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and； ascending the high grounds on the shore of the mainland；
proceeded in a northwesterly direction； through a tract of country
excessively wild and desolate； where no trace of a human footstep
was to be seen。 Legrand led the way with decision； pausing only
for an instant； here and there； to consult what appeared to be
certain landmarks of his own contrivance upon a former occasion。
In this manner we journeyed for about two hours； and the sun was
just setting when we entered a region infinitely more dreary than
any yet seen。 It was a species of table…land； near the summit of
an almost inaccessible hill； densely wooded from base to pinnacle；
and interspersed with huge crags that appeared to lie loosely upon
the soil； and in many cases were prevented from precipitating
themselves into the valleys below； merely by the support of the
trees against which they reclined。 Deep ravines； in various
directions； gave an air of still sterner solemnity to the scene。
The natural platform to which we had clambered was thickly
overgrown with brambles； through which we soon discovered that it
would have been impossible to force our way but for the scythe； and
Jupiter； by direction of his master； proceeded to clear for us a
path to the foot of an enormously tall tulip tree； which stood；
with some eight or ten oaks； upon the level； and far surpassed them
all； and all other trees which I had then ever seen； in the beauty
of its foliage and form； in the wide spread of its branches； and in
the general majesty of its appearance。 When we reached this tree；
Legrand turned to Jupiter； and asked him if he thought he could
climb it。 The old man seemed a little staggered by the question；
and for some moments made no reply。 At length he approached the
huge trunk； walked slowly around it； and examined it with minute
attention。 When he had completed his scrutiny； he merely said：
〃Yes； massa； Jup climb any tree he ebber see in he life。〃
〃Then up with you as soon as possible； for it will soon be too dark
to see what we are about。〃
〃How far mus' go up； massa？〃 inquired Jupiter。
〃Get up the main trunk first； and then I will tell you which way to
goand herestop！ take this beetle with you。〃
〃De bug； Massa Will！de goole…bug！〃 cried the negro； drawing back
in dismay〃what for mus' tote de bug way up de tree？dn if I
do！〃
〃If you are afraid； Jup； a great big negro like you； to take hold
of a harmless little dead beetle； why you can carry it up by this
stringbut； if you do not take it up with you in some way； I shall
be under the necessity of breaking your head with this shovel。〃
〃What de matter now； massa？〃 said Jup； evidently shamed into
compliance； 〃always want for to raise fuss wid old nigger。 Was
only funnin anyhow。 ME feered de bug！ what I keer for de bug？〃
Here he took cautiously hold of the extreme end of the string； and；
maintaining the insect as far from his person as circumstances
would permit； prepared to ascend the tree。
In youth； the tulip tree； or Liriodendron tulipiferum； the most
magnificent of American foresters； has a trunk peculiarly smooth；
and often rises to a great height without lateral branches； but； in
its riper age； the bark becomes gnarled and uneven； while many
short limbs make their appearance on the stem。 Thus the difficulty
of ascension； in the present case； lay more in semblance than in
reality。 Embracing the huge cylinder； as closely as possible； with
his arms and knees； seizing with his hands some projections； and
resting his naked toes upon others； Jupiter； after one or two
narrow escapes from falling； at length wriggled himself into the
first great fork； and seemed to consider the whole business as
virtually accomplished。 The RISK of the achievement was； in fact；
now over； although the climber was some sixty or seventy feet from
the ground。
〃Which way mus' go now； Massa Will？〃 he asked。
〃Keep up the largest branchthe one on this side；〃 said Legrand。
The negro obeyed him promptly； and apparently with but little
trouble； ascending higher and higher； until no glimpse of his squat
figure could be obtained through the dense foliage which enveloped
it。 Presently his voice was heard in a sort of halloo。
〃How much fudder is got to go？〃
〃How high up are you？〃 asked Legrand。
〃Ebber so fur；〃 replied the negro； 〃can see de sky fru de top oh de
tree。〃
〃Never mind the sky； but attend to what I say。 Look down the trunk
and count the limbs below you on this side。 How many limbs have
you passed？〃
〃One； two； tree； four； fibeI done pass fibe big limb； massa； 'pon
dis side。〃
〃Then go one limb higher。〃
In a few minutes the voice was heard again； announcing that the
seventh limb was attained。
〃Now； Jup；〃 cried Legrand； evidently much excited； 〃I want you to
work your way out upon that limb as far as you can。 If you see
anything strange let me know。〃
By this time what little doubt I might have entertained of my poor
friend's insanity was put finally at rest。 I had no alternative
but to conclude him stricken with lunacy； and I became seriously
anxious about getting him home。 While I was pondering upon what
was best to be done； Jupiter's voice was again heard。
〃Mos feered for to ventur pon dis limb berry far'tis dead limb
putty much all de way。〃
〃Did you say it was a DEAD limb； Jupiter？〃 cried Legrand in a
quavering voice。
〃Yes； massa； him dead as de door…naildone up for sartindone
departed dis here life。〃
〃What in the name of heaven shall I do？〃 asked Legrand； seemingly
in the greatest distress。
〃Do！〃 said I； glad of an opportunity to interpose a word； 〃why come
home and go to bed。 Come now！that's a fine fellow。 It's getting
late； and； besides； you remember your promise。〃
〃Jupiter；〃 cried he； without heeding me in the least； 〃do you hear
me？〃
〃Yes； Massa Will； hear you ebber so plain。〃
〃Try the wood well； then； with your knife； and see if you think it
VERY rotten。〃
〃Him rotten； massa； sure nuff；〃 replied the negro in a few moments；
〃but not so berry rotten as mought be。 Mought venture out leetle
way pon de limb by myself； dat's true。〃
〃By yourself！what do you mean？〃
〃Why； I mean de bug。 'Tis BERRY hebby bug。 Spose I drop him down
fuss； an den de limb won't break wid just de weight of one nigger。〃
〃You infernal scoundrel！〃 cried Legrand； apparently much relieved；
〃what do you mean by telling me such nonsense as that？ As sure as
you drop that beetle I'll break your neck。 Look here； Jupiter； do
you hear me？〃
〃Yes； massa； needn't hollo at poor nigger dat style。〃
〃Well！ now listen！if you will venture out on the limb as far as
you think safe； and not let go the beetle； I'll make you a present
of a silver dollar as soon as you get down。〃
〃I'm gwine； Massa Willdeed I is；〃 replied the negro very
promptly〃mos out to the eend now。〃
〃OUT TO THE END