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it without difficulty； although it was only by a miracle that we
prevented it from swamping as it touched the water。 It contained；
when afloat； the captain and his wife； Mr。 Wyatt and party； a
Mexican officer； wife； four children； and myself； with a negro
valet。
We had no room； of course； for any thing except a few positively
necessary instruments； some provisions； and the clothes upon our
backs。 No one had thought of even attempting to save any thing
more。 What must have been the astonishment of all； then； when
having proceeded a few fathoms from the ship； Mr。 Wyatt stood up in
the stern…sheets； and coolly demanded of Captain Hardy that the
boat should be put back for the purpose of taking in his oblong
box！
〃Sit down； Mr。 Wyatt；〃 replied the captain； somewhat sternly； 〃you
will capsize us if you do not sit quite still。 Our gunwhale is
almost in the water now。〃
〃The box！〃 vociferated Mr。 Wyatt； still standing〃the box； I say！
Captain Hardy； you cannot； you will not refuse me。 Its weight will
be but a trifleit is nothingmere nothing。 By the mother who
bore youfor the love of Heavenby your hope of salvation； I
implore you to put back for the box！〃
The captain； for a moment； seemed touched by the earnest appeal of
the artist； but he regained his stern composure； and merely said：
〃Mr。 Wyatt； you are mad。 I cannot listen to you。 Sit down； I say；
or you will swamp the boat。 Stayhold himseize him！he is
about to spring overboard！ ThereI knew ithe is over！〃
As the captain said this； Mr。 Wyatt； in fact； sprang from the boat；
and； as we were yet in the lee of the wreck； succeeded； by almost
superhuman exertion； in getting hold of a rope which hung from the
fore…chains。 In another moment he was on board； and rushing
frantically down into the cabin。
In the meantime； we had been swept astern of the ship； and being
quite out of her lee； were at the mercy of the tremendous sea which
was still running。 We made a determined effort to put back； but
our little boat was like a feather in the breath of the tempest。
We saw at a glance that the doom of the unfortunate artist was
sealed。
As our distance from the wreck rapidly increased； the madman （for
as such only could we regard him） was seen to emerge from the
companionway； up which by dint of strength that appeared
gigantic； he dragged； bodily； the oblong box。 While we gazed in
the extremity of astonishment； he passed； rapidly； several turns of
a three…inch rope； first around the box and then around his body。
In another instant both body and box were in the seadisappearing
suddenly； at once and forever。
We lingered awhile sadly upon our oars； with our eyes riveted upon
the spot。 At length we pulled away。 The silence remained unbroken
for an hour。 Finally； I hazarded a remark。
〃Did you observe； captain； how suddenly they sank？ Was not that an
exceedingly singular thing？ I confess that I entertained some
feeble hope of his final deliverance； when I saw him lash himself
to the box； and commit himself to the sea。〃
〃They sank as a matter of course；〃 replied the captain； 〃and that
like a shot。 They will soon rise again； howeverBUT NOT TILL THE
SALT MELTS。〃
〃The salt！〃 I ejaculated。
〃Hush！〃 said the captain； pointing to the wife and sisters of the
deceased。 〃We must talk of these things at some more appropriate
time。〃
We suffered much； and made a narrow escape； but fortune befriended
us； as well as our mates in the long…boat。 We landed； in fine；
more dead than alive； after four days of intense distress； upon the
beach opposite Roanoke Island。 We remained here a week； were not
ill…treated by the wreckers； and at length obtained a passage to
New York。
About a month after the loss of the 〃Independence；〃 I happened to
meet Captain Hardy in Broadway。 Our conversation turned；
naturally； upon the disaster； and especially upon the sad fate of
poor Wyatt。 I thus learned the following particulars。
The artist had engaged passage for himself； wife； two sisters and a
servant。 His wife was； indeed； as she had been represented； a most
lovely； and most accomplished woman。 On the morning of the
fourteenth of June （the day in which I first visited the ship）； the
lady suddenly sickened and died。 The young husband was frantic
with griefbut circumstances imperatively forbade the deferring
his voyage to New York。 It was necessary to take to her mother the
corpse of his adored wife； and； on the other hand； the universal
prejudice which would prevent his doing so openly was well known。
Nine…tenths of the passengers would have abandoned the ship rather
than take passage with a dead body。
In this dilemma； Captain Hardy arranged that the corpse； being
first partially embalmed； and packed； with a large quantity of
salt； in a box of suitable dimensions； should be conveyed on board
as merchandise。 Nothing was to be said of the lady's decease； and；
as it was well understood that Mr。 Wyatt had engaged passage for
his wife； it became necessary that some person should personate her
during the voyage。 This the deceased lady's…maid was easily
prevailed on to do。 The extra state…room； originally engaged for
this girl during her mistress' life； was now merely retained。 In
this state…room the pseudo…wife； slept； of course； every night。 In
the daytime she performed； to the best of her ability； the part of
her mistresswhose person； it had been carefully ascertained； was
unknown to any of the passengers on board。
My own mistake arose； naturally enough； through too careless； too
inquisitive； and too impulsive a temperament。 But of late； it is a
rare thing that I sleep soundly at night。 There is a countenance
which haunts me； turn as I will。 There is an hysterical laugh
which will forever ring within my ears。
The Gold…Bug
What ho！ what ho！ this fellow is dancing mad！
He hath been bitten by the Tarantula。
All in the Wrong。
Many years ago； I contracted an intimacy with a Mr。 William
Legrand。 He was of an ancient Huguenot family； and had once been
wealthy： but a series of misfortunes had reduced him to want。 To
avoid the mortification consequent upon his disasters； he left New
Orleans； the city of his forefathers； and took up his residence at
Sullivan's Island； near Charleston； South Carolina。
This island is a very singular one。 It consists of little else
than the sea sand； and is about three miles long。 Its breadth at
no point exceeds a quarter of a mile。 It is separated from the
mainland by a scarcely perceptible creek； oozing its way through a
wilderness of reeds and slime； a favorite resort of the marsh hen。
The vegetation； as might be supposed； is scant； or at least
dwarfish。 No trees of any magnitude are to be seen。 Near the
western extremity； where Fort Moultrie stands； and where are some
miserable frame buildings； tenanted