WHATHO!WHATHO!THISFELLOWISDANCINGMAD!HEHATHBEENBITTENBYTHETARANTULA._--ALLINTHEWRONG._MANYYEARSAGO,ICONTRACTEDANINTIMACYWITHAMR.WILLIAMLEGRAND.HEWASOFANANCIENTHUGUENOTFAMILY,ANDHADONCEBEENWEALTHY;BUTASERIESOFMISFORTUNESHADREDUCEDHIMTOWANT.TOAVOIDTHEMORTIFI
CATIONCONSEQUENTUPONHISDISASTERS,HELEFTNEWORLEANS,THECITYOFHISFOREFATHERS,ANDTOOKUPHISRESIDENCEATSULLIVAN'SISLAND,NEARCHARLESTON,SOUTHCAROLINA.THISISLANDISAVERYSINGULARONE.ITCONSISTSOFLITTLEELSETHANTHESEASAND,ANDISABOUTTHREEMILESLONG.ITSBREADTHATNOPOINTEXC
EEDSAQUARTEROFAMILE.ITISSEPARATEDFROMTHEMAINLANDBYASCARCELYPERCEPTIBLECREEK,OOZINGITSWAYTHROUGHAWILDERNESSOFREEDSANDSLIME,AFAVORITERESORTOFTHEMARSHHEN.THEVEGETATION,ASMIGHTBESUPPOSED,ISSCANT,ORATLEASTDWARFISH.NOTREESOFANYMAGNITUDEARETOBESEEN.NEARTHEWESTERN
EXTREMITY,WHEREFORTMOULTRIESTANDS,ANDWHEREARESOMEMISERABLEFRAMEBUILDINGS,TENANTED,DURINGSUMMER,BYTHEFUGITIVESFROMCHARLESTONDUSTANDFEVER,MAYBEFOUND,INDEED,THEBRISTLYPALMETTO;BUTTHEWHOLEISLAND,WITHTHEEXCEPTIONOFTHISWESTERNPOINT,ANDALINEOFHARD,WHITEBEACHONTHE
SEACOAST,ISCOVEREDWITHADENSEUNDERGROWTHOFTHESWEETMYRTLE,SOMUCHPRIZEDBYTHEHORTICULTURISTSOFENGLAND.THESHRUBHEREOFTENATTAINSTHEHEIGHTOFFIFTEENORTWENTYFEET,ANDFORMSANALMOSTIMPENETRABLECOPPICE,BURTHENINGTHEAIRWITHITSFRAGRANCE.INTHEINMOSTRECESSESOFTHISCOPPICE,N
OTFARFROMTHEEASTERNORMOREREMOTEENDOFTHEISLAND,LEGRANDHADBUILTHIMSELFASMALLHUT,WHICHHEOCCUPIEDWHENIFIRST,BYMEREACCIDENT,MADEHISACQUAINTANCE.THISSOONRIPENEDINTOFRIENDSHIP-FORTHEREWASMUCHINTHERECLUSETOEXCITEINTERESTANDESTEEM.IFOUNDHIMWELLEDUCATED,WITHUNUSUALP
OWERSOFMIND,BUTINFECTEDWITHMISANTHROPY,ANDSUBJECTTOPERVERSEMOODSOFALTERNATEENTHUSIASMANDMELANCHOLY.HEHADWITHHIMMANYBOOKS,BUTRARELYEMPLOYEDTHEM.HISCHIEFAMUSEMENTSWEREGUNNINGANDFISHING,ORSAUNTERINGALONGTHEBEACHANDTHROUGHTHEMYRTLES,INQUESTOFSHELLSORENTOMOLOGI
CALSPECIMENS;-HISCOLLECTIONOFTHELATTERMIGHTHAVEBEENENVIEDBYASWAMMERDAMM.INTHESEEXCURSIONSHEWASUSUALLYACCOMPANIEDBYANOLDNEGRO,CALLEDJUPITER,WHOHADBEENMANUMITTEDBEFORETHEREVERSESOFTHEFAMILY,BUTWHOCOULDBEINDUCED,NEITHERBYTHREATSNORBYPROMISES,TOABANDONWHATHECO
NSIDEREDHISRIGHTOFATTENDANCEUPONTHEFOOTSTEPSOFHISYOUNG"MASSAWILL."ITISNOTIMPROBABLETHATTHERELATIVESOFLEGRAND,CONCEIVINGHIMTOBESOMEWHATUNSETTLEDININTELLECT,HADCONTRIVEDTOINSTILTHISOBSTINACYINTOJUPITER,WITHAVIEWTOTHESUPERVISIONANDGUARDIANSHIPOFTHEWANDERER.TH
EWINTERSINTHELATITUDEOFSULLIVAN'SISLANDARESELDOMVERYSEVERE,ANDINTHEFALLOFTHEYEARITISARAREEVENTINDEEDWHENAFIREISCONSIDEREDNECESSARY.ABOUTTHEMIDDLEOFOCTOBER,18-,THEREOCCURRED,HOWEVER,ADAYOFREMARKABLECHILLINESS.JUSTBEFORESUNSETISCRAMBLEDMYWAYTHROUGHTHEEVERGRE
ENSTOTHEHUTOFMYFRIEND,WHOMIHADNOTVISITEDFORSEVERALWEEKS-MYRESIDENCEBEING,ATTHATTIME,INCHARLESTON,ADISTANCEOFNINEMILESFROMTHEISLAND,WHILETHEFACILITIESOFPASSAGEANDRE-PASSAGEWEREVERYFARBEHINDTHOSEOFTHEPRESENTDAY.UPONREACHINGTHEHUTIRAPPED,ASWASMYCUSTOM,ANDGETT
INGNOREPLY,SOUGHTFORTHEKEYWHEREIKNEWITWASSECRETED,UNLOCKEDTHEDOORANDWENTIN.AFINEFIREWASBLAZINGUPONTHEHEARTH.ITWASANOVELTY,ANDBYNOMEANSANUNGRATEFULONE.ITHREWOFFANOVERCOAT,TOOKANARM-CHAIRBYTHECRACKLINGLOGS,ANDAWAITEDPATIENTLYTHEARRIVALOFMYHOSTS.SOONAFTERDARK
THEYARRIVED,ANDGAVEMEAMOSTCORDIALWELCOME.JUPITER,GRINNINGFROMEARTOEAR,BUSTLEDABOUTTOPREPARESOMEMARSH-HENSFORSUPPER.LEGRANDWASINONEOFHISFITS-HOWELSESHALLITERMTHEM?-OFENTHUSIASM.HEHADFOUNDANUNKNOWNBIVALVE,FORMINGANEWGENUS,AND,MORETHANTHIS,HEHADHUNTEDDOWNANDS
ECURED,WITHJUPITER'SASSISTANCE,ASCARABæUSWHICHHEBELIEVEDTOBETOTALLYNEW,BUTINRESPECTTOWHICHHEWISHEDTOHAVEMYOPINIONONTHEMORROW."ANDWHYNOTTO-NIGHT?"IASKED,RUBBINGMYHANDSOVERTHEBLAZE,ANDWISHINGTHEWHOLETRIBEOFSCARABæIATTHEDEVIL."AH,IFIHADONLYKNOWNYOUWEREHERE!"S
AIDLEGRAND,"BUTIT'SSOLONGSINCEISAWYOU;ANDHOWCOULDIFORESEETHATYOUWOULDPAYMEAVISITTHISVERYNIGHTOFALLOTHERS?ASIWASCOMINGHOMEIMETLIEUTENANTG--,FROMTHEFORT,AND,VERYFOOLISHLY,ILENTHIMTHEBUG;SOITWILLBEIMPOSSIBLEFORYOUTOSEEITUNTILTHEMORNING.STAYHERETO-NIGHT,ANDIWI
LLSENDJUPDOWNFORITATSUNRISE.ITISTHELOVELIESTTHINGINCREATION!""WHAT?-SUNRISE?""NONSENSE!NO!-THEBUG.ITISOFABRILLIANTGOLDCOLOR-ABOUTTHESIZEOFALARGEHICKORY-NUT-WITHTWOJETBLACKSPOTSNEARONEEXTREMITYOFTHEBACK,ANDANOTHER,SOMEWHATLONGER,ATTHEOTHER.THEANTENNæARE-""D
EYAINTNOTININHIM,MASSAWILL,IKEEPATELLINONYOU,"HEREINTERRUPTEDJUPITER;"DEBUGISAGOOLEBUG,SOLID,EBERYBITOFHIM,INSIDEANDALL,SEPHIMWING-NEBERFEELHALFSOHEBBYABUGINMYLIFE.""WELL,SUPPOSEITIS,JUP,"REPLIEDLEGRAND,SOMEWHATMOREEARNESTLY,ITSEEMEDTOME,THANTHECASEDEMANDE
D,"ISTHATANYREASONFORYOURLETTINGTHEBIRDSBURN?THECOLOR"-HEREHETURNEDTOME-"ISREALLYALMOSTENOUGHTOWARRANTJUPITER'SIDEA.YOUNEVERSAWAMOREBRILLIANTMETALLICLUSTRETHANTHESCALESEMIT-BUTOFTHISYOUCANNOTJUDGETILLTOMORROW.INTHEMEANTIMEICANGIVEYOUSOMEIDEAOFTHESHAPE."SAY
INGTHIS,HESEATEDHIMSELFATASMALLTABLE,ONWHICHWEREAPENANDINK,BUTNOPAPER.HELOOKEDFORSOMEINADRAWER,BUTFOUNDNONE."NEVERMIND,"SAIDHEATLENGTH,"THISWILLANSWER;"ANDHEDREWFROMHISWAISTCOATPOCKETASCRAPOFWHATITOOKTOBEVERYDIRTYFOOLSCAP,ANDMADEUPONITAROUGHDRAWINGWITHTHEP
EN.WHILEHEDIDTHIS,IRETAINEDMYSEATBYTHEFIRE,FORIWASSTILLCHILLY.WHENTHEDESIGNWASCOMPLETE,HEHANDEDITTOMEWITHOUTRISING.ASIRECEIVEDIT,ALOUDGROWLWASHEARD,SUCCEEDEDBYASCRATCHINGATTHEDOOR.JUPITEROPENEDIT,ANDALARGENEWFOUNDLAND,BELONGINGTOLEGRAND,RUSHEDIN,LEAPEDUPON
MYSHOULDERS,ANDLOADEDMEWITHCARESSES;FORIHADSHOWNHIMMUCHATTENTIONDURINGPREVIOUSVISITS.WHENHISGAMBOLSWEREOVER,ILOOKEDATTHEPAPER,AND,TOSPEAKTHETRUTH,FOUNDMYSELFNOTALITTLEPUZZLEDATWHATMYFRIENDHADDEPICTED."WELL!"ISAID,AFTERCONTEMPLATINGITFORSOMEMINUTES,"THISISA
STRANGESCARABæUS,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'T
KNOW,"SAIDHE,ALITTLENETTLED,"IDRAWTOLERABLY-SHOULDDOITATLEAST-HAVEHADGOODMASTERS,ANDFLATTERMYSELFTHATIAMNOTQUITEABLOCKHEAD.""BUT,MYDEARFELLOW,YOUAREJOKINGTHEN,"SAIDI,"THISISAVERYPASSABLESKULL-INDEED,IMAYSAYTHATITISAVERYEXCELLENTSKULL,ACCORDINGTOTHEVULGARNO
TIONSABOUTSUCHSPECIMENSOFPHYSIOLOGY-ANDYOURSCARABæUSMUSTBETHEQUEERESTSCARABæUSINTHEWORLDIFITRESEMBLESIT.WHY,WEMAYGETUPAVERYTHRILLINGBITOFSUPERSTITIONUPONTHISHINT.IPRESUMEYOUWILLCALLTHEBUGSCARABæUSCAPUTHOMINIS,ORSOMETHINGOFTHATKIND-THEREAREMANYSIMILARTITLES
INTHENATURALHISTORIES.BUTWHEREARETHEANTENNæYOUSPOKEOF?""THEANTENNæ!"SAIDLEGRAND,WHOSEEMEDTOBEGETTINGUNACCOUNTABLYWARMUPONTHESUBJECT;"IAMSUREYOUMUSTSEETHEANTENNæ.IMADETHEMASDISTINCTASTHEYAREINTHEORIGINALINSECT,ANDIPRESUMETHATISSUFFICIENT.""WELL,WELL,"ISAID,
"PERHAPSYOUHAVE-STILLIDON'TSEETHEM;"ANDIHANDEDHIMTHEPAPERWITHOUTADDITIONALREMARK,NOTWISHINGTORUFFLEHISTEMPER;BUTIWASMUCHSURPRISEDATTHETURNAFFAIRSHADTAKEN;HISILLHUMORPUZZLEDME-AND,ASFORTHEDRAWINGOFTHEBEETLE,THEREWEREPOSITIVELYNOANTENNæVISIBLE,ANDTHEWHOLEDID
BEARAVERYCLOSERESEMBLANCETOTHEORDINARYCUTSOFADEATH'S-HEAD.HERECEIVEDTHEPAPERVERYPEEVISHLY,ANDWASABOUTTOCRUMPLEIT,APPARENTLYTOTHROWITINTHEFIRE,WHENACASUALGLANCEATTHEDESIGNSEEMEDSUDDENLYTORIVETHISATTENTION.INANINSTANTHISFACEGREWVIOLENTLYRED-INANOTHERASEXCESS
IVELYPALE.FORSOMEMINUTESHECONTINUEDTOSCRUTINIZETHEDRAWINGMINUTELYWHEREHESAT.ATLENGTHHEAROSE,TOOKACANDLEFROMTHETABLE,ANDPROCEEDEDTOSEATHIMSELFUPONASEA-CHESTINTHEFARTHESTCORNEROFTHEROOM.HEREAGAINHEMADEANANXIOUSEXAMINATIONOFTHEPAPER;TURNINGITINALLDIRECTIONS.H
ESAIDNOTHING,HOWEVER,ANDHISCONDUCTGREATLYASTONISHEDME;YETITHOUGHTITPRUDENTNOTTOEXACERBATETHEGROWINGMOODINESSOFHISTEMPERBYANYCOMMENT.PRESENTLYHETOOKFROMHISCOATPOCKETAWALLET,PLACEDTHEPAPERCAREFULLYINIT,ANDDEPOSITEDBOTHINAWRITING-DESK,WHICHHELOCKED.HENOWGREWM
ORECOMPOSEDINHISDEMEANOR;BUTHISORIGINALAIROFENTHUSIASMHADQUITEDISAPPEARED.YETHESEEMEDNOTSOMUCHSULKYASABSTRACTED.ASTHEEVENINGWOREAWAYHEBECAMEMOREANDMOREABSORBEDINREVERIE,FROMWHICHNOSALLIESOFMINECOULDAROUSEHIM.ITHADBEENMYINTENTIONTOPASSTHENIGHTATTHEHUT,ASIHA
DFREQUENTLYDONEBEFORE,BUT,SEEINGMYHOSTINTHISMOOD,IDEEMEDITPROPERTOTAKELEAVE.HEDIDNOTPRESSMETOREMAIN,BUT,ASIDEPARTED,HESHOOKMYHANDWITHEVENMORETHANHISUSUALCORDIALITY.ITWASABOUTAMONTHAFTERTHIS(ANDDURINGTHEINTERVALIHADSEENNOTHINGOFLEGRAND)WHENIRECEIVEDAVISIT,A
TCHARLESTON,FROMHISMAN,JUPITER.IHADNEVERSEENTHEGOODOLDNEGROLOOKSODISPIRITED,ANDIFEAREDTHATSOMESERIOUSDISASTERHADBEFALLENMYFRIEND."WELL,JUP,"SAIDI,"WHATISTHEMATTERNOW?-HOWISYOURMASTER?""WHY,TOSPEAKDETROOF,MASSA,HIMNOTSOBERRYWELLASMOUGHTBE.""NOTWELL!IAMTRULY
SORRYTOHEARIT.WHATDOESHECOMPLAINOF?""DAR!DAT'SIT!-HIMNEBERPLAINOFNOTIN-BUTHIMBERRYSICKFORALLDAT.""VERYSICK,JUPITER!-WHYDIDN'TYOUSAYSOATONCE?ISHECONFINEDTOBED?""NO,DATHEAINT!-HEAINTFINDNOWHAR-DAT'SJUSTWHARDESHOEPINCH-MYMINDISGOTTOBEBERRYHEBBYBOUTPOORMASSAWI
LL.""JUPITER,ISHOULDLIKETOUNDERSTANDWHATITISYOUARETALKINGABOUT.YOUSAYYOURMASTERISSICK.HASN'THETOLDYOUWHATAILSHIM?""WHY,MASSA,TAINTWORFWHILEFORTOGITMADABOUTDEMATTER-MASSAWILLSAYNOFFINATALLAINTDEMATTERWIDHIM-BUTDENWHATMAKEHIMGOABOUTLOOKINGDISHEREWAY,WIDHEHEA
DDOWNANDHESOLDIERSUP,ANDASWHITEASAGOSE?ANDDENHEKEEPASYPHONALLDETIME-""KEEPSAWHAT,JUPITER?""KEEPSASYPHONWIDDEFIGGURSONDESLATE-DEQUEERESTFIGGURSIEBBERDIDSEE.ISEGITTINTOBESKEERED,ITELLYOU.HABFORTOKEEPMIGHTYTIGHTEYEPONHIMNOOVERS.TODDERDAYHEGIBMESLIPFOREDESUNUP
ANDWASGONEDEWHOLEOBDEBLESSEDDAY.IHADABIGSTICKREADYCUTFORTOGIBHIMDEUCEDGOODBEATINGWHENHEDIDCOME-BUTISESICHAFOOLDATIHADN'TDEHEARTARTERALL-HELOOKSOBERRYPOORLY.""EH?-WHAT?-AHYES!-UPONTHEWHOLEITHINKYOUHADBETTERNOTBETOOSEVEREWITHTHEPOORFELLOW-DON'TFLOGHIM,JUPITE
R-HECAN'TVERYWELLSTANDIT-BUTCANYOUFORMNOIDEAOFWHATHASOCCASIONEDTHISILLNESS,ORRATHERTHISCHANGEOFCONDUCT?HASANYTHINGUNPLEASANTHAPPENEDSINCEISAWYOU?""NO,MASSA,DEYAINTBINNOFFINUNPLEASANTSINCEDEN-'TWASFOREDENI'MFEARED-'TWASDEBERRYDAYYOUWASDARE.""HOW?WHATDOYOUME
AN?""WHY,MASSA,IMEANDEBUG-DARENOW.""THEWHAT?""DEBUG,-I'MBERRYSARTAINDATMASSAWILLBINBITSOMEWHEREBOUTDEHEADBYDATGOOLE-BUG.""ANDWHATCAUSEHAVEYOU,JUPITER,FORSUCHASUPPOSITION?""CLAWSENUFF,MASSA,ANDMOUTHTOO.INEBBERDIDSEESICKADEUCEDBUG-HEKICKANDHEBITEEBERYTINGWHA
TCUMNEARHIM.MASSAWILLCOTCHHIMFUSS,BUTHADFORTOLETHIMGOGINMIGHTYQUICK,ITELLYOU-DENWASDETIMEHEMUSTHAGOTDEBITE.IDIDN'TLIKEDELOOKOHDEBUGMOUFF,MYSELF,NOHOW,SOIWOULDN'TTAKEHOLDOBHIMWIDMYFINGER,BUTICOTCHHIMWIDAPIECEOBPAPERDATIFOUND.IRAPHIMUPINDEPAPERANDSTUFFPIECEO
BITINHEMOUFF-DATWASDEWAY.""ANDYOUTHINK,THEN,THATYOURMASTERWASREALLYBITTENBYTHEBEETLE,ANDTHATTHEBITEMADEHIMSICK?""IDON'TTINKNOFFINABOUTIT-INOSEIT.WHATMAKEHIMDREAMBOUTDEGOOLESOMUCH,IFTAINTCAUSEHEBITBYDEGOOLE-BUG?ISEHEERDBOUTDEMGOOLE-BUGSFOREDIS.""BUTHOWDOYOU
KNOWHEDREAMSABOUTGOLD?""HOWIKNOW?WHYCAUSEHETALKABOUTITINHESLEEP-DAT'SHOWINOSE.""WELL,JUP,PERHAPSYOUARERIGHT;BUTTOWHATFORTUNATECIRCUMSTANCEAMITOATTRIBUTETHEHONOROFAVISITFROMYOUTO-DAY?""WHATDEMATTER,MASSA?""DIDYOUBRINGANYMESSAGEFROMMR.LEGRAND""NO,MASSA,IBRIN
GDISHEREPISSEL;"ANDHEREJUPITERHANDEDMEANOTEWHICHRANTHUS:MYDEAR--WHYHAVEINOTSEENYOUFORSOLONGATIME?IHOPEYOUHAVENOTBEENSOFOOLISHASTOTAKEOFFENCEATANYLITTLE_BRUSQUERIE_OFMINE;BUTNO,THATISIMPROBABLE.SINCEISAWYOUIHAVEHADGREATCAUSEFORANXIETY.IHAVESOMETHINGTOTELLYO
U,YETSCARCELYKNOWHOWTOTELLIT,ORWHETHERISHOULDTELLITATALL.IHAVENOTBEENQUITEWELLFORSOMEDAYSPAST,ANDPOOROLDJUPANNOYSME,ALMOSTBEYONDENDURANCE,BYHISWELL-MEANTATTENTIONSWOULDYOUBELIEVEIT?-HEHADPREPAREDAHUGESTICK,THEOTHERDAY,WITHWHICHTOCHASTISEMEFORGIVINGHIMTHESL
IP,ANDSPENDINGTHEDAY,_SOLUS_,AMONGTHEHILLSONTHEMAINLAND.IVERILYBELIEVETHATMYILLLOOKSALONESAVEDMEAFLOGGING.IHAVEMADENOADDITIONTOMYCABINETSINCEWEMET.IFYOUCAN,INANYWAY,MAKEITCONVENIENT,COMEOVERWITHJUPITER._DO_COME.IWISHTOSEEYOUTO-_NIGHT_,UPONBUSINESSOFIMPORTA
NCE.IASSUREYOUTHATITISOFTHE_HIGHEST_IMPORTANCE.EVERYOURS,WILLIAMLEGRAND.THEREWASSOMETHINGINTHETONEOFTHISNOTEWHICHGAVEMEGREATUNEASINESS.ITSWHOLESTYLEDIFFEREDMATERIALLYFROMTHATOFLEGRAND.WHATCOULDHEBEDREAMINGOF?WHATNEWCROTCHETPOSSESSEDHISEXCITABLEBRAIN?WHAT"B
USINESSOFTHEHIGHESTIMPORTANCE"COULDHEPOSSIBLYHAVETOTRANSACT?JUPITER'SACCOUNTOFHIMBODEDNOGOOD.IDREADEDLESTTHECONTINUEDPRESSUREOFMISFORTUNEHAD,ATLENGTH,FAIRLYUNSETTLEDTHEREASONOFMYFRIEND.WITHOUTAMOMENT'SHESITATION,THEREFORE,IPREPAREDTOACCOMPANYTHENEGRO.UPONR
EACHINGTHEWHARF,INOTICEDASCYTHEANDTHREESPADES,ALLAPPARENTLYNEW,LYINGINTHEBOTTOMOFTHEBOATINWHICHWEWERETOEMBARK."WHATISTHEMEANINGOFALLTHIS,JUP?"IINQUIRED."HIMSYFE,MASSA,ANDSPADE.""VERYTRUE;BUTWHATARETHEYDOINGHERE?""HIMDESYFEANDDESPADEWHATMASSAWILLSISPONMYBUY
INGFORHIMINDETOWN,ANDDEDEBBILSOWNLOTOFMONEYIHADTOGIBFOREM.""BUTWHAT,INTHENAMEOFALLTHATISMYSTERIOUS,ISYOUR'MASSAWILL'GOINGTODOWITHSCYTHESANDSPADES?""DAT'SMOREDANIKNOW,ANDDEBBILTAKEMEIFIDON'TBLIEVE'TISMOREDANHEKNOW,TOO.BUTIT'SALLCUMOBDOBUG."FINDINGTHATNOSATI
SFACTIONWASTOBEOBTAINEDOFJUPITER,WHOSEWHOLEINTELLECTSEEMEDTOBEABSORBEDBY"DEBUG,"INOWSTEPPEDINTOTHEBOATANDMADESAIL.WITHAFAIRANDSTRONGBREEZEWESOONRANINTOTHELITTLECOVETOTHENORTHWARDOFFORTMOULTRIE,ANDAWALKOFSOMETWOMILESBROUGHTUSTOTHEHUT.ITWASABOUTTHREEINTHEAFT
ERNOONWHENWEARRIVED.LEGRANDHADBEENAWAITINGUSINEAGEREXPECTATION.HEGRASPEDMYHANDWITHANERVOUSEMPRESSEMENTWHICHALARMEDMEANDSTRENGTHENEDTHESUSPICIONSALREADYENTERTAINED.HISCOUNTENANCEWASPALEEVENTOGHASTLINESS,ANDHISDEEP-SETEYESGLAREDWITHUNNATURALLUSTRE.AFTERSOMEI
NQUIRIESRESPECTINGHISHEALTH,IASKEDHIM,NOTKNOWINGWHATBETTERTOSAY,IFHEHADYETOBTAINEDTHESCARABæUSFROMLIEUTENANTG--."OH,YES,"HEREPLIED,COLORINGVIOLENTLY,"IGOTITFROMHIMTHENEXTMORNING.NOTHINGSHOULDTEMPTMETOPARTWITHTHATSCARABæUS.DOYOUKNOWTHATJUPITERISQUITERIGHTAB
OUTIT?""INWHATWAY?"IASKED,WITHASADFOREBODINGATHEART."INSUPPOSINGITTOBEABUGOFREALGOLD."HESAIDTHISWITHANAIROFPROFOUNDSERIOUSNESS,ANDIFELTINEXPRESSIBLYSHOCKED."THISBUGISTOMAKEMYFORTUNE,"HECONTINUED,WITHATRIUMPHANTSMILE,"TOREINSTATEMEINMYFAMILYPOSSESSIONS.ISIT
ANYWONDER,THEN,THATIPRIZEIT?SINCEFORTUNEHASTHOUGHTFITTOBESTOWITUPONME,IHAVEONLYTOUSEITPROPERLYANDISHALLARRIVEATTHEGOLDOFWHICHITISTHEINDEX.JUPITER;BRINGMETHATSCARABæUS!""WHAT!DEBUG,MASSA?I'DRUDDERNOTGOFERTRUBBLEDATBUG-YOUMUSGITHIMFORYOUROWNSELF."HEREUPONLEG
RANDAROSE,WITHAGRAVEANDSTATELYAIR,ANDBROUGHTMETHEBEETLEFROMAGLASSCASEINWHICHITWASENCLOSED.ITWASABEAUTIFULSCARABæUS,AND,ATTHATTIME,UNKNOWNTONATURALISTS-OFCOURSEAGREATPRIZEINASCIENTIFICPOINTOFVIEW.THEREWERETWOROUND,BLACKSPOTSNEARONEEXTREMITYOFTHEBACK,ANDALON
GONENEARTHEOTHER.THESCALESWEREEXCEEDINGLYHARDANDGLOSSY,WITHALLTHEAPPEARANCEOFBURNISHEDGOLD.THEWEIGHTOFTHEINSECTWASVERYREMARKABLE,AND,TAKINGALLTHINGSINTOCONSIDERATION,ICOULDHARDLYBLAMEJUPITERFORHISOPINIONRESPECTINGIT;BUTWHATTOMAKEOFLEGRAND'SCONCORDANCEWITHT
HATOPINION,ICOULDNOT,FORTHELIFEOFME,TELL."ISENTFORYOU,"SAIDHE,INAGRANDILOQUENTTONE,WHENIHADCOMPLETEDMYEXAMINATIONOFTHEBEETLE,"ISENTFORYOU,THATIMIGHTHAVEYOURCOUNSELANDASSISTANCEINFURTHERINGTHEVIEWSOFFATEANDOFTHEBUG"-"MYDEARLEGRAND,"ICRIED,INTERRUPTINGHIM,"Y
OUARECERTAINLYUNWELL,ANDHADBETTERUSESOMELITTLEPRECAUTIONS.YOUSHALLGOTOBED,ANDIWILLREMAINWITHYOUAFEWDAYS,UNTILYOUGETOVERTHIS.YOUAREFEVERISHAND"-"FEELMYPULSE,"SAIDHE.IFELTIT,AND,TOSAYTHETRUTH,FOUNDNOTTHESLIGHTESTINDICATIONOFFEVER."BUTYOUMAYBEILLANDYETHAVENOF
EVER.ALLOWMETHISONCETOPRESCRIBEFORYOU.INTHEFIRSTPLACE,GOTOBED.INTHENEXT"-"YOUAREMISTAKEN,"HEINTERPOSED,"IAMASWELLASICANEXPECTTOBEUNDERTHEEXCITEMENTWHICHISUFFER.IFYOUREALLYWISHMEWELL,YOUWILLRELIEVETHISEXCITEMENT.""ANDHOWISTHISTOBEDONE?""VERYEASILY.JUPITERAN
DMYSELFAREGOINGUPONANEXPEDITIONINTOTHEHILLS,UPONTHEMAINLAND,AND,INTHISEXPEDITIONWESHALLNEEDTHEAIDOFSOMEPERSONINWHOMWECANCONFIDE.YOUARETHEONLYONEWECANTRUST.WHETHERWESUCCEEDORFAIL,THEEXCITEMENTWHICHYOUNOWPERCEIVEINMEWILLBEEQUALLYALLAYED.""IAMANXIOUSTOOBLIGEY
OUINANYWAY,"IREPLIED;"BUTDOYOUMEANTOSAYTHATTHISINFERNALBEETLEHASANYCONNECTIONWITHYOUREXPEDITIONINTOTHEHILLS?""ITHAS.""THEN,LEGRAND,ICANBECOMEAPARTYTONOSUCHABSURDPROCEEDING.""IAMSORRY-VERYSORRY-FORWESHALLHAVETOTRYITBYOURSELVES.""TRYITBYYOURSELVES!THEMANISSU
RELYMAD!-BUTSTAY!-HOWLONGDOYOUPROPOSETOBEABSENT?""PROBABLYALLNIGHT.WESHALLSTARTIMMEDIATELY,ANDBEBACK,ATALLEVENTS,BYSUNRISE.""ANDWILLYOUPROMISEME,UPONYOURHONOR,THATWHENTHISFREAKOFYOURSISOVER,ANDTHEBUGBUSINESS(GOODGOD!)SETTLEDTOYOURSATISFACTION,YOUWILLTHENRE
TURNHOMEANDFOLLOWMYADVICEIMPLICITLY,ASTHATOFYOURPHYSICIAN?""YES;IPROMISE;ANDNOWLETUSBEOFF,FORWEHAVENOTIMETOLOSE."WITHAHEAVYHEARTIACCOMPANIEDMYFRIEND.WESTARTEDABOUTFOURO'CLOCK-LEGRAND,JUPITER,THEDOG,ANDMYSELF.JUPITERHADWITHHIMTHESCYTHEANDSPADES-THEWHOLEOFWH
ICHHEINSISTEDUPONCARRYING-MORETHROUGHFEAR,ITSEEMEDTOME,OFTRUSTINGEITHEROFTHEIMPLEMENTSWITHINREACHOFHISMASTER,THANFROMANYEXCESSOFINDUSTRYORCOMPLAISANCE.HISDEMEANORWASDOGGEDINTHEEXTREME,AND"DATDEUCEDBUG"WERETHESOLEWORDSWHICHESCAPEDHISLIPSDURINGTHEJOURNEY.FOR
MYOWNPART,IHADCHARGEOFACOUPLEOFDARKLANTERNS,WHILELEGRANDCONTENTEDHIMSELFWITHTHESCARABæUS,WHICHHECARRIEDATTACHEDTOTHEENDOFABITOFWHIP-CORD;TWIRLINGITTOANDFRO,WITHTHEAIROFACONJUROR,ASHEWENT.WHENIOBSERVEDTHISLAST,PLAINEVIDENCEOFMYFRIEND'SABERRATIONOFMIND,ICOUL
DSCARCELYREFRAINFROMTEARS.ITHOUGHTITBEST,HOWEVER,TOHUMORHISFANCY,ATLEASTFORTHEPRESENT,ORUNTILICOULDADOPTSOMEMOREENERGETICMEASURESWITHACHANCEOFSUCCESS.INTHEMEANTIMEIENDEAVORED,BUTALLINVAIN,TOSOUNDHIMINREGARDTOTHEOBJECTOFTHEEXPEDITION.HAVINGSUCCEEDEDININDUCI
NGMETOACCOMPANYHIM,HESEEMEDUNWILLINGTOHOLDCONVERSATIONUPONANYTOPICOFMINORIMPORTANCE,ANDTOALLMYQUESTIONSVOUCHSAFEDNOOTHERREPLYTHAN"WESHALLSEE!"WECROSSEDTHECREEKATTHEHEADOFTHEISLANDBYMEANSOFASKIFF;AND,ASCENDINGTHEHIGHGROUNDSONTHESHOREOFTHEMAINLAND,PROCEEDEDI
NANORTHWESTERLYDIRECTION,THROUGHATRACTOFCOUNTRYEXCESSIVELYWILDANDDESOLATE,WHERENOTRACEOFAHUMANFOOTSTEPWASTOBESEEN.LEGRANDLEDTHEWAYWITHDECISION;PAUSINGONLYFORANINSTANT,HEREANDTHERE,TOCONSULTWHATAPPEAREDTOBECERTAINLANDMARKSOFHISOWNCONTRIVANCEUPONAFORMEROCCAS
ION.INTHISMANNERWEJOURNEYEDFORABOUTTWOHOURS,ANDTHESUNWASJUSTSETTINGWHENWEENTEREDAREGIONINFINITELYMOREDREARYTHANANYYETSEEN.ITWASASPECIESOFTABLELAND,NEARTHESUMMITOFANALMOSTINACCESSIBLEHILL,DENSELYWOODEDFROMBASETOPINNACLE,ANDINTERSPERSEDWITHHUGECRAGSTHATAPPEA
REDTOLIELOOSELYUPONTHESOIL,ANDINMANYCASESWEREPREVENTEDFROMPRECIPITATINGTHEMSELVESINTOTHEVALLEYSBELOW,MERELYBYTHESUPPORTOFTHETREESAGAINSTWHICHTHEYRECLINED.DEEPRAVINES,INVARIOUSDIRECTIONS,GAVEANAIROFSTILLSTERNERSOLEMNITYTOTHESCENE.THENATURALPLATFORMTOWHICHWE
HADCLAMBEREDWASTHICKLYOVERGROWNWITHBRAMBLES,THROUGHWHICHWESOONDISCOVEREDTHATITWOULDHAVEBEENIMPOSSIBLETOFORCEOURWAYBUTFORTHESCYTHE;ANDJUPITER,BYDIRECTIONOFHISMASTER,PROCEEDEDTOCLEARFORUSAPATHTOTHEFOOTOFANENORMOUSLYTALLTULIP-TREE,WHICHSTOOD,WITHSOMEEIGHTORTE
NOAKS,UPONTHELEVEL,ANDFARSURPASSEDTHEMALL,ANDALLOTHERTREESWHICHIHADTHENEVERSEEN,INTHEBEAUTYOFITSFOLIAGEANDFORM,INTHEWIDESPREADOFITSBRANCHES,ANDINTHEGENERALMAJESTYOFITSAPPEARANCE.WHENWEREACHEDTHISTREE,LEGRANDTURNEDTOJUPITER,ANDASKEDHIMIFHETHOUGHTHECOULDCLIM
BIT.THEOLDMANSEEMEDALITTLESTAGGEREDBYTHEQUESTION,ANDFORSOMEMOMENTSMADENOREPLY.ATLENGTHHEAPPROACHEDTHEHUGETRUNK,WALKEDSLOWLYAROUNDIT,ANDEXAMINEDITWITHMINUTEATTENTION.WHENHEHADCOMPLETEDHISSCRUTINY,HEMERELYSAID,"YES,MASSA,JUPCLIMBANYTREEHEEBBERSEEINHELIFE.""T
HENUPWITHYOUASSOONASPOSSIBLE,FORITWILLSOONBETOODARKTOSEEWHATWEAREABOUT.""HOWFARMUSGOUP,MASSA?"INQUIREDJUPITER."GETUPTHEMAINTRUNKFIRST,ANDTHENIWILLTELLYOUWHICHWAYTOGO-ANDHERE-STOP!TAKETHISBEETLEWITHYOU.""DEBUG,MASSAWILL!-DEGOOLEBUG!"CRIEDTHENEGRO,DRAWINGBAC
KINDISMAY-"WHATFORMUSTOTEDEBUGWAYUPDETREE?-D-NIFIDO!""IFYOUAREAFRAID,JUP,AGREATBIGNEGROLIKEYOU,TOTAKEHOLDOFAHARMLESSLITTLEDEADBEETLE,WHYYOUCANCARRYITUPBYTHISSTRING-BUT,IFYOUDONOTTAKEITUPWITHYOUINSOMEWAY,ISHALLBEUNDERTHENECESSITYOFBREAKINGYOURHEADWITHTHISSH
OVEL.""WHATDEMATTERNOW,MASSA?"SAIDJUP,EVIDENTLYSHAMEDINTOCOMPLIANCE;"ALWAYSWANTFORTORAISEFUSSWIDOLDNIGGER.WASONLYFUNNINANYHOW.MEFEEREDDEBUG!WHATIKEERFORDEBUG?"HEREHETOOKCAUTIOUSLYHOLDOFTHEEXTREMEENDOFTHESTRING,AND,MAINTAININGTHEINSECTASFARFROMHISPERSONASCI
RCUMSTANCESWOULDPERMIT,PREPAREDTOASCENDTHETREE.INYOUTH,THETULIP-TREE,ORLIRIODENDRONTULIPFERUM,THEMOSTMAGNIFICENTOFAMERICANFORESTERS,HASATRUNKPECULIARLYSMOOTH,ANDOFTENRISESTOAGREATHEIGHTWITHOUTLATERALBRANCHES;BUT,INITSRIPERAGE,THEBARKBECOMESGNARLEDANDUNEVEN
,WHILEMANYSHORTLIMBSMAKETHEIRAPPEARANCEONTHESTEM.THUSTHEDIFFICULTYOFASCENSION,INTHEPRESENTCASE,LAYMOREINSEMBLANCETHANINREALITY.EMBRACINGTHEHUGECYLINDER,ASCLOSELYASPOSSIBLE,WITHHISARMSANDKNEES,SEIZINGWITHHISHANDSSOMEPROJECTIONS,ANDRESTINGHISNAKEDTOESUPONOTH
ERS,JUPITER,AFTERONEORTWONARROWESCAPESFROMFALLING,ATLENGTHWRIGGLEDHIMSELFINTOTHEFIRSTGREATFORK,ANDSEEMEDTOCONSIDERTHEWHOLEBUSINESSASVIRTUALLYACCOMPLISHED.THERISKOFTHEACHIEVEMENTWAS,INFACT,NOWOVER,ALTHOUGHTHECLIMBERWASSOMESIXTYORSEVENTYFEETFROMTHEGROUND."WH
ICHWAYMUSGONOW,MASSAWILL?"HEASKED."KEEPUPTHELARGESTBRANCH-THEONEONTHISSIDE,"SAIDLEGRAND.THENEGROOBEYEDHIMPROMPTLY,ANDAPPARENTLYWITHBUTLITTLETROUBLE;ASCENDINGHIGHERANDHIGHER,UNTILNOGLIMPSEOFHISSQUATFIGURECOULDBEOBTAINEDTHROUGHTHEDENSEFOLIAGEWHICHENVELOPEDIT
.PRESENTLYHISVOICEWASHEARDINASORTOFHALLOO."HOWMUCHFUDDERISGOTFORGO?""HOWHIGHUPAREYOU?"ASKEDLEGRAND."EBBERSOFUR,"REPLIEDTHENEGRO;"CANSEEDESKYFRUDETOPOBDETREE.""NEVERMINDTHESKY,BUTATTENDTOWHATISAY.LOOKDOWNTHETRUNKANDCOUNTTHELIMBSBELOWYOUONTHISSIDE.HOWMANYLIM
BSHAVEYOUPASSED?""ONE,TWO,TREE,FOUR,FIBE-IDONEPASSFIBEBIGLIMB,MASSA,PONDISSIDE.""THENGOONELIMBHIGHER."INAFEWMINUTESTHEVOICEWASHEARDAGAIN,ANNOUNCINGTHATTHESEVENTHLIMBWASATTAINED."NOW,JUP,"CRIEDLEGRAND,EVIDENTLYMUCHEXCITED,"IWANTYOUTOWORKYOURWAYOUTUPONTHATLI
MBASFARASYOUCAN.IFYOUSEEANYTHINGSTRANGE,LETMEKNOW."BYTHISTIMEWHATLITTLEDOUBTIMIGHTHAVEENTERTAINEDOFMYPOORFRIEND'SINSANITY,WASPUTFINALLYATREST.IHADNOALTERNATIVEBUTTOCONCLUDEHIMSTRICKENWITHLUNACY,ANDIBECAMESERIOUSLYANXIOUSABOUTGETTINGHIMHOME.WHILEIWASPONDERI
NGUPONWHATWASBESTTOBEDONE,JUPITER'SVOICEWASAGAINHEARD."MOSFEERDFORTOVENTURPONDISLIMBBERRYFAR-TISDEADLIMBPUTTYMUCHALLDEWAY.""DIDYOUSAYITWASADEADLIMB,JUPITER?"CRIEDLEGRANDINAQUAVERINGVOICE."YES,MASSA,HIMDEADASDEDOOR-NAIL-DONEUPFORSARTAIN-DONEDEPARTEDDISHEREL
IFE.""WHATINTHENAMEHEAVENSHALLIDO?"ASKEDLEGRAND,SEEMINGLYINTHEGREATESTDISTRESS."DO!"SAIDI,GLADOFANOPPORTUNITYTOINTERPOSEAWORD,"WHYCOMEHOMEANDGOTOBED.COMENOW!-THAT'SAFINEFELLOW.IT'SGETTINGLATE,AND,BESIDES,YOUREMEMBERYOURPROMISE.""JUPITER,"CRIEDHE,WITHOUTHEE
DINGMEINTHELEAST,"DOYOUHEARME?""YES,MASSAWILL,HEARYOUEBBERSOPLAIN.""TRYTHEWOODWELL,THEN,WITHYOURKNIFE,ANDSEEIFYOUTHINKITVERYROTTEN.""HIMROTTEN,MASSA,SURENUFF,"REPLIEDTHENEGROINAFEWMOMENTS,"BUTNOTSOBERRYROTTENASMOUGHTBE.MOUGHTVENTUROUTLEETLEWAYPONDELIMBBYMY
SELF,DAT'STRUE.""BYYOURSELF!-WHATDOYOUMEAN?""WHYIMEANDEBUG.'TISBERRYHEBBYBUG.SPOSEIDROPHIMDOWNFUSS,ANDDENDELIMBWON'TBREAKWIDJUSTDEWEIGHTOBONENIGGER.""YOUINFERNALSCOUNDREL!"CRIEDLEGRAND,APPARENTLYMUCHRELIEVED,"WHATDOYOUMEANBYTELLINGMESUCHNONSENSEASTHAT?ASSU
REASYOUDROPTHATBEETLEI'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,HIGHLYDE
LIGHTED,"WHATISIT?""WHYTAINTNOFFINBUTASKULL-SOMEBODYBINLEFHIMHEADUPDETREE,ANDDECROWSDONEGOBBLEEBERYBITOBDEMEATOFF.""ASKULL,YOUSAY!-VERYWELL!-HOWISITFASTENEDTOTHELIMB?-WHATHOLDSITON?""SURENUFF,MASSA;MUSLOOK.WHYDISBERRYCUROUSSARCUMSTANCE,PONMYWORD-DARE'SAGRE
ATBIGNAILINDESKULL,WHATFASTENSOBITONTODETREE.""WELLNOW,JUPITER,DOEXACTLYASITELLYOU-DOYOUHEAR?""YES,MASSA.""PAYATTENTION,THEN!-FINDTHELEFTEYEOFTHESKULL.""HUM!HOO!DAT'SGOOD!WHYDAREAINTNOEYELEFATALL.""CURSEYOURSTUPIDITY!DOYOUKNOWYOURRIGHTHANDFROMYOURLEFT?""YE
S,INOSEDAT-NOSEALLBOUTDAT-TISMYLEFHANDWHATICHOPSDEWOODWID.""TOBESURE!YOUARELEFT-HANDED;ANDYOURLEFT.EYEISONTHESAMESIDEASYOURLEFTHAND.NOW,ISUPPOSE,YOUCANFINDTHELEFTEYEOFTHESKULL,ORTHEPLACEWHERETHELEFTEYEHASBEEN.HAVEYOUFOUNDIT?"HEREWASALONGPAUSE.ATLENGTHTHENE
GROASKED,"ISDELEFEYEOFDESKULLPONDESAMESIDEASDELEFHANDOFDESKULL,TOO?-CAUSEDESKULLAINTGOTNOTABITOBAHANDATALL-NEBBERMIND!IGOTDELEFEYENOW-HEREDELEFEYE!WHATMUSDOWIDIT?""LETTHEBEETLEDROPTHROUGHIT,ASFARASTHESTRINGWILLREACH-BUTBECAREFULANDNOTLETGOYOURHOLDOFTHESTRI
NG.""ALLDATDONE,MASSAWILL;MIGHTYEASYTINGFORTOPUTDEBUGFRUDEHOLE-LOOKOUTFORHIMDAREBELOW!"DURINGTHISCOLLOQUYNOPORTIONOFJUPITER'SPERSONCOULDBESEEN;BUTTHEBEETLE,WHICHHEHADSUFFEREDTODESCEND,WASNOWVISIBLEATTHEENDOFTHESTRING,ANDGLISTENED,LIKEAGLOBEOFBURNISHEDGOLD,
INTHELASTRAYSOFTHESETTINGSUN,SOMEOFWHICHSTILLFAINTLYILLUMINEDTHEEMINENCEUPONWHICHWESTOOD.THESCARABæUSHUNGQUITECLEAROFANYBRANCHES,AND,IFALLOWEDTOFALL,WOULDHAVEFALLENATOURFEET.LEGRANDIMMEDIATELYTOOKTHESCYTHE,ANDCLEAREDWITHITACIRCULARSPACE,THREEORFOURYARDSIND
IAMETER,JUSTBENEATHTHEINSECT,AND,HAVINGACCOMPLISHEDTHIS,ORDEREDJUPITERTOLETGOTHESTRINGANDCOMEDOWNFROMTHETREE.DRIVINGAPEG,WITHGREATNICETY,INTOTHEGROUND,ATTHEPRECISESPOTWHERETHEBEETLEFELL,MYFRIENDNOWPRODUCEDFROMHISPOCKETATAPEMEASURE.FASTENINGONEENDOFTHISATTH
ATPOINTOFTHETRUNK,OFTHETREEWHICHWASNEARESTTHEPEG,HEUNROLLEDITTILLITREACHEDTHEPEG,ANDTHENCEFARTHERUNROLLEDIT,INTHEDIRECTIONALREADYESTABLISHEDBYTHETWOPOINTSOFTHETREEANDTHEPEG,FORTHEDISTANCEOFFIFTYFEET-JUPITERCLEARINGAWAYTHEBRAMBLESWITHTHESCYTHE.ATTHESPOTTHUS
ATTAINEDASECONDPEGWASDRIVEN,ANDABOUTTHIS,ASACENTRE,ARUDECIRCLE,ABOUTFOURFEETINDIAMETER,DESCRIBED.TAKINGNOWASPADEHIMSELF,ANDGIVINGONETOJUPITERANDONETOME,LEGRANDBEGGEDUSTOSETABOUTDIGGINGASQUICKLYASPOSSIBLE.TOSPEAKTHETRUTH,IHADNOESPECIALRELISHFORSUCHAMUSEMENT
ATANYTIME,AND,ATTHATPARTICULARMOMENT,WOULDMOSTWILLINGLYHAVEDECLINEDIT;FORTHENIGHTWASCOMINGON,ANDIFELTMUCHFATIGUEDWITHTHEEXERCISEALREADYTAKEN;BUTISAWNOMODEOFESCAPE,ANDWASFEARFULOFDISTURBINGMYPOORFRIEND'SEQUANIMITYBYAREFUSAL.COULDIHAVEDEPENDED,INDEED,UPONJUP
ITER'SAID,IWOULDHAVEHADNOHESITATIONINATTEMPTINGTOGETTHELUNATICHOMEBYFORCE;BUTIWASTOOWELLASSUREDOFTHEOLDNEGRO'SDISPOSITION,TOHOPETHATHEWOULDASSISTME,UNDERANYCIRCUMSTANCES,INAPERSONALCONTESTWITHHISMASTER.IMADENODOUBTTHATTHELATTERHADBEENINFECTEDWITHSOMEOFTHEI
NNUMERABLESOUTHERNSUPERSTITIONSABOUTMONEYBURIED,ANDTHATHISPHANTASYHADRECEIVEDCONFIRMATIONBYTHEFINDINGOFTHESCARABæUS,OR,PERHAPS,BYJUPITER'SOBSTINACYINMAINTAININGITTOBE"ABUGOFREALGOLD."AMINDDISPOSEDTOLUNACYWOULDREADILYBELEDAWAYBYSUCHSUGGESTIONS-ESPECIALLYIFC
HIMINGINWITHFAVORITEPRECONCEIVEDIDEAS-ANDTHENICALLEDTOMINDTHEPOORFELLOW'SSPEECHABOUTTHEBEETLE'SBEING"THEINDEXOFHISFORTUNE."UPONTHEWHOLE,IWASSADLYVEXEDANDPUZZLED,BUT,ATLENGTH,ICONCLUDEDTOMAKEAVIRTUEOFNECESSITY-TODIGWITHAGOODWILL,ANDTHUSTHESOONERTOCONVINCETH
EVISIONARY,BYOCULARDEMONSTRATION,OFTHEFALLACYOFTHEOPINIONSHEENTERTAINED.THELANTERNSHAVINGBEENLIT,WEALLFELLTOWORKWITHAZEALWORTHYAMORERATIONALCAUSE;AND,ASTHEGLAREFELLUPONOURPERSONSANDIMPLEMENTS,ICOULDNOTHELPTHINKINGHOWPICTURESQUEAGROUPWECOMPOSED,ANDHOWSTRANG
EANDSUSPICIOUSOURLABORSMUSTHAVEAPPEAREDTOANYINTERLOPERWHO,BYCHANCE,MIGHTHAVESTUMBLEDUPONOURWHEREABOUTS.WEDUGVERYSTEADILYFORTWOHOURS.LITTLEWASSAID;ANDOURCHIEFEMBARRASSMENTLAYINTHEYELPINGSOFTHEDOG,WHOTOOKEXCEEDINGINTERESTINOURPROCEEDINGS.HE,ATLENGTH,BECAMESO
OBSTREPEROUSTHATWEGREWFEARFULOFHISGIVINGTHEALARMTOSOMESTRAGGLERSINTHEVICINITY;-OR,RATHER,THISWASTHEAPPREHENSIONOFLEGRAND;-FORMYSELF,ISHOULDHAVEREJOICEDATANYINTERRUPTIONWHICHMIGHTHAVEENABLEDMETOGETTHEWANDERERHOME.THENOISEWAS,ATLENGTH,VERYEFFECTUALLYSILENCED
BYJUPITER,WHO,GETTINGOUTOFTHEHOLEWITHADOGGEDAIROFDELIBERATION,TIEDTHEBRUTE'SMOUTHUPWITHONEOFHISSUSPENDERS,ANDTHENRETURNED,WITHAGRAVECHUCKLE,TOHISTASK.WHENTHETIMEMENTIONEDHADEXPIRED,WEHADREACHEDADEPTHOFFIVEFEET,ANDYETNOSIGNSOFANYTREASUREBECAMEMANIFEST.AGENE
RALPAUSEENSUED,ANDIBEGANTOHOPETHATTHEFARCEWASATANEND.LEGRAND,HOWEVER,ALTHOUGHEVIDENTLYMUCHDISCONCERTED,WIPEDHISBROWTHOUGHTFULLYANDRECOMMENCED.WEHADEXCAVATEDTHEENTIRECIRCLEOFFOURFEETDIAMETER,ANDNOWWESLIGHTLYENLARGEDTHELIMIT,ANDWENTTOTHEFARTHERDEPTHOFTWOFEET
.STILLNOTHINGAPPEARED.THEGOLD-SEEKER,WHOMISINCERELYPITIED,ATLENGTHCLAMBEREDFROMTHEPIT,WITHTHEBITTERESTDISAPPOINTMENTIMPRINTEDUPONEVERYFEATURE,ANDPROCEEDED,SLOWLYANDRELUCTANTLY,TOPUTONHISCOAT,WHICHHEHADTHROWNOFFATTHEBEGINNINGOFHISLABOR.INTHEMEANTIMEIMADENOR
EMARK.JUPITER,ATASIGNALFROMHISMASTER,BEGANTOGATHERUPHISTOOLS.THISDONE,ANDTHEDOGHAVINGBEENUNMUZZLED,WETURNEDINPROFOUNDSILENCETOWARDSHOME.WEHADTAKEN,PERHAPS,ADOZENSTEPSINTHISDIRECTION,WHEN,WITHALOUDOATH,LEGRANDSTRODEUPTOJUPITER,ANDSEIZEDHIMBYTHECOLLAR.THEAST
ONISHEDNEGROOPENEDHISEYESANDMOUTHTOTHEFULLESTEXTENT,LETFALLTHESPADES,ANDFELLUPONHISKNEES."YOUSCOUNDREL,"SAIDLEGRAND,HISSINGOUTTHESYLLABLESFROMBETWEENHISCLENCHEDTEETH-"YOUINFERNALBLACKVILLAIN!-SPEAK,ITELLYOU!-ANSWERMETHISINSTANT,WITHOUTPREVARICATION!-WHICH-
WHICHISYOURLEFTEYE?""OH,MYGOLLY,MASSAWILL!AINTDISHEREMYLEFEYEFORSARTAIN?"ROAREDTHETERRIFIEDJUPITER,PLACINGHISHANDUPONHISRIGHTORGANOFVISION,ANDHOLDINGITTHEREWITHADESPERATEPERTINACITY,ASIFINIMMEDIATEDREADOFHISMASTER'SATTEMPTATAGOUGE."ITHOUGHTSO!-IKNEWIT!HURR
AH!"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,WASITTHISEYEORTHATTHR
OUGHWHICHYOUDROPPEDTHEBEETLE?"-HERELEGRANDTOUCHEDEACHOFJUPITER'SEYES."TWASDISEYE,MASSA-DELEFEYE-JISASYOUTELLME,"ANDHEREITWASHISRIGHTEYETHATTHENEGROINDICATED."THATWILLDO-MUSTTRYITAGAIN."HEREMYFRIEND,ABOUTWHOSEMADNESSINOWSAW,ORFANCIEDTHATISAW,CERTAININDICATI
ONSOFMETHOD,REMOVEDTHEPEGWHICHMARKEDTHESPOTWHERETHEBEETLEFELL,TOASPOTABOUTTHREEINCHESTOTHEWESTWARDOFITSFORMERPOSITION.TAKING,NOW,THETAPEMEASUREFROMTHENEARESTPOINTOFTHETRUNKTOTHEPEG,ASBEFORE,ANDCONTINUINGTHEEXTENSIONINASTRAIGHTLINETOTHEDISTANCEOFFIFTYFEET,A
SPOTWASINDICATED,REMOVED,BYSEVERALYARDS,FROMTHEPOINTATWHICHWEHADBEENDIGGING.AROUNDTHENEWPOSITIONACIRCLE,SOMEWHATLARGERTHANINTHEFORMERINSTANCE,WASNOWDESCRIBED,ANDWEAGAINSETTOWORKWITHTHESPADES.IWASDREADFULLYWEARY,BUT,SCARCELYUNDERSTANDINGWHATHADOCCASIONEDTHE
CHANGEINMYTHOUGHTS,IFELTNOLONGERANYGREATAVERSIONFROMTHELABORIMPOSED.IHADBECOMEMOSTUNACCOUNTABLYINTERESTED-NAY,EVENEXCITED.PERHAPSTHEREWASSOMETHING,AMIDALLTHEEXTRAVAGANTDEMEANOROFLEGRAND-SOMEAIROFFORETHOUGHT,OROFDELIBERATION,WHICHIMPRESSEDME.IDUGEAGERLY,AND
NOWANDTHENCAUGHTMYSELFACTUALLYLOOKING,WITHSOMETHINGTHATVERYMUCHRESEMBLEDEXPECTATION,FORTHEFANCIEDTREASURE,THEVISIONOFWHICHHADDEMENTEDMYUNFORTUNATECOMPANION.ATAPERIODWHENSUCHVAGARIESOFTHOUGHTMOSTFULLYPOSSESSEDME,ANDWHENWEHADBEENATWORKPERHAPSANHOURANDAHALF,W
EWEREAGAININTERRUPTEDBYTHEVIOLENTHOWLINGSOFTHEDOG.HISUNEASINESS,INTHEFIRSTINSTANCE,HADBEEN,EVIDENTLY,BUTTHERESULTOFPLAYFULNESSORCAPRICE,BUTHENOWASSUMEDABITTERANDSERIOUSTONE.UPONJUPITER'SAGAINATTEMPTINGTOMUZZLEHIM,HEMADEFURIOUSRESISTANCE,AND,LEAPINGINTOTHEH
OLE,TOREUPTHEMOULDFRANTICALLYWITHHISCLAWS.INAFEWSECONDSHEHADUNCOVEREDAMASSOFHUMANBONES,FORMINGTWOCOMPLETESKELETONS,INTERMINGLEDWITHSEVERALBUTTONSOFMETAL,ANDWHATAPPEAREDTOBETHEDUSTOFDECAYEDWOOLLEN.ONEORTWOSTROKESOFASPADEUPTURNEDTHEBLADEOFALARGESPANISHKNIFE,
AND,ASWEDUGFARTHER,THREEORFOURLOOSEPIECESOFGOLDANDSILVERCOINCAMETOLIGHT.ATSIGHTOFTHESETHEJOYOFJUPITERCOULDSCARCELYBERESTRAINED,BUTTHECOUNTENANCEOFHISMASTERWOREANAIROFEXTREMEDISAPPOINTMENTHEURGEDUS,HOWEVER,TOCONTINUEOUREXERTIONS,ANDTHEWORDSWEREHARDLYUTTERED
WHENISTUMBLEDANDFELLFORWARD,HAVINGCAUGHTTHETOEOFMYBOOTINALARGERINGOFIRONTHATLAYHALFBURIEDINTHELOOSEEARTH.WENOWWORKEDINEARNEST,ANDNEVERDIDIPASSTENMINUTESOFMOREINTENSEEXCITEMENT.DURINGTHISINTERVALWEHADFAIRLYUNEARTHEDANOBLONGCHESTOFWOOD,WHICH,FROMITSPERFECTPR
ESERVATIONANDWONDERFULHARDNESS,HADPLAINLYBEENSUBJECTEDTOSOMEMINERALIZINGPROCESS-PERHAPSTHATOFTHEBI-CHLORIDEOFMERCURY.THISBOXWASTHREEFEETANDAHALFLONG,THREEFEETBROAD,ANDTWOANDAHALFFEETDEEP.ITWASFIRMLYSECUREDBYBANDSOFWROUGHTIRON,RIVETED,ANDFORMINGAKINDOFOPENT
RELLISWORKOVERTHEWHOLE.ONEACHSIDEOFTHECHEST,NEARTHETOP,WERETHREERINGSOFIRON-SIXINALL-BYMEANSOFWHICHAFIRMHOLDCOULDBEOBTAINEDBYSIXPERSONS.OURUTMOSTUNITEDENDEAVORSSERVEDONLYTODISTURBTHECOFFERVERYSLIGHTLYINITSBED.WEATONCESAWTHEIMPOSSIBILITYOFREMOVINGSOGREATAWE
IGHT.LUCKILY,THESOLEFASTENINGSOFTHELIDCONSISTEDOFTWOSLIDINGBOLTS.THESEWEDREWBACK-TREMBLINGANDPANTINGWITHANXIETY.INANINSTANT,ATREASUREOFINCALCULABLEVALUELAYGLEAMINGBEFOREUS.ASTHERAYSOFTHELANTERNSFELLWITHINTHEPIT,THEREFLASHEDUPWARDSAGLOWANDAGLARE,FROMACONFUS
EDHEAPOFGOLDANDOFJEWELS,THATABSOLUTELYDAZZLEDOUREYES.ISHALLNOTPRETENDTODESCRIBETHEFEELINGSWITHWHICHIGAZED.AMAZEMENTWAS,OFCOURSE,PREDOMINANT.LEGRANDAPPEAREDEXHAUSTEDWITHEXCITEMENT,ANDSPOKEVERYFEWWORDS.JUPITER'SCOUNTENANCEWORE,FORSOMEMINUTES,ASDEADLYAPALLORA
SITISPOSSIBLE,INNATUREOFTHINGS,FORANYNEGRO'SVISAGETOASSUME.HESEEMEDSTUPIFIED-THUNDERSTRICKEN.PRESENTLYHEFELLUPONHISKNEESINTHEPIT,AND,BURYINGHISNAKEDARMSUPTOTHEELBOWSINGOLD,LETTHEMTHEREREMAIN,ASIFENJOYINGTHELUXURYOFABATH.ATLENGTH,WITHADEEPSIGH,HEEXCLAIMED,A
SIFINASOLILOQUY,"ANDDISALLCUMOBDEGOOLE-BUG!DEPUTTYGOOLEBUG!DEPOORLITTLEGOOLE-BUG,WHATIBOOSEDINDATSABAGEKINDOBSTYLE!AINTYOUSHAMEDOBYOURSELF,NIGGER?-ANSWERMEDAT!"ITBECAMENECESSARY,ATLAST,THATISHOULDAROUSEBOTHMASTERANDVALETTOTHEEXPEDIENCYOFREMOVINGTHETREASURE
.ITWASGROWINGLATE,ANDITBEHOOVEDUSTOMAKEEXERTION,THATWEMIGHTGETEVERYTHINGHOUSEDBEFOREDAYLIGHT.ITWASDIFFICULTTOSAYWHATSHOULDBEDONE,ANDMUCHTIMEWASSPENTINDELIBERATION-SOCONFUSEDWERETHEIDEASOFALL.WE,FINALLY,LIGHTENEDTHEBOXBYREMOVINGTWOTHIRDSOFITSCONTENTS,WHENWE
WEREENABLED,WITHSOMETROUBLE,TORAISEITFROMTHEHOLE.THEARTICLESTAKENOUTWEREDEPOSITEDAMONGTHEBRAMBLES,ANDTHEDOGLEFTTOGUARDTHEM,WITHSTRICTORDERSFROMJUPITERNEITHER,UPONANYPRETENCE,TOSTIRFROMTHESPOT,NORTOOPENHISMOUTHUNTILOURRETURN.WETHENHURRIEDLYMADEFORHOMEWITHTH
ECHEST;REACHINGTHEHUTINSAFETY,BUTAFTEREXCESSIVETOIL,ATONEO'CLOCKINTHEMORNING.WORNOUTASWEWERE,ITWASNOTINHUMANNATURETODOMOREIMMEDIATELY.WERESTEDUNTILTWO,ANDHADSUPPER;STARTINGFORTHEHILLSIMMEDIATELYAFTERWARDS,ARMEDWITHTHREESTOUTSACKS,WHICH,BYGOODLUCK,WEREUPONT
HEPREMISES.ALITTLEBEFOREFOURWEARRIVEDATTHEPIT,DIVIDEDTHEREMAINDEROFTHEBOOTY,ASEQUALLYASMIGHTBE,AMONGUS,AND,LEAVINGTHEHOLESUNFILLED,AGAINSETOUTFORTHEHUT,ATWHICH,FORTHESECONDTIME,WEDEPOSITEDOURGOLDENBURTHENS,JUSTASTHEFIRSTFAINTSTREAKSOFTHEDAWNGLEAMEDFROMOVER
THETREE-TOPSINTHEEAST.WEWERENOWTHOROUGHLYBROKENDOWN;BUTTHEINTENSEEXCITEMENTOFTHETIMEDENIEDUSREPOSE.AFTERANUNQUIETSLUMBEROFSOMETHREEORFOURHOURS'DURATION,WEAROSE,ASIFBYPRECONCERT,TOMAKEEXAMINATIONOFOURTREASURE.THECHESTHADBEENFULLTOTHEBRIM,ANDWESPENTTHEWHOLED
AY,ANDTHEGREATERPARTOFTHENEXTNIGHT,INASCRUTINYOFITSCONTENTS.THEREHADBEENNOTHINGLIKEORDERORARRANGEMENT.EVERYTHINGHADBEENHEAPEDINPROMISCUOUSLY.HAVINGASSORTEDALLWITHCARE,WEFOUNDOURSELVESPOSSESSEDOFEVENVASTERWEALTHTHANWEHADATFIRSTSUPPOSED.INCOINTHEREWASRATHERM
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THEPRESENTINSTANCEWESEEITDOUBLEDNOLESSTHANFIVETIMES,ALTHOUGHTHECRYPTOGRAPHISBRIEF."LETUSASSUME8,THEN,AS_E_.NOW,OFALL_WORDS_INTHELANGUAGE,'THE'ISMOSTUSUAL;LETUSSEE,THEREFORE,WHETHERTHEREARENOTREPETITIONSOFANYTHREECHARACTERS,INTHESAMEORDEROFCOLLOCATION,THELA
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ELASTBEINGNOWWELLCONFIRMED.THUSAGREATSTEPHASBEENTAKEN."BUT,HAVINGESTABLISHEDASINGLEWORD,WEAREENABLEDTOESTABLISHAVASTLYIMPORTANTPOINT;THATISTOSAY,SEVERALCOMMENCEMENTSANDTERMINATIONSOFOTHERWORDS.LETUSREFER,FOREXAMPLE,TOTHELASTINSTANCEBUTONE,INWHICHTHECOMBINA
TION;48OCCURS-NOTFARFROMTHEENDOFTHECIPHER.WEKNOWTHATTHE;IMMEDIATELYENSUINGISTHECOMMENCEMENTOFAWORD,AND,OFTHESIXCHARACTERSSUCCEEDINGTHIS'THE,'WEARECOGNIZANTOFNOLESSTHANFIVE.LETUSSETTHESECHARACTERSDOWN,THUS,BYTHELETTERSWEKNOWTHEMTOREPRESENT,LEAVINGASPACEFORT
HEUNKNOWN-TEETH."HEREWEAREENABLED,ATONCE,TODISCARDTHE'TH,'ASFORMINGNOPORTIONOFTHEWORDCOMMENCINGWITHTHEFIRSTT;SINCE,BYEXPERIMENTOFTHEENTIREALPHABETFORALETTERADAPTEDTOTHEVACANCY,WEPERCEIVETHATNOWORDCANBEFORMEDOFWHICHTHIS_TH_CANBEAPART.WEARETHUSNARROWEDINTOTE
E,AND,GOINGTHROUGHTHEALPHABET,IFNECESSARY,ASBEFORE,WEARRIVEATTHEWORD'TREE,'ASTHESOLEPOSSIBLEREADING.WETHUSGAINANOTHERLETTER,_R_,REPRESENTEDBY(,WITHTHEWORDS'THETREE'INJUXTAPOSITION."LOOKINGBEYONDTHESEWORDS,FORASHORTDISTANCE,WEAGAINSEETHECOMBINATION;48,ANDEM
PLOYITBYWAYOF_TERMINATION_TOWHATIMMEDIATELYPRECEDES.WEHAVETHUSTHISARRANGEMENT:THETREE;4(ç?34THE,OR,SUBSTITUTINGTHENATURALLETTERS,WHEREKNOWN,ITREADSTHUS:THETREETHRç?3HTHE."NOW,IF,INPLACEOFTHEUNKNOWNCHARACTERS,WELEAVEBLANKSPACES,ORSUBSTITUTEDOTS,WEREADTHUS:T
HETREETHR...HTHE,WHENTHEWORD'_THROUGH_'MAKESITSELFEVIDENTATONCE.BUTTHISDISCOVERYGIVESUSTHREENEWLETTERS,_O_,_U_AND_G_,REPRESENTEDBYç?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:TH
RTEE.ANARRANGEMENTIMMEDIATELYSUGGESTIVEOFTHEWORD'THIRTEEN,'ANDAGAINFURNISHINGUSWITHTWONEWCHARACTERS,_I_AND_N_,REPRESENTEDBY6AND*."REFERRING,NOW,TOTHEBEGINNINGOFTHECRYPTOGRAPH,WEFINDTHECOMBINATION,53çç†."TRANSLATING,ASBEFORE,WEOBTAINGOOD,WHICHASSURESUSTHATT
HEFIRSTLETTERIS_A_,ANDTHATTHEFIRSTTWOWORDSARE'AGOOD.'"ITISNOWTIMETHATWEARRANGEOURKEY,ASFARASDISCOVERED,INATABULARFORM,TOAVOIDCONFUSION.ITWILLSTANDTHUS:5REPRESENTSA†"D8"E3"G4"H6"I*"Nç"O("R;"T"WEHAVE,THEREFORE,NOLESSTHANTENOFTHEMOSTIMPORTANTLETTERSREPRESENTE
D,ANDITWILLBEUNNECESSARYTOPROCEEDWITHTHEDETAILSOFTHESOLUTION.IHAVESAIDENOUGHTOCONVINCEYOUTHATCIPHERSOFTHISNATUREAREREADILYSOLUBLE,ANDTOGIVEYOUSOMEINSIGHTINTOTHERATIONALEOFTHEIRDEVELOPMENT.BUTBEASSUREDTHATTHESPECIMENBEFOREUSAPPERTAINSTOTHEVERYSIMPLESTSPECIE
SOFCRYPTOGRAPH.ITNOWONLYREMAINSTOGIVEYOUTHEFULLTRANSLATIONOFTHECHARACTERSUPONTHEPARCHMENT,ASUNRIDDLED.HEREITIS:"'_AGOODGLASSINTHEBISHOP'SHOSTELINTHEDEVIL'SSEATFORTY-ONEDEGREESANDTHIRTEENMINUTESNORTHEASTANDBYNORTHMAINBRANCHSEVENTHLIMBEASTSIDESHOOTFROMTHELEF
TEYEOFTHEDEATH'S-HEADABEELINEFROMTHETREETHROUGHTHESHOTFIFTYFEETOUT_.'""BUT,"SAIDI,"THEENIGMASEEMSSTILLINASBADACONDITIONASEVER.HOWISITPOSSIBLETOEXTORTAMEANINGFROMALLTHISJARGONABOUT'DEVIL'SSEATS,''DEATH'SHEADS,'AND'BISHOP'SHOTELS?'""ICONFESS,"REPLIEDLEGRAND,
"THATTHEMATTERSTILLWEARSASERIOUSASPECT,WHENREGARDEDWITHACASUALGLANCE.MYFIRSTENDEAVORWASTODIVIDETHESENTENCEINTOTHENATURALDIVISIONINTENDEDBYTHECRYPTOGRAPHIST.""YOUMEAN,TOPUNCTUATEIT?""SOMETHINGOFTHATKIND.""BUTHOWWASITPOSSIBLETOEFFECTTHIS?""IREFLECTEDTHATITHA
DBEENAPOINTWITHTHEWRITERTORUNHISWORDSTOGETHERWITHOUTDIVISION,SOASTOINCREASETHEDIFFICULTYOFSOLUTION.NOW,ANOTOVER-ACUTEMAN,INPURSUINGSUCHANOBJECTWOULDBENEARLYCERTAINTOOVERDOTHEMATTER.WHEN,INTHECOURSEOFHISCOMPOSITION,HEARRIVEDATABREAKINHISSUBJECTWHICHWOULDNAT
URALLYREQUIREAPAUSE,ORAPOINT,HEWOULDBEEXCEEDINGLYAPTTORUNHISCHARACTERS,ATTHISPLACE,MORETHANUSUALLYCLOSETOGETHER.IFYOUWILLOBSERVETHEMS.,INTHEPRESENTINSTANCE,YOUWILLEASILYDETECTFIVESUCHCASESOFUNUSUALCROWDING.ACTINGUPONTHISHINT,IMADETHEDIVISIONTHUS:'AGOODGLAS
SINTHEBISHOP'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,IWA
SONTHEPOINTOFEXTENDINGMYSPHEREOFSEARCH,ANDPROCEEDINGINAMORESYSTEMATICMANNER,WHEN,ONEMORNING,ITENTEREDINTOMYHEAD,QUITESUDDENLY,THATTHIS'BISHOP'SHOSTEL'MIGHTHAVESOMEREFERENCETOANOLDFAMILY,OFTHENAMEOFBESSOP,WHICH,TIMEOUTOFMIND,HADHELDPOSSESSIONOFANANCIENTMANO
R-HOUSE,ABOUTFOURMILESTOTHENORTHWARDOFTHEISLAND.IACCORDINGLYWENTOVERTOTHEPLANTATION,ANDRE-INSTITUTEDMYINQUIRIESAMONGTHEOLDERNEGROESOFTHEPLACE.ATLENGTHONEOFTHEMOSTAGEDOFTHEWOMENSAIDTHATSHEHADHEARDOFSUCHAPLACEASBESSOP'SCASTLE,ANDTHOUGHTTHATSHECOULDGUIDEMETOI
T,BUTTHATITWASNOTACASTLENORATAVERN,BUTAHIGHROCK."IOFFEREDTOPAYHERWELLFORHERTROUBLE,AND,AFTERSOMEDEMUR,SHECONSENTEDTOACCOMPANYMETOTHESPOT.WEFOUNDITWITHOUTMUCHDIFFICULTY,WHEN,DISMISSINGHER,IPROCEEDEDTOEXAMINETHEPLACE.THE'CASTLE'CONSISTEDOFANIRREGULARASSEMBLA
GEOFCLIFFSANDROCKS-ONEOFTHELATTERBEINGQUITEREMARKABLEFORITSHEIGHTASWELLASFORITSINSULATEDANDARTIFICIALAPPEARANCEICLAMBEREDTOITSAPEX,ANDTHENFELTMUCHATALOSSASTOWHATSHOULDBENEXTDONE."WHILEIWASBUSIEDINREFLECTION,MYEYESFELLUPONANARROWLEDGEINTHEEASTERNFACEOFTHERO
CK,PERHAPSAYARDBELOWTHESUMMITUPONWHICHISTOOD.THISLEDGEPROJECTEDABOUTEIGHTEENINCHES,ANDWASNOTMORETHANAFOOTWIDE,WHILEANICHEINTHECLIFFJUSTABOVEIT,GAVEITARUDERESEMBLANCETOONEOFTHEHOLLOW-BACKEDCHAIRSUSEDBYOURANCESTORS.IMADENODOUBTTHATHEREWASTHE'DEVIL'SSEAT'ALLU
DEDTOINTHEMS.,ANDNOWISEEMEDTOGRASPTHEFULLSECRETOFTHERIDDLE."THE'GOODGLASS,'IKNEW,COULDHAVEREFERENCETONOTHINGBUTATELESCOPE;FORTHEWORD'GLASS'ISRARELYEMPLOYEDINANYOTHERSENSEBYSEAMEN.NOWHERE,IATONCESAW,WASATELESCOPETOBEUSED,ANDADEFINITEPOINTOFVIEW,ADMITTINGNOV
ARIATION,FROMWHICHTOUSEIT.NORDIDIHESITATETOBELIEVETHATTHEPHRASES,"FORTY-ONEDEGREESANDTHIRTEENMINUTES,'AND'NORTHEASTANDBYNORTH,'WEREINTENDEDASDIRECTIONSFORTHELEVELLINGOFTHEGLASS.GREATLYEXCITEDBYTHESEDISCOVERIES,IHURRIEDHOME,PROCUREDATELESCOPE,ANDRETURNEDTOT
HEROCK."ILETMYSELFDOWNTOTHELEDGE,ANDFOUNDTHATITWASIMPOSSIBLETORETAINASEATUPONITEXCEPTINONEPARTICULARPOSITION.THISFACTCONFIRMEDMYPRECONCEIVEDIDEA.IPROCEEDEDTOUSETHEGLASS.OFCOURSE,THE'FORTY-ONEDEGREESANDTHIRTEENMINUTES'COULDALLUDETONOTHINGBUTELEVATIONABOVETH
EVISIBLEHORIZON,SINCETHEHORIZONTALDIRECTIONWASCLEARLYINDICATEDBYTHEWORDS,'NORTHEASTANDBYNORTH.'THISLATTERDIRECTIONIATONCEESTABLISHEDBYMEANSOFAPOCKET-COMPASS;THEN,POINTINGTHEGLASSASNEARLYATANANGLEOFFORTY-ONEDEGREESOFELEVATIONASICOULDDOITBYGUESS,IMOVEDITCAUT
IOUSLYUPORDOWN,UNTILMYATTENTIONWASARRESTEDBYACIRCULARRIFTOROPENINGINTHEFOLIAGEOFALARGETREETHATOVERTOPPEDITSFELLOWSINTHEDISTANCE.INTHECENTREOFTHISRIFTIPERCEIVEDAWHITESPOT,BUTCOULDNOT,ATFIRST,DISTINGUISHWHATITWAS.ADJUSTINGTHEFOCUSOFTHETELESCOPE,IAGAINLOOKED,
ANDNOWMADEITOUTTOBEAHUMANSKULL."UPONTHISDISCOVERYIWASSOSANGUINEASTOCONSIDERTHEENIGMASOLVED;FORTHEPHRASE'MAINBRANCH,SEVENTHLIMB,EASTSIDE,'COULDREFERONLYTOTHEPOSITIONOFTHESKULLUPONTHETREE,WHILE'SHOOTFROMTHELEFTEYEOFTHEDEATH'SHEAD'ADMITTED,ALSO,OFBUTONEINTERP
RETATION,INREGARDTOASEARCHFORBURIEDTREASURE.IPERCEIVEDTHATTHEDESIGNWASTODROPABULLETFROMTHELEFTEYEOFTHESKULL,ANDTHATABEE-LINE,OR,INOTHERWORDS,ASTRAIGHTLINE,DRAWNFROMTHENEARESTPOINTOFTHETRUNKTHROUGH'THESHOT,'(ORTHESPOTWHERETHEBULLETFELL,)ANDTHENCEEXTENDEDTOA
DISTANCEOFFIFTYFEET,WOULDINDICATEADEFINITEPOINT-ANDBENEATHTHISPOINTITHOUGHTITATLEASTPOSSIBLETHATADEPOSITOFVALUELAYCONCEALED.""ALLTHIS,"ISAID,"ISEXCEEDINGLYCLEAR,AND,ALTHOUGHINGENIOUS,STILLSIMPLEANDEXPLICIT.WHENYOULEFTTHEBISHOP'SHOTEL,WHATTHEN?""WHY,HAVINGC
AREFULLYTAKENTHEBEARINGSOFTHETREE,ITURNEDHOMEWARDS.THEINSTANTTHATILEFT'THEDEVIL'SSEAT,'HOWEVER,THECIRCULARRIFTVANISHED;NORCOULDIGETAGLIMPSEOFITAFTERWARDS,TURNASIWOULD.WHATSEEMSTOMETHECHIEFINGENUITYINTHISWHOLEBUSINESS,ISTHEFACT(FORREPEATEDEXPERIMENTHASCONVI
NCEDMEITISAFACT)THATTHECIRCULAROPENINGINQUESTIONISVISIBLEFROMNOOTHERATTAINABLEPOINTOFVIEWTHANTHATAFFORDEDBYTHENARROWLEDGEUPONTHEFACEOFTHEROCK."INTHISEXPEDITIONTOTHE'BISHOP'SHOTEL'IHADBEENATTENDEDBYJUPITER,WHOHAD,NODOUBT,OBSERVED,FORSOMEWEEKSPAST,THEABSTRAC
TIONOFMYDEMEANOR,ANDTOOKESPECIALCARENOTTOLEAVEMEALONE.BUT,ONTHENEXTDAY,GETTINGUPVERYEARLY,ICONTRIVEDTOGIVEHIMTHESLIP,ANDWENTINTOTHEHILLSINSEARCHOFTHETREE.AFTERMUCHTOILIFOUNDIT.WHENICAMEHOMEATNIGHTMYVALETPROPOSEDTOGIVEMEAFLOGGING.WITHTHERESTOFTHEADVENTUREIB
ELIEVEYOUAREASWELLACQUAINTEDASMYSELF.""ISUPPOSE,"SAIDI,"YOUMISSEDTHESPOT,INTHEFIRSTATTEMPTATDIGGING,THROUGHJUPITER'SSTUPIDITYINLETTINGTHEBUGFALLTHROUGHTHERIGHTINSTEADOFTHROUGHTHELEFTEYEOFTHESKULL.""PRECISELY.THISMISTAKEMADEADIFFERENCEOFABOUTTWOINCHESANDAHA
LFINTHE'SHOT'-THATISTOSAY,INTHEPOSITIONOFTHEPEGNEARESTTHETREE;ANDHADTHETREASUREBEENBENEATHTHE'SHOT,'THEERRORWOULDHAVEBEENOFLITTLEMOMENT;BUT'THESHOT,'TOGETHERWITHTHENEARESTPOINTOFTHETREE,WEREMERELYTWOPOINTSFORTHEESTABLISHMENTOFALINEOFDIRECTION;OFCOURSETHEER
ROR,HOWEVERTRIVIALINTHEBEGINNING,INCREASEDASWEPROCEEDEDWITHTHELINE,ANDBYTHETIMEWEHADGONEFIFTYFEET,THREWUSQUITEOFFTHESCENT.BUTFORMYDEEP-SEATEDIMPRESSIONSTHATTREASUREWASHERESOMEWHEREACTUALLYBURIED,WEMIGHTHAVEHADALLOURLABORINVAIN.""BUTYOURGRANDILOQUENCE,ANDYO
URCONDUCTINSWINGINGTHEBEETLE-HOWEXCESSIVELYODD!IWASSUREYOUWEREMAD.ANDWHYDIDYOUINSISTUPONLETTINGFALLTHEBUG,INSTEADOFABULLET,FROMTHESKULL?""WHY,TOBEFRANK,IFELTSOMEWHATANNOYEDBYYOUREVIDENTSUSPICIONSTOUCHINGMYSANITY,ANDSORESOLVEDTOPUNISHYOUQUIETLY,INMYOWNWAY,B
YALITTLEBITOFSOBERMYSTIFICATION.FORTHISREASONISWUNGTHEBEETLE,ANDFORTHISREASONILETITFALLITFROMTHETREE.ANOBSERVATIONOFYOURSABOUTITSGREATWEIGHTSUGGESTEDTHELATTERIDEA.""YES,IPERCEIVE;ANDNOWTHEREISONLYONEPOINTWHICHPUZZLESME.WHATAREWETOMAKEOFTHESKELETONSFOUNDINT
HEHOLE?""THATISAQUESTIONIAMNOMOREABLETOANSWERTHANYOURSELF.THERESEEMS,HOWEVER,ONLYONEPLAUSIBLEWAYOFACCOUNTINGFORTHEM-ANDYETITISDREADFULTOBELIEVEINSUCHATROCITYASMYSUGGESTIONWOULDIMPLY.ITISCLEARTHATKIDD-IFKIDDINDEEDSECRETEDTHISTREASURE,WHICHIDOUBTNOT-ITISCLEA
RTHATHEMUSTHAVEHADASSISTANCEINTHELABOR.BUTTHISLABORCONCLUDED,HEMAYHAVETHOUGHTITEXPEDIENTTOREMOVEALLPARTICIPANTSINHISSECRET.PERHAPSACOUPLEOFBLOWSWITHAMATTOCKWERESUFFICIENT,WHILEHISCOADJUTORSWEREBUSYINTHEPIT;PERHAPSITREQUIREDADOZEN-WHOSHALLTELL?"~~~