Thegold-seeker，whomIsincerelypitied，atlengthclamberedfromthepit，withthebitterestdisappointmentimprinteduponeveryfeature，andproceeded，slowlyandreluctantly，toputonhiscoat，whichhehadthrownoffatthebeginningofhislabor。InthemeantimeImadenoremark。Jupiter，atasignalfromhismaster，begantogatheruphistools。Thisdone，andthedoghavingbeenunmuzzled，weturnedinprofoundsilencetowardshome。
Wehadtaken，perhaps，adozenstepsinthisdirection，when，withaloudoath，LegrandstrodeuptoJupiter，andseizedhimbythecollar。Theastonishednegroopenedhiseyesandmouthtothefullestextent，letfallthespades，andfelluponhisknees。
“Youscoundrel。”saidLegrand，hissingoutthesyllablesfrombetweenhisclenchedteeth-“youinfernalblackvillain！-speak，I
tellyou！-answermethisinstant，withoutprevarication！-which-
whichisyourlefteye？”
“Oh，mygolly，MassaWill！aintdisheremylefeyeforsartain？”
roaredtheterrifiedJupiter，placinghishanduponhisrightorganofvision，andholdingittherewithadesperatepertinacity，asifinimmediatedreadofhismaster’sattemptatagouge。
“Ithoughtso！-Iknewit！hurrah！”vociferatedLegrand，lettingthenegrogo，andexecutingaseriesofcurvetsandcaracols，muchtotheastonishmentofhisvalet，who，arisingfromhisknees，looked，mutely，fromhismastertomyself，andthenfrommyselftohismaster。
“Come！wemustgoback。”saidthelatter，“thegame’snotupyet；“andheagainledthewaytothetulip-tree。
“Jupiter。”saidhe，whenwereacheditsfoot，“comehere！wastheskullnailedtothelimbwiththefaceoutwards，orwiththefacetothelimb？”
“Defacewasout，massa，sodatdecrowscouldgetatdeeyesgood，widoutanytrouble。”
“Well，then，wasitthiseyeorthatthroughwhichyoudroppedthebeetle？”-hereLegrandtouchedeachofJupiter’seyes。
“Twasdiseye，massa-delefeye-jisasyoutellme。”andhereitwashisrighteyethatthenegroindicated。
“Thatwilldo-musttryitagain。”
Heremyfriend，aboutwhosemadnessInowsaw，orfanciedthatI
saw，certainindicationsofmethod，removedthepegwhichmarkedthespotwherethebeetlefell，toaspotaboutthreeinchestothewestwardofitsformerposition。Taking，now，thetapemeasurefromthenearestpointofthetrunktothepeg，asbefore，andcontinuingtheextensioninastraightlinetothedistanceoffiftyfeet，aspotwasindicated，removed，byseveralyards，fromthepointatwhichwehadbeendigging。
Aroundthenewpositionacircle，somewhatlargerthanintheformerinstance，wasnowdescribed，andweagainsettoworkwiththespades。Iwasdreadfullyweary，but，scarcelyunderstandingwhathadoccasionedthechangeinmythoughts，Ifeltnolongeranygreataversionfromthelaborimposed。Ihadbecomemostunaccountablyinterested-nay，evenexcited。Perhapstherewassomething，amidalltheextravagantdemeanorofLegrand-someairofforethought，orofdeliberation，whichimpressedme。Idugeagerly，andnowandthencaughtmyselfactuallylooking，withsomethingthatverymuchresembledexpectation，forthefanciedtreasure，thevisionofwhichhaddementedmyunfortunatecompanion。Ataperiodwhensuchvagariesofthoughtmostfullypossessedme，andwhenwehadbeenatworkperhapsanhourandahalf，wewereagaininterruptedbytheviolenthowlingsofthedog。Hisuneasiness，inthefirstinstance，hadbeen，evidently，buttheresultofplayfulnessorcaprice，buthenowassumedabitterandserioustone。UponJupiter’sagainattemptingtomuzzlehim，hemadefuriousresistance，and，leapingintothehole，toreupthemouldfranticallywithhisclaws。Inafewsecondshehaduncoveredamassofhumanbones，formingtwocompleteskeletons，intermingledwithseveralbuttonsofmetal，andwhatappearedtobethedustofdecayedwoollen。OneortwostrokesofaspadeupturnedthebladeofalargeSpanishknife，and，aswedugfarther，threeorfourloosepiecesofgoldandsilvercoincametolight。
AtsightofthesethejoyofJupitercouldscarcelyberestrained，butthecountenanceofhismasterworeanairofextremedisappointmentHeurgedus，however，tocontinueourexertions，andthewordswerehardlyutteredwhenIstumbledandfellforward，havingcaughtthetoeofmybootinalargeringofironthatlayhalfburiedinthelooseearth。
Wenowworkedinearnest，andneverdidIpasstenminutesofmoreintenseexcitement。Duringthisintervalwehadfairlyunearthedanoblongchestofwood，which，fromitsperfectpreservationandwonderfulhardness，hadplainlybeensubjectedtosomemineralizingprocess-perhapsthatoftheBi-chlorideofMercury。Thisboxwasthreefeetandahalflong，threefeetbroad，andtwoandahalffeetdeep。Itwasfirmlysecuredbybandsofwroughtiron，riveted，andformingakindofopentrellisworkoverthewhole。Oneachsideofthechest，nearthetop，werethreeringsofiron-sixinall-bymeansofwhichafirmholdcouldbeobtainedbysixpersons。Ourutmostunitedendeavorsservedonlytodisturbthecofferveryslightlyinitsbed。Weatoncesawtheimpossibilityofremovingsogreataweight。Luckily，thesolefasteningsofthelidconsistedoftwoslidingbolts。Thesewedrewback-tremblingandpantingwithanxiety。Inaninstant，atreasureofincalculablevaluelaygleamingbeforeus。Astheraysofthelanternsfellwithinthepit，thereflashedupwardsaglowandaglare，fromaconfusedheapofgoldandofjewels，thatabsolutelydazzledoureyes。
IshallnotpretendtodescribethefeelingswithwhichIgazed。
Amazementwas，ofcourse，predominant。Legrandappearedexhaustedwithexcitement，andspokeveryfewwords。Jupiter’scountenancewore，forsomeminutes，asdeadlyapallorasitispossible，innatureofthings，foranynegro’svisagetoassume。Heseemedstupified-thunderstricken。Presentlyhefelluponhiskneesinthepit，and，buryinghisnakedarmsuptotheelbowsingold，letthemthereremain，asifenjoyingtheluxuryofabath。Atlength，withadeepsigh，heexclaimed，asifinasoliloquy，“Anddisallcumobdegoole-bug！deputtygoolebug！depoorlittlegoole-bug，whatIboosedindatsabagekindobstyle！Aintyoushamedobyourself，nigger？-answermedat！”
Itbecamenecessary，atlast，thatIshouldarousebothmasterandvalettotheexpediencyofremovingthetreasure。Itwasgrowinglate，anditbehoovedustomakeexertion，thatwemightgeteverythinghousedbeforedaylight。Itwasdifficulttosaywhatshouldbedone，andmuchtimewasspentindeliberation-soconfusedweretheideasofall。We，finally，lightenedtheboxbyremovingtwothirdsofitscontents，whenwewereenabled，withsometrouble，toraiseitfromthehole。Thearticlestakenoutweredepositedamongthebrambles，andthedoglefttoguardthem，withstrictordersfromJupiterneither，uponanypretence，tostirfromthespot，nortoopenhismouthuntilourreturn。Wethenhurriedlymadeforhomewiththechest；reachingthehutinsafety，butafterexcessivetoil，atoneo’clockinthemorning。Wornoutaswewere，itwasnotinhumannaturetodomoreimmediately。Weresteduntiltwo，andhadsupper；
startingforthehillsimmediatelyafterwards，armedwiththreestoutsacks，which，bygoodluck，wereuponthepremises。Alittlebeforefourwearrivedatthepit，dividedtheremainderofthebooty，asequallyasmightbe，amongus，and，leavingtheholesunfilled，againsetoutforthehut，atwhich，forthesecondtime，wedepositedourgoldenburthens，justasthefirstfaintstreaksofthedawngleamedfromoverthetree-topsintheEast。
Wewerenowthoroughlybrokendown；buttheintenseexcitementofthetimedeniedusrepose。Afteranunquietslumberofsomethreeorfourhours’duration，wearose，asifbypreconcert，tomakeexaminationofourtreasure。
Thechesthadbeenfulltothebrim，andwespentthewholeday，andthegreaterpartofthenextnight，inascrutinyofitscontents。Therehadbeennothinglikeorderorarrangement。Everythinghadbeenheapedinpromiscuously。Havingassortedallwithcare，wefoundourselvespossessedofevenvasterwealththanwehadatfirstsupposed。Incointherewasrathermorethanfourhundredandfiftythousanddollars-estimatingthevalueofthepieces，asaccuratelyaswecould，bythetablesoftheperiod。Therewasnotaparticleofsilver。Allwasgoldofantiquedateandofgreatvariety-French，Spanish，andGermanmoney，withafewEnglishguineas，andsomecounters，ofwhichwehadneverseenspecimensbefore。Therewereseveralverylargeandheavycoins，sowornthatwecouldmakenothingoftheirinscriptions。TherewasnoAmericanmoney。Thevalueofthejewelswefoundmoredifficultyinestimating。Therewerediamonds-someofthemexceedinglylargeandfine-ahundredandteninall，andnotoneofthemsmall；eighteenrubiesofremarkablebrilliancy；-threehundredandtenemeralds，allverybeautiful；andtwenty-onesapphires，withanopal。Thesestoneshadallbeenbrokenfromtheirsettingsandthrownlooseinthechest。Thesettingsthemselves，whichwepickedoutfromamongtheothergold，appearedtohavebeenbeatenupwithhammers，asiftopreventidentification。
Besidesallthis，therewasavastquantityofsolidgoldornaments；-
nearlytwohundredmassivefingerandearrings；-richchains-
thirtyofthese，ifIremember；-eighty-threeverylargeandheavycrucifixes；-fivegoldcensersofgreatvalue；-aprodigiousgoldenpunchbowl，ornamentedwithrichlychasedvine-leavesandBacchanalianfigures；withtwosword-handlesexquisitelyembossed，andmanyothersmallerarticleswhichIcannotrecollect。Theweightofthesevaluablesexceededthreehundredandfiftypoundsavoirdupois；andinthisestimateIhavenotincludedonehundredandninety-sevensuperbgoldwatches；threeofthenumberbeingwortheachfivehundreddollars，ifone。Manyofthemwereveryold，andastimekeepersvalueless；theworkshavingsuffered，moreorless，fromcorrosion-butallwererichlyjewelledandincasesofgreatworth。
Weestimatedtheentirecontentsofthechest，thatnight，atamillionandahalfofdollars；anduponthesubsequentdisposalofthetrinketsandjewelsafewbeingretainedforourownuse，itwasfoundthatwehadgreatlyundervaluedthetreasure。
When，atlength，wehadconcludedourexamination，andtheintenseexcitementofthetimehad，insomemeasure，subsided，Legrand，whosawthatIwasdyingwithimpatienceforasolutionofthismostextraordinaryriddle，enteredintoafulldetailofallthecircumstancesconnectedwithit。
“Youremember；“saidhe，“thenightwhenIhandedyoutheroughsketchIhadmadeofthescarab鎢s。Yourecollectalso，thatIbecamequitevexedatyouforinsistingthatmydrawingresembledadeath’s-head。WhenyoufirstmadethisassertionIthoughtyouwerejesting；butafterwardsIcalledtomindthepeculiarspotsonthebackoftheinsect，andadmittedtomyselfthatyourremarkhadsomelittlefoundationinfact。Still，thesneeratmygraphicpowersirritatedme-forIamconsideredagoodartist-and，therefore，whenyouhandedmethescrapofparchment，Iwasabouttocrumpleitupandthrowitangrilyintothefire。”
“Thescrapofpaper，youmean。”saidI。
“No；ithadmuchoftheappearanceofpaper，andatfirstI
supposedittobesuch，butwhenIcametodrawuponit，Idiscoveredit，atonce，tobeapieceofverythinparchment。Itwasquitedirty，youremember。Well，asIwasintheveryactofcrumplingitup，myglancefelluponthesketchatwhichyouhadbeenlooking，andyoumayimaginemyastonishmentwhenIperceived，infact，thefigureofadeath’s-headjustwhere，itseemedtome，Ihadmadethedrawingofthebeetle。ForamomentIwastoomuchamazedtothinkwithaccuracy。Iknewthatmydesignwasverydifferentindetailfromthis-althoughtherewasacertainsimilarityingeneraloutline。
PresentlyItookacandle，andseatingmyselfattheotherendoftheroom，proceededtoscrutinizetheparchmentmoreclosely。Uponturningitover，Isawmyownsketchuponthereverse，justasIhadmadeit。Myfirstidea，now，wasmeresurpriseatthereallyremarkablesimilarityofoutline-atthesingularcoincidenceinvolvedinthefact，thatunknowntome，thereshouldhavebeenaskullupontheothersideoftheparchment，immediatelybeneathmyfigureofthescarab鎢s，andthatthisskull，notonlyinoutline，butinsize，shouldsocloselyresemblemydrawing。Isaythesingularityofthiscoincidenceabsolutelystupifiedmeforatime。Thisistheusualeffectofsuchcoincidences。Themindstrugglestoestablishaconnexion-asequenceofcauseandeffect-
and，beingunabletodoso，suffersaspeciesoftemporaryparalysis。
But，whenIrecoveredfromthisstupor，theredawneduponmegraduallyaconvictionwhichstartledmeevenfarmorethanthecoincidence。Ibegandistinctly，positively，torememberthattherehadbeennodrawingupontheparchmentwhenImademysketchofthescarab鎢s。Ibecameperfectlycertainofthis；forIrecollectedturningupfirstonesideandthentheother，insearchofthecleanestspot。Hadtheskullbeenthenthere，ofcourseIcouldnothavefailedtonoticeit。HerewasindeedamysterywhichIfeltitimpossibletoexplain；but，evenatthatearlymoment，thereseemedtoglimmer，faintly，withinthemostremoteandsecretchambersofmyintellect，aglow-worm-likeconceptionofthattruthwhichlastnight’sadventurebroughttosomagnificentademonstration。Iaroseatonce，andputtingtheparchmentsecurelyaway，dismissedallfartherreflectionuntilIshouldbealone。
“Whenyouhadgone，andwhenJupiterwasfastasleep，Ibetookmyselftoamoremethodicalinvestigationoftheaffair。InthefirstplaceIconsideredthemannerinwhichtheparchmenthadcomeintomypossession。Thespotwherewediscoveredthescarabaeuswasonthecoastofthemainland，aboutamileeastwardoftheisland，andbutashortdistanceabovehighwatermark。Uponmytakingholdofit，itgavemeasharpbite，whichcausedmetoletitdrop。Jupiter，withhisaccustomedcaution，beforeseizingtheinsect，whichhadflowntowardshim，lookedabouthimforaleaf，orsomethingofthatnature，bywhichtotakeholdofit。Itwasatthismomentthathiseyes，andminealso，felluponthescrapofparchment，whichIthensupposedtobepaper。Itwaslyinghalfburiedinthesand，acornerstickingup。Nearthespotwherewefoundit，Iobservedtheremnantsofthehullofwhatappearedtohavebeenaship’slongboat。Thewreckseemedtohavebeenthereforaverygreatwhile；fortheresemblancetoboattimberscouldscarcelybetraced。