The Gold Bug by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5]
the gold- bug

by Edgar Allan Poe

what ho ! what ho ! this fellow is dancing mad !

he hath been bitten by_the tarantula .

-- all in_the wrong .

many years_ago, I contracted an intimacy with aMr William Legrand . he_was of an ancient Huguenot family, and had once been wealthy; but a series of misfortunes had reduced him to want . to avoid the mortification consequent upon his disasters, he left New_Orleans, the city of_his forefathers, and took up his residence at Sullivan's island, near Charleston, South_Carolina . this island is a very singular one . it consists of little else than_the sea sand, and_is about three miles long . its breadth at no point exceeds a quarter of a mile . it_is separated from_the main land by a scarcely perceptible creek, oozing its way through a wilderness of reeds and slime, a favorite resort of_the marsh hen . the vegetation, as might_be supposed, is scant, or at_least dwarfish . no trees of any magnitude are to_be seen . near the western extremity, where fort Moultrie stands, and where are some miserable frame buildings, tenanted, during summer, by_the fugitives from Charleston dust and fever, may_be found, indeed, the bristly palmetto; but the whole island, with_the exception of_this western point, and a line of hard, white beach on_the seacoast, is covered with a dense undergrowth of_the sweet Myrtle, so_much prized by_the horticulturists of England . the shrub here often attains the height of fifteen or twenty feet, and forms an almost impenetrable coppice, burthening the air with its fragrance .

in_the inmost recesses of_this coppice, not far from_the eastern or more remote end of_the island, Legrand had built himself a small hut, which he occupied when I first, by mere accident, made his acquaintance . this soon ripened into friendship - for there_was much in_the recluse to excite interest and esteem . I_found him well educated, with unusual powers of mind, but infected with misanthropy, and subject to perverse moods of alternate enthusiasm and melancholy . he had with_him many books, but rarely employed them . his chief amusements were gunning and fishing, or sauntering along the beach and through_the myrtles, in quest of shells or entomological specimens; - his collection of_the latter might_have_been envied by aSwammerdamm . in_these excursions he_was usually accompanied by an old Negro, called Jupiter, who had_been manumitted before_the reverses of_the family, but who_could_be induced, neither by threats nor by promises, to abandon what he considered his right of attendance upon_the footsteps of_his young "Massa will ." it_is_not improbable that_the relatives of Legrand, conceiving him to_be somewhat unsettled in intellect, had contrived to instil this obstinacy into Jupiter, with a view to_the supervision and guardianship of_the wanderer .

the winters in_the latitude of Sullivan's island are seldom very severe, and in_the fall of_the year it_is a rare event indeed when a fire is considered necessary . about_the middle of October, 18-, there occurred, however, a day of remarkable chilliness . just before sunset I scrambled my way through_the evergreens to_the hut of_my friend, whom I had_not visited for several weeks - my residence being, at_that_time, in Charleston, a distance of nine miles from_the island, while the facilities of passage and re- passage were very far behind those of_the present day . upon reaching the hut I rapped, as was my custom, and getting no reply, sought for_the key where I_knew it_was secreted, unlocked the door and went in .a fine fire was blazing upon_the hearth . it_was a novelty, and by no means an ungrateful one .I threw off an overcoat, took an arm- chair by_the crackling logs, and awaited patiently the arrival of_my hosts .

soon after dark they arrived, and gave_me a most cordial welcome .Jupiter, grinning from ear to ear, bustled about to_prepare some marsh-hens for supper .Legrand was in one of_his fits - how else shall I term them ? - of enthusiasm . he had found an unknown bivalve, forming a new genus, and, more than this, he had hunted down and secured, with Jupiter's assistance, ascarabus which he believed to_be totally new, but in respect to_which he_wished to_have my opinion on_the morrow .

" and why_not to- night ? " I asked, rubbing my hands over the blaze, and wishing the whole tribe of scarabi at_the devil .

"Ah, if I had only known you were here ! " said Legrand, " but it's so_long since I_saw you; and how could I foresee that you_would pay me a visit this very night of all others ? as i_was coming home I met lieutenant G--, from_the fort, and, very foolishly, I lent him the bug; so it_will_be impossible for_you to_see it until the morning . stay here to- night, and_I_will send Jup down for_it at sunrise . it_is_the loveliest thing in creation ! "

" what ? - sunrise ? "

" nonsense ! no ! - the bug . it_is of a brilliant gold color - about_the size of a large hickory- nut - with two jet black spots near one extremity of_the back, and another, somewhat longer, at_the other . the antenn are - "

"Dey aint no tin in him, Massa will, I keep atellin on you," here interrupted Jupiter; "de bug is agoole bug, solid, ebery bit of him, inside and all, sep him wing - neber feel half so hebby a bug in my life ."

" well, suppose it_is, Jup," replied Legrand, somewhat more earnestly, it seemed to_me, than_the case demanded, " is_that any reason for your letting the birds burn ? the color" - here he turned to_me - " is really almost enough to warrant Jupiter's idea . you never saw a more brilliant metallic lustre than_the scales emit - but of_this you_cannot judge till tomorrow . in_the mean time I_can give_you some idea of_the shape ." Saying this, he seated himself at a small table, on_which were a pen and ink, but no paper . he looked for some in a drawer, but found none .

" never mind," said he at_length, " this_will answer;" and he drew from_his waistcoat pocket a scrap of what i_took to_be very dirty foolscap, and made upon it a rough drawing with_the pen . while he_did this, I retained my seat by_the fire, for i_was still chilly . when_the design was complete, he handed it to_me without rising . as I received it, a loud growl was heard, succeeded by ascratching at_the door .Jupiter opened it, and a large Newfoundland, belonging to Legrand, rushed in, leaped upon my shoulders, and loaded me with caresses; for I had shown him much attention during previous visits . when his gambols were over, I looked at_the paper, and, to_speak the truth, found myself not a little puzzled at what my friend had depicted .

" well ! " I_said, after contemplating it for some minutes, " this_is a strange scarabus, I_must confess: new to_me: never saw anything like it before - unless it_was a skull, or a death's- head - which it more nearly resembles than anything else that has_come under my observation ."

"A death's- head ! " echoed Legrand -"Oh - yes - well, it has something of_that appearance upon paper, no_doubt . the two upper black spots look like eyes, eh ? and_the longer one at_the bottom like a mouth - and then the shape of_the whole is oval ."

" perhaps so," said I; " but, Legrand, I_fear you_are no artist . I_must wait until I_see the beetle itself, if I_am to_form any idea of_its personal appearance ."

" well, I don't know," said he, a little nettled, "I draw tolerably - should do_it at_least - have_had good masters, and flatter myself that I_am not quite a blockhead ."

" but, my dear fellow, you_are joking then," said I, " this_is a very passable skull - indeed, I_may say that_it_is a very excellent skull, according to_the vulgar notions about such specimens of physiology - and your scarabus must_be the queerest scarabus in_the_world if_it resembles it . why, we_may get up a very thrilling bit of superstition upon_this hint .I presume you_will call the bug scarabus caput hominis, or something of_that kind - there_are many similar titles in_the natural Histories . but where are the antenn you spoke of ? "

" the antenn ! " said Legrand, who seemed to_be getting unaccountably warm upon_the_subject; " I_am_sure you_must see the antenn . I_made them as distinct as_they_are in_the original insect, and I presume that_is sufficient ."

" well, well," I_said, " perhaps you_have - still I don't see them;" and I handed him the paper without additional remark, not wishing to ruffle his temper; but i_was much surprised at_the turn affairs had taken; his ill humor puzzled me - and, as for_the drawing of_the beetle, there were positively no antenn visible, and_the whole did bear a very close resemblance to_the ordinary cuts of a death's- head .

he received the paper very peevishly, and was about to crumple it, apparently to throw it in_the fire, when a casual glance at_the design seemed suddenly to rivet his attention . in an instant his face grew violently red - in another as excessively pale . for some minutes he continued to scrutinize the drawing minutely where he sat . at_length he arose, took a candle from_the table, and proceeded to seat himself upon a sea- chest in_the farthest corner of_the room . here again he_made an anxious examination of_the paper; turning it in all directions . he_said nothing, however, and_his conduct greatly astonished me; yet i_thought it prudent not to exacerbate the growing moodiness of_his temper by any comment . presently he_took from_his coat pocket a wallet, placed the paper carefully in_it, and deposited both in awriting- desk, which he locked . he now grew more composed in_his demeanor; but his original air of enthusiasm had quite disappeared . yet he_seemed not so_much sulky as abstracted . as_the evening wore away he became more and more absorbed in reverie, from_which no sallies of_mine could arouse him . it had_been my intention to_pass the night at_the hut, as I had frequently done before, but, seeing my host in_this mood, I deemed it proper to_take leave . he_did_not press me to remain, but, as I departed, he shook my hand with even more than his usual cordiality .

it_was about a month after_this ( and during the interval I had seen nothing of Legrand) when I received a visit, at Charleston, from_his man, Jupiter .I had never seen the good old Negro look so dispirited, and I feared that some serious disaster had befallen my friend .

" well, Jup," said I, " what_is the matter now ? - how is your master ? "

" why, to_speak de troof, massa, him not so berry well as mought be ."

" not well ! I_am truly sorry to hear it . what does he complain of ? "

" DAR ! dat's it ! - him neber plain of notin - but him berry sick for all dat ."

" very sick, Jupiter ! - why didn't you say so at once ? is he confined to bed ? "

" no, dat he aint ! - he aint find nowhar - dat's just whar de shoe pinch - my mind is got to_be berry hebby bout poor Massa will ."

"Jupiter, i_should like to understand what it_is you_are talking about . you say your master is sick .Hasn't he_told you what ails him ? "

" why, massa, taint worf while for to git mad about de matter - Massa will say noffin at all aint de matter wid him - but den what make him go about looking dis here way, wid he head down and he soldiers up, and as white as agose ? and den he keep asyphon all de time - "

"Keeps a what, Jupiter ? "

"Keeps asyphon wid de figgurs on de slate - de queerest figgurs I ebber did see .Ise gittin to_be skeered, I tell you .Hab for to_keep mighty tight eye pon him noovers .Todder day he gib me slip fore de sun up and was gone de whole ob de blessed day .I had a big stick ready cut for to gib him deuced good beating when he_did come - but Ise sich a fool dat I hadn't de heart arter all - he look so berry poorly ."

"Eh ? - what ? - ah yes ! - upon_the whole i_think you had better not be too severe with_the poor fellow - don't flog him, Jupiter - he_can't very_well stand it - but can_you form no idea of what has occasioned this illness, or rather this change of conduct ? has anything unpleasant happened since I_saw you ? "

" no, massa, dey aint bin noffin unpleasant since den - 'twas fore den I'm feared - 'twas de berry day you was dare ."

" how ? what do_you_mean ? "

" why, massa, I mean de bug - dare now ."

" the what ? "

"De bug, - I'm berry sartain dat Massa will bin bit somewhere bout de head by dat goole- bug ."

" and what cause have_you, Jupiter, for such a supposition ? "

"Claws enuff, massa, and mouth too .I nebber did see sick adeuced bug - he kick and he bite ebery ting what cum near him .Massa will cotch him fuss, but had for to let him go gin mighty quick, I tell you - den was de time he_must ha got de bite . I_did n't like de look oh de bug mouff, myself, no how, so i_would n't take hold ob him wid my finger, but I cotch him wid a piece ob paper dat I_found .I rap him up in de paper and stuff piece ob it in he mouff - dat was de way ."

" and you_think, then, that your master was really bitten by_the beetle, and_that the bite made him sick ? "

" I_do n't tink noffin about_it - I nose it . what make him dream bout de goole so_much, if taint cause he bit by de goole- bug ? Ise heerd bout dem goole-bugs fore dis ."

" but how do_you_know he dreams about gold ? "

" how I_know ? why cause he talk about_it in he sleep - dat's how I nose ."

" well, Jup, perhaps you_are right; but to what fortunate circumstance am I to attribute the honor of a visit from_you to- day ? "

" what de matter, massa ? "

" did you bring any message from Mr Legrand "

" no, massa, I bring dis here pissel;" and here Jupiter handed me a note which ran thus:

my dear --

why have I not seen you for_so_long_a_time ? I_hope you_have_not_been so foolish as to_take offence at any little brusquerie of_mine; but no, that_is improbable . since I_saw you I_have_had great cause for anxiety . I_have something to_tell you, yet scarcely know how to_tell it, or whether i_should tell it at all .

I have_not_been quite well for some days past, and poor old Jup annoys me, almost beyond endurance, by his well-meant attentions would you believe it ? - he had prepared a huge stick, the other day, with_which to chastise me for giving him the slip, and spending the day, solus_, among_the hills on_the main land .I verily believe that my ill looks alone saved me aflogging .

I_have_made no addition to my cabinet since we met .

if_you_can, in any_way, make it convenient, come over with Jupiter . do come . i_wish to_see you to-_night_, upon business of importance .I assure you that_it_is of_the highest importance .

ever yours, WILLIAM LEGRAND .

there_was something in_the tone of_this note which gave_me great uneasiness . its whole style differed materially from_that of Legrand . what could he be dreaming of ? what new crotchet possessed his excitable brain ? what " business of_the highest importance" could he possibly have to transact ? Jupiter's account of him boded no good .I dreaded lest the continued pressure of misfortune had, at_length, fairly unsettled the reason of_my friend . without a moment's hesitation, therefore, I prepared to accompany the Negro .

upon reaching the wharf, I noticed a scythe and three spades, all apparently new, lying in_the bottom of_the boat in_which we were to embark .

" what_is

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