"The 'good glass,' , reference to nothing but telescope; word 'glass' is rarely employed in sense by seamen Now here, I at once saw, was telescope used, and definite point of view, admitting no variation, to use it Nor did I hesitate phrases, "forty-one degrees and thirteen minutes,' and 'northeast and by north,' were intended as directions levelling glass Greatly excited discoveries, I hurried home, procured telescope, and returned rock

"I let myself down ledge, and found impossible to retain seat upon it except in one particular position This fact confirmed my preconceived idea I proceeded to use the glass , the 'forty-one degrees and thirteen minutes' could allude to nothing but elevation above the visible horizon, horizontal direction was clearly indicated words, 'northeast and by north ' This latter direction I at once established of pocket-compass; then, pointing the glass as nearly at an angle of forty-one degrees of elevation as by guess, I moved it cautiously up or down, until my attention was arrested by circular rift or opening foliage of large tree that overtopped its fellows distance centre rift I perceived white spot, but , at first, distinguish what Adjusting the focus telescope, I again looked, and now made it out human skull

" discovery so sanguine consider the enigma solved; phrase 'main branch, seventh limb, east side,' could refer only position skull tree, while 'shoot left eye death's head' admitted, also, of but one interpretation, in regard to search for buried treasure I perceived design was to drop bullet left eye skull, bee-line, or, in other words, straight line, drawn nearest point trunk through 'the shot,' (or the spot where the bullet fell,) and thence extended to distance of fifty feet, would indicate definite point - and beneath this point it possible that deposit of value lay concealed "

"All this," , "is exceedingly clear, and, although ingenious, still simple and explicit left the Bishop's Hotel, what then ? "

"Why, having carefully taken the bearings tree, I turned homewards The instant that I left 'the devil's seat,' however, the circular rift vanished; nor could I get glimpse of it afterwards, turn as What seems the chief ingenuity whole business, fact (for repeated experiment has convinced me fact) circular opening is visible from no other attainable point of view than that afforded narrow ledge face rock

" expedition 'Bishop's Hotel' I attended by Jupiter, who had, , observed, for some weeks past, the abstraction demeanor, and took especial care not to leave me alone But, , getting up very early, I contrived him the slip, and went hills in search tree After much toil it When home at night my valet proposed flogging rest adventure I believe acquainted as myself "

"I suppose," said I, "you missed the spot, first attempt at digging, through Jupiter's stupidity in letting the bug fall right instead of left eye skull "

"Precisely This mistake made difference of about two inches and half 'shot' - , position peg nearest the tree; and had the treasure been beneath the 'shot,' the error of little moment; but 'the shot,' together nearest point tree, were merely two points establishment of line of direction; the error, however trivial beginning, increased proceeded line, and we had gone fifty feet, threw us quite off the scent But deep-seated impressions that treasure was here somewhere actually buried, had all our labor in vain "

"But your grandiloquence, and your conduct in swinging the beetle - how excessively odd ! sure you were mad And why did you insist upon letting fall the bug, instead of bullet, skull ? "

"Why, frank, somewhat annoyed by your evident suspicions touching my sanity, and so resolved to punish you quietly, in my own way, by little bit of sober mystification reason I swung the beetle, and reason I let it fall it tree An observation of yours about its great weight suggested the latter idea "

"Yes, I perceive; and now point which puzzles me we skeletons found hole ? "

" question no more able to answer than yourself There seems, however, plausible way of accounting - and yet dreadful atrocity as my suggestion would imply clear that Kidd - if Kidd indeed secreted this treasure, which not - clear that had assistance labor But this labor concluded, thought it expedient to remove all participants secret Perhaps couple of blows with mattock were sufficient, while his coadjutors were busy pit; perhaps it required dozen - who shall tell ? "