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promptly〃mos out to the eend now。〃
〃OUT TO THE END！〃 here fairly screamed Legrand； 〃do you say you are
out to the end of that limb？〃
〃Soon be to de eend； massao…o…o…o…oh！ Lor…gol…a…marcy！ what IS
dis here pon de tree？〃
〃Well！〃 cried Legrand； highly delighted； 〃what is it？〃
〃Why 'taint noffin but a skullsomebody bin lef him head up de
tree； and de crows done gobble ebery bit ob de meat off。〃
〃A skull； you say！very well；how is it fastened to the limb？
what holds it on？〃
〃Sure nuff； massa； mus look。 Why dis berry curious sarcumstance；
pon my worddare's a great big nail in de skull； what fastens ob
it on to de tree。〃
〃Well now； Jupiter； do exactly as I tell youdo you hear？〃
〃Yes； massa。〃
〃Pay attention； thenfind the left eye of the skull。〃
〃Hum！ hoo！ dat's good！ why dey ain't no eye lef at all。〃
〃Curse your stupidity！ do you know your right hand from your left？〃
〃Yes； I knows datknows all about dat'tis my lef hand what I
chops de wood wid。〃
〃To be sure！ you are left…handed； and your left eye is on the same
side as your left hand。 Now； I suppose； you can find the left eye
of the skull； or the place where the left eye has been。 Have you
found it？〃
Here was a long pause。 At length the negro asked：
〃Is de lef eye of de skull pon de same side as de lef hand of de
skull too？cause de skull aint got not a bit oh a hand at all
nebber mind！ I got de lef eye nowhere de lef eye！ what mus do
wid it？〃
Let the beetle drop through it； as far as the string will reach
but be careful and not let go your hold of the string。〃
〃All dat done； Massa Will； mighty easy ting for to put de bug fru
de holelook out for him dare below！〃
During this colloquy no portion of Jupiter's person could be seen；
but the beetle； which he had suffered to descend； was now visible
at the end of the string； and glistened； like a globe of burnished
gold； in the last rays of the setting sun； some of which still
faintly illumined the eminence upon which we stood。 The scarabaeus
hung quite clear of any branches； and； if allowed to fall； would
have fallen at our feet。 Legrand immediately took the scythe； and
cleared with it a circular space； three or four yards in diameter；
just beneath the insect； and； having accomplished this； ordered
Jupiter to let go the string and come down from the tree。
Driving a peg； with great nicety； into the ground； at the precise
spot where the beetle fell； my friend now produced from his pocket
a tape measure。 Fastening one end of this at that point of the
trunk of the tree which was nearest the peg； he unrolled it till it
reached the peg and thence further unrolled it； in the direction
already established by the two points of the tree and the peg； for
the distance of fifty feetJupiter clearing away the brambles with
the scythe。 At the spot thus attained a second peg was driven； and
about this； as a center； a rude circle； about four feet in
diameter； described。 Taking now a spade himself； and giving one to
Jupiter and one to me； Legrand begged us to set about digging as
quickly as possible。
To speak the truth； I had no especial relish for such amusement at
any time； and； at that particular moment； would willingly have
declined it； for the night was coming on； and I felt much fatigued
with the exercise already taken； but I saw no mode of escape； and
was fearful of disturbing my poor friend's equanimity by a refusal。
Could I have depended； indeed； upon Jupiter's aid； I would have had
no hesitation in attempting to get the lunatic home by force； but I
was too well assured of the old negro's disposition； to hope that
he would assist me； under any circumstances； in a personal contest
with his master。 I made no doubt that the latter had been infected
with some of the innumerable Southern superstitions about money
buried； and that his fantasy had received confirmation by the
finding of the scarabaeus； or； perhaps； by Jupiter's obstinacy in
maintaining it to be 〃a bug of real gold。〃 A mind disposed to
lunacy would readily be led away by such suggestionsespecially if
chiming in with favorite preconceived ideasand then I called to
mind the poor fellow's speech about the beetle's being 〃the index
of his fortune。〃 Upon the whole； I was sadly vexed and puzzled；
but； at length； I concluded to make a virtue of necessityto dig
with a good will； and thus the sooner to convince the visionary； by
ocular demonstration； of the fallacy of the opinion he entertained。
The lanterns having been lit； we all fell to work with a zeal
worthy a more rational cause； and； as the glare fell upon our
persons and implements； I could not help thinking how picturesque a
group we composed； and how strange and suspicious our labors must
have appeared to any interloper who； by chance； might have stumbled
upon our whereabouts。
We dug very steadily for two hours。 Little was said； and our chief
embarrassment lay in the yelpings of the dog； who took exceeding
interest in our proceedings。 He； at length； became so obstreperous
that we grew fearful of his giving the alarm to some stragglers in
the vicinity；or； rather； this was the apprehension of Legrand；
for myself； I should have rejoiced at any interruption which might
have enabled me to get the wanderer home。 The noise was； at
length； very effectually silenced by Jupiter； who； getting out of
the hole with a dogged air of deliberation； tied the brute's mouth
up with one of his suspenders； and then returned； with a grave
chuckle； to his task。
When the time mentioned had expired； we had reached a depth of five
feet； and yet no signs of any treasure became manifest。 A general
pause ensued； and I began to hope that the farce was at an end。
Legrand； however； although evidently much disconcerted； wiped his
brow thoughtfully and recommenced。 We had excavated the entire
circle of four feet diameter； and now we slightly enlarged the
limit； and went to the farther depth of two feet。 Still nothing
appeared。 The gold…seeker； whom I sincerely pitied； at length
clambered from the pit； with the bitterest disappointment imprinted
upon every feature； and proceeded； slowly and reluctantly； to put
on his coat； which he had thrown off at the beginning of his labor。
In the meantime I made no remark。 Jupiter； at a signal from his
master； began to gather up his tools。 This done； and the dog
having been unmuzzled； we turned in profound silence toward home。
We had taken； perhaps； a dozen steps in this direction； when； with
a loud oath； Legrand strode up to Jupiter； and seized him by the
collar。 The astonished negro opened his eyes and mouth to the
fullest extent； let fall the spades； and fell upon his knees。
〃You scoundrel！〃 said Legrand； hissing out the syllables from
between his clenched teeth〃you infernal black villain！speak； I
tell you！answer me this instant； without prevarication！which
which is your left eye？