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branch seventh limb east sideshoot from the left eye of the
death's heada bee…line from the tree through the shot fifty feet
out。'〃
〃Even this division；〃 said I； 〃leaves me still in the dark。〃
〃It left me also in the dark；〃 replied Legrand； 〃for a few days；
during which I made diligent inquiry in the neighborhood of
Sullivan's Island； for any building which went by name of the
'Bishop's Hotel'； for； of course； I dropped the obsolete word
'hostel。' Gaining no information on the subject； I was on the
point of extending my sphere of search； and proceeding in a more
systematic manner； when； one morning； it entered into my head；
quite suddenly； that this 'Bishop's Hostel' might have some
reference to an old family； of the name of Bessop； which； time out
of mind； had held possession of an ancient manor house； about four
miles to the northward of the island。 I accordingly went over to
the plantation； and reinstituted my inquiries among the older
negroes of the place。 At length one of the most aged of the women
said that she had heard of such a place as Bessop's Castle； and
thought that she could guide me to it； but that it was not a
castle； nor a tavern； but a high rock。
〃I offered to pay her well for her trouble； and； after some demur；
she consented to accompany me to the spot。 We found it without
much difficulty； when； dismissing her； I proceeded to examine the
place。 The 'castle' consisted of an irregular assemblage of cliffs
and rocksone of the latter being quite remarkable for its height
as well as for its insulated and artificial appearance。 I
clambered to its apex； and then felt much at a loss as to what
should be next done。
〃While I was busied in reflection； my eyes fell upon a narrow ledge
in the eastern face of the rock； perhaps a yard below the summit
upon which I stood。 This ledge projected about eighteen inches；
and was not more than a foot wide； while a niche in the cliff just
above it gave it a rude resemblance to one of the hollow…backed
chairs used by our ancestors。 I made no doubt that here was the
'devil's seat' alluded to in the MS。； and now I seemed to grasp the
full secret of the riddle。
〃The 'good glass；' I knew； could have reference to nothing but a
telescope； for the word 'glass' is rarely employed in any other
sense by seamen。 Now here； I at once saw； was a telescope to be
used； and a definite point of view； ADMITTING NO VARIATION； from
which to use it。 Nor did I hesitate to believe that the phrases；
'forty…one degrees and thirteen minutes；' and 'northeast and by
north；' were intended as directions for the leveling of the glass。
Greatly excited by these discoveries； I hurried home； procured a
telescope； and returned to the rock。
〃I let myself down to the ledge； and found that it was impossible
to retain a seat upon it except in one particular position。 This
fact confirmed my preconceived idea。 I proceeded to use the glass。
Of course； the 'forty…one degrees and thirteen minutes' could
allude to nothing but elevation above the visible horizon； since
the horizontal direction was clearly indicated by the words；
'northeast and by north。' This latter direction I at once
established by means of a pocket compass； then； pointing the glass
as nearly at an angle of forty…one degrees of elevation as I could
do it by guess； I moved it cautiously up or down； until my
attention was arrested by a circular rift or opening in the foliage
of a large tree that overtopped its fellows in the distance。 In
the center of this rift I perceived a white spot； but could not； at
first； distinguish what it was。 Adjusting the focus of the
telescope； I again looked； and now made it out to be a human skull。
〃Upon this discovery I was so sanguine as to consider the enigma
solved； for the phrase 'main branch； seventh limb； east side；'
could refer only to the position of the skull upon the tree； while
'shoot from the left eye of the death's head' admitted； also； of
but one interpretation； in regard to a search for buried treasure。
I perceived that the design was to drop a bullet from the left eye
of the skull； and that a bee…line； or； in other words； a straight
line； drawn from the nearest point of the trunk 'through the shot'
（or the spot where the bullet fell）； and thence extended to a
distance of fifty feet； would indicate a definite pointand
beneath this point I thought it at least POSSIBLE that a deposit of
value lay concealed。〃
〃All this；〃 I said； 〃is exceedingly clear； and； although ingenious；
still simple and explicit。 When you left the Bishop's Hotel； what
then？〃
〃Why； having carefully taken the bearings of the tree； I turned
homeward。 The instant that I left 'the devil's seat；' however； the
circular rift vanished； nor could I get a glimpse of it afterwards；
turn as I would。 What seems to me the chief ingenuity in this
whole business； is the fact （for repeated experiment has convinced
me it IS a fact） that the circular opening in question is visible
from no other attainable point of view than that afforded by the
narrow ledge upon the face of the rock。
〃In this expedition to the 'Bishop's Hotel' I had been attended by
Jupiter； who had； no doubt； observed； for some weeks past； the
abstraction of my demeanor； and took especial care not to leave me
alone。 But； on the next day； getting up very early； I contrived to
give him the slip； and went into the hills in search of the tree。
After much toil I found it。 When I came home at night my valet
proposed to give me a flogging。 With the rest of the adventure I
believe you are as well acquainted as myself。〃
〃I suppose；〃 said I； 〃you missed the spot； in the first attempt at
digging； through Jupiter's stupidity in letting the bug fall
through the right instead of through the left eye of the skull。〃
〃Precisely。 This mistake made a difference of about two inches and
a half in the 'shot'that is to say； in the position of the peg
nearest the tree； and had the treasure been BENEATH the 'shot；' the
error would have been of little moment； but 'the shot；' together
with the nearest point of the tree； were merely two points for the
establishment of a line of direction； of course the error； however
trivial in the beginning； increased as we proceeded with the line；
and by the time we had gone fifty feet threw us quite off the
scent。 But for my deep…seated impressions that treasure was here
somewhere actually buried； we might have had all our labor in
vain。〃
〃But your grandiloquence； and your conduct in swinging the beetle
how excessively odd！ I was sure you were mad。 And why did you
insist upon letting fall the bug； instead of a bullet； from the
skull？〃
〃Why； to be frank； I felt somewhat annoyed by your evident
suspicions touching my sanity； and so resolved to punish you
quietly； in my own way； by a little bit of sober mystification。
For this reason I swung the beetle； and for this reason I let it