about month (and during the interval I had seen nothing of Legrand) when I received visit, at Charleston, 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, " the matter now ? - how is your master ? "

"Why, de troof, massa, him not so berry well as mought be "

"Not well ! 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 berry hebby bout poor Massa Will "

"Jupiter, like to understand what talking about You say your master is sick Hasn't 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 gose ? And den he keep syphon all de time - "

"Keeps what, Jupiter ? "

"Keeps syphon wid de figgurs on de slate - de queerest figgurs I ebber did see Ise gittin skeered, I tell you Hab for 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 big stick ready cut for to gib him deuced good beating when come - but Ise sich fool dat I hadn't de heart arter all - he look so berry poorly "

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

"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 , Jupiter, for such supposition ? "

"Claws enuff, massa, and mouth too I nebber did see sick deuced 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 ha got de bite n't like de look oh de bug mouff, myself, no how, so n't take hold ob him wid my finger, but I cotch him wid piece ob paper dat I rap him up in de paper and stuff piece ob it in he mouff - dat was de way "

"And , then, that your master was really bitten beetle, and bite made him sick ? "

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

"But how he dreams about gold ? "

"How ? why cause he talk in he sleep - dat's how I nose "

"Well, Jup, perhaps right; but to what fortunate circumstance am I to attribute the honor of visit 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 note which ran thus:

MY DEAR --

Why have I not seen you ? so foolish as offence at any little brusquerie ; but no, improbable Since you great cause for anxiety something you, yet scarcely know how it, or whether tell it at all

I 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 huge stick, the other day, to chastise me for giving him the slip, and spending the day, solus_, hills main land I verily believe that my ill looks alone saved me flogging

no addition to my cabinet since we met

, in , make it convenient, come over with Jupiter Do come you to-_night_, upon business of importance I assure you highest importance

Ever yours, WILLIAM LEGRAND

something tone note which great uneasiness Its whole style differed materially of Legrand What could he be dreaming of ? What new crotchet possessed his excitable brain ? What "business 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, , fairly unsettled the reason friend Without moment's hesitation, therefore, I prepared to accompany the negro

Upon reaching the wharf, I noticed scythe and three spades, all apparently new, lying bottom boat we were to embark

" the meaning of all this, Jup ? " I inquired

"Him syfe, massa, and spade "

"Very true; but 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, name of all mysterious, is your 'Massa Will' going with scythes and spades ? "

"Dat's more dan , 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 obtained of Jupiter, whose whole intellect seemed absorbed by "de bug," I now stepped boat and made sail With fair and strong breeze we soon ran little cove northward of Fort Moultrie, and walk of some two miles brought us hut about three afternoon when we arrived Legrand awaiting us in eager expectation He grasped my hand with nervous empressement which alarmed me and strengthened the suspicions already entertained His countenance was pale even to ghastliness, deep-set eyes glared with unnatural lustre After some inquiries respecting his health, I asked him, not knowing what better , if he had yet obtained the scarabus from Lieutenant G --

"Oh, yes," he replied, coloring violently, "I got it the next morning Nothing should tempt me to part scarabus that Jupiter is quite right ? "

"In what way ? " I asked, with sad foreboding at heart

"In supposing it bug of real gold " this with an air of profound seriousness, and inexpressibly shocked

"This bug is my fortune," he continued, with triumphant smile, "to reinstate me in my family possessions any wonder, then, that I prize it ? Since Fortune has thought fit to bestow it upon me, only to use it properly and arrive gold 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 grave and stately air, and brought me the beetle from glass case enclosed beautiful scarabus, and, , unknown to naturalists - great prize in scientific point of view There were two round, black spots near one extremity back, and long one near the other The scales were exceedingly hard and glossy, with all the appearance of burnished gold The weight insect was very remarkable, and, taking all things into consideration, hardly blame Jupiter opinion respecting it; but what of Legrand's concordance opinion, , life of me, tell

" ," said he, in grandiloquent tone, when I had completed my examination beetle, " , that your counsel and assistance in furthering the views of Fate and bug" -

"My dear Legrand," I cried, interrupting him, " certainly unwell, and had better use some little precautions You shall go to bed, remain , until you get over this feverish and" -

"Feel my pulse," said he

it, and, the truth, found not the slightest indication of fever

"But ill and yet have no fever Allow me this once to prescribe first place, go to bed next" -

" mistaken," he interposed, " as expect under the excitement which I suffer really wish me well, relieve this excitement "

"And how ? "

"Very easily Jupiter and myself are going upon an expedition hills, main land, and, expedition need the aid of some person in whom confide the trust Whether we succeed or fail, the excitement which you now perceive in me equally allayed "

" anxious to oblige you in ," I replied; "but infernal beetle has any connection with your expedition hills ? "

"It has "

"Then, Legrand, become party to no such absurd proceeding "

" sorry - very sorry - for it by ourselves "

"Try it by yourselves ! The man is surely mad ! - but stay ! - how long propose absent ? "