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

"Yes; I promise; and now be off, for no time to lose "

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

We crossed the creek head island of skiff; and, ascending the high grounds shore main land, proceeded in northwesterly direction, through tract of country excessively wild and desolate, where no trace of human footstep was seen Legrand led the way with decision; pausing only for an instant, here and there, to consult what appeared certain landmarks own contrivance upon former occasion

manner we journeyed for about two hours, sun was just setting when we entered region infinitely more dreary than any yet seen 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 soil, and in many cases were prevented from precipitating themselves valleys below, merely support trees against which they reclined Deep ravines, in various directions, gave an air of still sterner solemnity scene

The natural platform we had clambered was thickly overgrown with brambles, through which we soon discovered impossible to force our way but scythe; and Jupiter, by direction master, proceeded to clear path foot of an enormously tall tulip-tree, which stood, with some eight or ten oaks, level, and far surpassed them all, and all other trees which I had then ever seen, beauty foliage and form, wide spread branches, and general majesty appearance When we reached this tree, Legrand turned to Jupiter, and asked him if he thought climb it The old man seemed little staggered question, and for some moments made no reply 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 , for soon be too dark what about "

"How far mus go up, massa ? " inquired Jupiter

"Get up the main trunk first, and then tell you - and here - stop ! take this beetle "

"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 ! "

" afraid, Jup, great big negro like you, hold of harmless little dead beetle, why carry it up string - but, take it up in some way, under the necessity of breaking your head 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 cautiously hold extreme end string, and, maintaining the insect as far 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 trunk peculiarly smooth, and often rises to great height without lateral branches; but, in its riper age, the bark becomes gnarled and uneven, while many short limbs make their appearance stem Thus the difficulty of ascension, present case, lay more in semblance than in reality Embracing the huge cylinder, as closely as possible, arms and knees, seizing hands some projections, and resting his naked toes upon others, Jupiter, after narrow escapes from falling, wriggled himself first great fork, and seemed to consider the whole business as virtually accomplished The risk achievement was, , now over, although the climber was some sixty or seventy feet ground

" mus go now, Massa Will ? " he asked

"Keep up the largest branch - the one side," said Legrand The negro obeyed him promptly, and apparently with but little trouble; ascending higher and higher, until no glimpse squat figure obtained dense foliage which enveloped it Presently his voice was heard in sort of halloo

" fudder is got for go ? "

"How high up ? " asked Legrand

"Ebber so fur," replied the negro; " de sky fru de top ob de tree "

"Never mind the sky, but attend to what Look down the trunk and count the limbs below you side limbs passed ? "

"One, two, tree, four, fibe - I done pass fibe big limb, massa, pon dis side "

"Then go one limb higher "

the voice was heard again, announcing seventh limb was attained

"Now, Jup," cried Legrand, evidently much excited, " you to work your way out upon that limb as far If anything strange, let me know " what little doubt entertained 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 pondering upon best , 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 dead limb, Jupiter ? " cried Legrand in quavering voice

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

"What name heaven shall ? " asked Legrand, seemingly greatest distress "Do ! " said I, glad of an opportunity to interpose word, "why come home and go to bed Come now ! - that's fine fellow It's getting late, and, besides, you remember your promise "

"Jupiter," cried he, without heeding me least, " hear me ? "

"Yes, Massa Will, hear you ebber so plain "

"Try the wood well, then, with your knife, it very rotten "

"Him rotten, massa, sure nuff," replied the negro in , "but not so berry rotten as mought be Mought ventur out leetle way pon de limb , dat's true "

"By yourself ! - what ? "

"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 by telling me such nonsense ? As sure drop that beetle I'll break your neck Look here, Jupiter, hear me ? "

"Yes, massa, needn't hollo at poor nigger dat style "

"Well ! now listen ! - venture out limb as far as safe, and not let go the beetle, I'll make you present of silver dollar you get down "

"I'm gwine, Massa Will - deed I is," replied the negro very promptly - "mos out eend now "

"Out end ! " here fairly screamed Legrand, " say out end limb ? "

"Soon be to de eend, massa, - o-o-o-o-oh ! Lor-gol-a-marcy ! dis here pon de tree ? "

"Well ! " cried Legrand, highly delighted, " it ? "

"Why taint noffin but skull - somebody bin lef him head up de tree, and de crows done gobble ebery bit ob de meat off "

"A skull, you say ! - ! - how fastened limb ? - what holds it on ? "

"Sure nuff, massa; mus look Why dis berry curous sarcumstance, pon my word - dare's great big nail in de skull, what fastens ob it on to de tree "

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

"Yes, massa "

"Pay attention, then ! - find the left eye skull "

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

"Curse your stupidity ! your right hand from your left ? "

"Yes, I nose dat - nose all bout dat - tis my lef hand what I chops de wood wid "

" ! left-handed; and your left eye is same side Now, I suppose, find the left eye skull, or the place where the left eye found it ? "

Here was long pause 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 bit ob 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 string will reach - but be careful and not let go your hold string "

"All dat done, Massa Will; mighty easy ting for de bug fru de hole - look out for him dare below ! "

During this colloquy no portion of Jupiter's person seen; but the beetle, which he had suffered to descend, was now visible end string, and glistened, like globe of burnished gold, last rays setting sun, some still faintly illumined the eminence we stood The scarabus hung quite clear of any branches, and, if allowed , fallen at our feet Legrand immediately took the scythe, and cleared with it circular space, three or four yards in diameter, just beneath the insect, and, having accomplished this, ordered Jupiter to let go the string and come down tree