The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]
what_is the meaning of all this, Jup ? " I inquired .

" him syfe, massa, and spade ."

" very true; but what_are they doing here ? "

" him de syfe and de spade what Massa will sis pon my buying for him in de town, and de debbils own lot of money I had to gib for em ."

" but what, in_the name of all that_is mysterious, is your 'Massa will' going to_do with scythes and spades ? "

"Dat's more dan I_know, and debbil take me if I don't blieve 'tis more dan he know, too . but it's all cum ob do bug ."

Finding that no satisfaction was to_be obtained of Jupiter, whose whole intellect seemed to_be absorbed by "de bug," I now stepped into_the boat and made sail . with a fair and strong breeze we soon ran into_the little cove to_the northward of fort Moultrie, and a walk of some two miles brought us to_the hut . it_was about three in_the afternoon when we arrived .Legrand had_been awaiting us in eager expectation . he grasped my hand with a nervous empressement which alarmed me and strengthened the suspicions already entertained . his countenance was pale even to ghastliness, and_his deep- set eyes glared with unnatural lustre . after some inquiries respecting his health, I asked him, not knowing what better to_say, if he had yet obtained the scarabus from lieutenant G -- .

"Oh, yes," he replied, coloring violently, "I got it from_him the next morning . nothing should tempt me to part with_that scarabus . do_you_know that Jupiter is quite right about_it ? "

" in what way ? " I asked, with a sad foreboding at heart .

" in supposing it to_be a bug of real gold ." he_said this with an air of profound seriousness, and I_felt inexpressibly shocked .

" this bug is to_make my fortune," he continued, with a triumphant smile, " to reinstate me in my family possessions . is_it any wonder, then, that I prize it ? since fortune has thought fit to bestow it upon me, I_have only to use it properly and I_shall arrive at_the gold of_which it_is_the index .Jupiter; bring me that scarabus ! "

" what ! de bug, massa ? I'd rudder not go fer trubble dat bug - you mus git him for your own self ." hereupon Legrand arose, with a grave and stately air, and brought me the beetle from a glass case in_which it_was enclosed . it_was a beautiful scarabus, and, at_that_time, unknown to naturalists - of_course a great prize in a scientific point of view . there were two round, black spots near one extremity of_the back, and a long one near the other . the scales were exceedingly hard and glossy, with all the appearance of burnished gold . the weight of_the insect was very remarkable, and, taking all things into consideration, I_could hardly blame Jupiter for_his opinion respecting it; but what to_make of Legrand's concordance with_that opinion, I_could_not, for_the life of me, tell .

" I_sent for_you," said he, in a grandiloquent tone, when I had completed my examination of_the beetle, " I_sent for_you, that I_might_have your counsel and assistance in furthering the views of fate and of_the bug" -

" my dear Legrand," I cried, interrupting him, " you_are certainly unwell, and had better use some little precautions . you shall go to bed, and_I_will remain with_you a few_days, until you get over this . you_are feverish and" -

" feel my pulse," said he .

I_felt it, and, to_say the truth, found not the slightest indication of fever .

" but you_may_be ill and yet have no fever . allow me this once to prescribe for_you . in_the first place, go to bed . in_the next" -

" you_are mistaken," he interposed, " I_am as_well as I_can expect to_be under the excitement which I suffer . if_you really wish me well, you_will relieve this excitement ."

" and how is_this to_be_done ? "

" very easily .Jupiter and myself are going upon an expedition into_the hills, upon_the main land, and, in_this expedition we_shall need the aid of some person in whom we_can confide . you_are the only_one we_can trust . whether we succeed or fail, the excitement which you now perceive in me will_be equally allayed ."

" I_am anxious to oblige you in any_way," I replied; " but do_you_mean to_say that_this infernal beetle has any connection with your expedition into_the hills ? "

" it has ."

" then, Legrand, I_can become a party to no such absurd proceeding ."

" I_am sorry - very sorry - for we_shall_have to_try it by ourselves ."

" try it by yourselves ! the man is surely mad ! - but stay ! - how long do_you propose to_be absent ? "

" probably all night . we_shall start immediately, and be back, at all events, by sunrise ."

" and will_you promise me, upon your honor, that when_this freak of yours is over, and_the bug business ( good god ! ) settled to your satisfaction, you_will then return home and follow my advice implicitly, as_that of your physician ? "

" yes; I promise; and now let_us be off, for we_have no time to lose ."

with a heavy heart I accompanied my friend . we started about four o'clock - Legrand, Jupiter, the dog, and myself .Jupiter had with_him the scythe and spades - the whole of_which he insisted upon carrying - more through fear, it seemed to_me, of trusting either of_the implements within reach of_his master, than from any excess of industry or complaisance . his demeanor was dogged in_the extreme, and "dat deuced bug" were the sole words which escaped his lips during the journey . for_my own part, I had charge of a couple of dark lanterns, while Legrand contented himself with_the scarabus, which he carried attached to_the end of a bit of whip- cord; twirling it to and fro, with_the air of aconjuror, as he went . when I observed this last, plain evidence of_my friend's aberration of mind, I_could scarcely refrain from tears . i_thought it best, however, to humor his fancy, at_least for_the_present, or until I_could adopt some more energetic measures with a chance of success . in_the mean time I endeavored, but all in vain, to sound him in regard to_the object of_the expedition .Having succeeded in inducing me to accompany him, he_seemed unwilling to hold conversation upon any topic of minor importance, and to all my questions vouchsafed no other reply than " we_shall see ! "

we crossed the creek at_the head of_the island by_means of a skiff; and, ascending the high grounds on_the shore of_the main land, 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_go - and here - stop ! 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 ? - d-n 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 string - but, 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 any how . 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 Tulipferum, 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 branch - the 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 for go ? "

" how high up are_you ? " asked Legrand .

"Ebber so fur," replied the Negro; " can_see de sky fru de top ob 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, fibe - I 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 feerd 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 aquavering voice .

" yes, massa, him dead as de door- nail - done up for sartain - done departed dis here life ."

" what in_the name 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 ventur 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, and den de limb won't break wid just de weight ob 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 will - deed I is," replied the Negro very 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, massa, - o-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 skull - somebody 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 curous sarcumstance, pon my word - dare's a great big nail in de skull, what fastens ob it on to de tree ."

" well now, Jupiter, do exactly as I tell you - do_you hear ? "

" yes, massa ."

" pay attention, then ! - find the left eye of_the skull ."

" hum ! hoo ! dat's good ! why dare aint no eye lef at all ."

" curse your stupidity ! do_you_know your right hand from your left ? "

" yes, I nose dat - nose all bout 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 ob a hand at all - nebber mind ! I got de lef eye now - here 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 hole - look 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,

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]