFLOGGING.WITHTHERESTOFTHEADVENTUREIB
ELIEVEYOUAREASWELLACQUAINTEDASMYSELF.""ISUPPOSE,"SAIDI,"YOUMISSE
DTHESPOT,INTHEFIRSTATTEMPTATDIGGING,THROUGHJUPITER'SSTUPIDITYINL
ETTINGTHEBUGFALLTHROUGHTHERIGHTINSTEADOFTHROUGHTHELEFTEYEOFTHESK
ULL.""PRECISELY.THISMISTAKEMADEADIFFERENCEOFABOUTTWOINCHESANDAHA
LFINTHE'SHOT'-THATISTOSAY,INTHEPOSITIONOFTHEPEGNEARESTTHETREE;AN
DHADTHETREASUREBEENBENEATHTHE'SHOT,'THEERRORWOULDHAVEBEENOFLITTL
EMOMENT;BUT'THESHOT,'TOGETHERWITHTHENEARESTPOINTOFTHETREE,WEREME
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NE,ANDBYTHETIMEWEHADGONEFIFTYFEET,THREWUSQUITEOFFTHESCENT.BUTFOR
MYDEEP-SEATEDIMPRESSIONSTHATTREASUREWASHERESOMEWHEREACTUALLYBURI
ED,WEMIGHTHAVEHADALLOURLABORINVAIN.""BUTYOURGRANDILOQUENCE,ANDYO
URCONDUCTINSWINGINGTHEBEETLE-HOWEXCESSIVELYODD!IWASSUREYOUWEREMA
D.ANDWHYDIDYOUINSISTUPONLETTINGFALLTHEBUG,INSTEADOFABULLET,FROMT
HESKULL?""WHY,TOBEFRANK,IFELTSOMEWHATANNOYEDBYYOUREVIDENTSUSPICI
ONSTOUCHINGMYSANITY,ANDSORESOLVEDTOPUNISHYOUQUIETLY,INMYOWNWAY,B
YALITTLEBITOFSOBERMYSTIFICATION.FORTHISREASONISWUNGTHEBEETLE,AND
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ONLYONEPOINTWHICHPUZZLESME.WHATAREWETOMAKEOFTHESKELETONSFOUNDINT
HEHOLE?""THATISAQUESTIONIAMNOMOREABLETOANSWERTHANYOURSELF.THERES
EEMS,HOWEVER,ONLYONEPLAUSIBLEWAYOFACCOUNTINGFORTHEM-ANDYETITISDR
EADFULTOBELIEVEINSUCHATROCITYASMYSUGGESTIONWOULDIMPLY.ITISCLEART
HATKIDD-IFKIDDINDEEDSECRETEDTHISTREASURE,WHICHIDOUBTNOT-ITISCLEA
RTHATHEMUSTHAVEHADASSISTANCEINTHELABOR.BUTTHISLABORCONCLUDED,HEM
AYHAVETHOUGHTITEXPEDIENTTOREMOVEALLPARTICIPANTSINHISSECRET.PERHA
PSACOUPLEOFBLOWSWITHAMATTOCKWERESUFFICIENT,WHILEHISCOADJUTORSWER
EBUSYINTHEPIT;PERHAPSITREQUIREDADOZEN-WHOSHALLTELL?"~~~