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tell you！answer me this instant； without prevarication！which
which is your left eye？〃
〃Oh； my golly； Massa Will！ aint dis here my lef eye for sartain？〃
roared the terrified Jupiter； placing his hand upon his RIGHT organ
of vision； and holding it there with a desperate pertinacity； as if
in immediate； dread of his master's attempt at a gouge。
〃I thought so！I knew it！ hurrah！〃 vociferated Legrand； letting
the negro go and executing a series of curvets and caracols； much
to the astonishment of his valet； who； arising from his knees；
looked； mutely； from his master to myself； and then from myself to
his master。
〃Come！ we must go back；〃 said the latter； 〃the game's not up yet；〃
and he again led the way to the tulip tree。
〃Jupiter；〃 said he； when we reached its foot； 〃come here！ was the
skull nailed to the limb with the face outward； or with the face to
the limb？〃
〃De face was out； massa； so dat de crows could get at de eyes good；
widout any trouble。〃
〃Well； then； was it this eye or that through which you dropped the
beetle？〃 here Legrand touched each of Jupiter's eyes。
〃'Twas dis eye； massade lef eyejis as you tell me；〃 and here it
was his right eye that the negro indicated。
〃That will dowe must try it again。〃
Here my friend； about whose madness I now saw； or fancied that I
saw； certain indications of method； removed the peg which marked
the spot where the beetle fell； to a spot about three inches to the
westward of its former position。 Taking； now； the tape measure
from the nearest point of the trunk to the peg； as before； and
continuing the extension in a straight line to the distance of
fifty feet； a spot was indicated； removed； by several yards； from
the point at which we had been digging。
Around the new position a circle； somewhat larger than in the
former instance； was now described； and we again set to work with
the spade。 I was dreadfully weary； but； scarcely understanding
what had occasioned the change in my thoughts； I felt no longer any
great aversion from the labor imposed。 I had become most
unaccountably interestednay； even excited。 Perhaps there was
something； amid all the extravagant demeanor of Legrandsome air
of forethought； or of deliberation； which impressed me。 I dug
eagerly； and now and then caught myself actually looking； with
something that very much resembled expectation； for the fancied
treasure； the vision of which had demented my unfortunate
companion。 At a period when such vagaries of thought most fully
possessed me； and when we had been at work perhaps an hour and a
half； we were again interrupted by the violent howlings of the dog。
His uneasiness； in the first instance； had been； evidently； but the
result of playfulness or caprice； but he now assumed a bitter and
serious tone。 Upon Jupiter's again attempting to muzzle him； he
made furious resistance； and； leaping into the hole； tore up the
mold frantically with his claws。 In a few seconds he had uncovered
a mass of human bones； forming two complete skeletons； intermingled
with several buttons of metal； and what appeared to be the dust of
decayed woolen。 One or two strokes of a spade upturned the blade
of a large Spanish knife； and； as we dug farther； three or four
loose pieces of gold and silver coin came to light。
At sight of these the joy of Jupiter could scarcely be restrained；
but the countenance of his master wore an air of extreme
disappointment。 He urged us； however； to continue our exertions；
and the words were hardly uttered when I stumbled and fell forward；
having caught the toe of my boot in a large ring of iron that lay
half buried in the loose earth。
We now worked in earnest； and never did I pass ten minutes of more
intense excitement。 During this interval we had fairly unearthed
an oblong chest of wood； which； from its perfect preservation and
wonderful hardness； had plainly been subjected to some mineralizing
processperhaps that of the bichloride of mercury。 This box was
three feet and a half long； three feet broad； and two and a half
feet deep。 It was firmly secured by bands of wrought iron；
riveted； and forming a kind of open trelliswork over the whole。 On
each side of the chest； near the top； were three rings of ironsix
in allby means of which a firm hold could be obtained by six
persons。 Our utmost united endeavors served only to disturb the
coffer very slightly in its bed。 We at once saw the impossibility
of removing so great a weight。 Luckily； the sole fastenings of the
lid consisted of two sliding bolts。 These we drew backtrembling
and panting with anxiety。 In an instant； a treasure of
incalculable value lay gleaming before us。 As the rays of the
lanterns fell within the pit； there flashed upward a glow and a
glare； from a confused heap of gold and of jewels； that absolutely
dazzled our eyes。
I shall not pretend to describe the feelings with which I gazed。
Amazement was； of course； predominant。 Legrand appeared exhausted
with excitement； and spoke very few words。 Jupiter's countenance
wore； for some minutes； as deadly a pallor as it is possible； in
the nature of things； for any negro's visage to assume。 He seemed
stupefiedthunderstricken。 Presently he fell upon his knees in
the pit； and burying his naked arms up to the elbows in gold； let
them there remain； as if enjoying the luxury of a bath。 At length；
with a deep sigh； he exclaimed； as if in a soliloquy：
〃And dis all cum of de goole…bug！ de putty goole…bug！ de poor
little goole…bug； what I boosed in that sabage kind oh style！
Ain't you shamed oh yourself； nigger？answer me dat！〃
It became necessary； at last； that I should arouse both master and
valet to the expediency of removing the treasure。 It was growing
late； and it behooved us to make exertion； that we might get
everything housed before daylight。 It was difficult to say what
should he done； and much time was spent in deliberationso
confused were the ideas of all。 We； finally； lightened the box by
removing two thirds of its contents； when we were enabled； with
some trouble； to raise it from the hole。 The articles taken out
were deposited among the brambles； and the dog left to guard them；
with strict orders from Jupiter neither； upon any pretense； to stir
from the spot； nor to open his mouth until our return。 We then
hurriedly made for home with the chest； reaching the hut in safety；
but after excessive toil； at one o'clock in the morning。 Worn out
as we were； it was not in human nature to do more immediately。 We
rested until two； and had supper； starting for the hills
immediately afterwards； armed with three stout sacks； which； by
good luck； were upon the premises。 A little before four we arrived
at the pit； divided the remainder of the booty； as equally as might
be； among us； and； leaving the holes unfilled； again set out for
the hut； at which； for the second time； we deposited our golden
burdens； just