White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-09

much amazed to think with accuracy. knew
that my design was very different in detail from
this-although there was certain similarity in
general outline. Presently took candle, and
seating myself at the other end Of the ROOM
proceeded to scrutinize the parchment moFe
closely. Upon turning it owes saw NY own
sketch upon the reverse, just as bad made it
My first idea, now, was mere surprise at the re-
ally remarkable similarity of outline-at the
singular coincidence involved in the fact that,
unknown to me, there should have been a skull
on the other side of the parchment, immediate
" beneath my figure of the searg6eus, and that
this skull, not only in outline, but in size, should
so closely resemble my drawings say the sin
gularity of this coincidence absolutely stupe6ed
me for time. This is the usual effect of such
condolences. The mind struggles to establish
connections sequence of cause and effect
and, being unable to do so, suffers species OF
temporary paralysis. But, when / recovered
from this stupor, there dawned upon me gradu-
ally, conviction which startled me even far
more than the coincidence. began distinctly,
positively, to remember that there had been no
drawing upon the parchment when l made my
sketch of the searabe4s. / became perfectly
certain of this; for recollected turning up first
one side and then the other, in search of the
cleanest spot, Had the skull been then there,
of course Icould net have failed to notice it,
Here was indeed mystery which felt it i'm
possible to explain; but, even at that early mo-
ment, there seemed to glimmer, family, within
the most remote and secret chambers of nv in
teIlect, a gloNk worm like conception, of that
truth which last nights adventure brought to so
magnificent demonstration. arose at once,
dismissing all further reflection until should be
alone.
"When you had gone, and when Jupiter was
fast asleep, betook myself to a more methodi-
cal investigation of the affair. In the first place
considered the manner in which the parchment
had come into my possession. The spot where
We discovered the sesrabeus was on the coast
of the main land, about mile eastward of the
island, and but short distance above bigh-wa-
ter mark. Upon my seizing it. it gave me a
sharp bite, which caused pe to let it drop. Ju-
piter, with his accustomed caution, before seiz-
ing the insect, which had flown towards him,
looked about him for leaf, or something of thsf
nature, by which to take hold of it. 1t was at
this moment that his eyes, and mine also, fell
upon the scrap of parchment, which then sup
posed to be paper. 1t was lying half buried in
the sand, a corner sticking up. Near the spot
where We found it, observed the remnants of
the hull of what appeared to have been ships
long-boat. The wreck seemed 10 have been
there tor great while; for the resemblance to
boat timbers could scarcely be traced.
"Well, Jupiter picked up the parchment,
wrapped the beetle in it. and gave it to ne
Soon afterwards we turned to go home, and on
the way met Lieutenant C.. showed him
the insect, and he begged me to let him take it
to the fort. Upon my conserving, he thrust it
forthwith into his waistcoat pocket, without the
parchment in which it had been wrapped. and
which | continued to hold in nv hand during
his inspection. Perhaps he dreaded nv chang
ing my mind, and thought it best to make sure
of the prize at onee-you know how enthusias-
tic he is on all subjects connected with natural
history. At the same time, without being con-
scious oft, must have deposited the parchment
in nv own pocket.
"You remember that when went to the t.
bic. for the purpose of making a sketch of the
beetle, found ne paper where 1t was Usually
kept. looked in the drawer and found none
there. searched my pockets, hoping to find an
old letter, when my hand fell upon the parch.
ment. thus detail the preeiss mode in which
il came into nay possession; for the circumstan-
ces impressed me with peculiar force.
No doubt you will think me fanciful-but l
had already established kind of connection.
had put together tive links of great chain
There was boat lying On the sea coast, and not
faF from the boat was parchment-not pepe,
with a skull depicted on IL. You will, of
course, ask where is the connecticut reply,
that the skull, or death s-head, Is the we-known
emblem of the pirate. The flag Of the deaths.
head Is hoisted in all engagements.
4" have said that the scrap was parchment,
and not paper. Parchment is durable--ai,usst
imperishable. Matters of little moment are rare.
ly consigned to parchment; since. for the mere
ordinary purposes of drawing or writing, It is
not nearly 50 well adapted as paper This 70.
Election suggested some neaninc.-sone relev.
ancy-in the death's-head. did not fail to oh.
serve, also, the form Of the parchment. Al
though one Of its corners had been, by some &C.
cident, destroyed, it could be seen that the orig
inal form was obleng. 1t was Just such slip,
indeed, as might have been chosen for a mem
orandum-for record of something to be long
remembered and carefully ssesefved."
But" l interposed, "you say that the skull
was NOT upon the parchment when YOU made the
drawing of the beetle. How then do you trace
any connection between the bort and the skull
since this latter, according to your own admis-
sion, must have been designed CGOd only knows
how or BY Whom) at some period subsequent to
yOsr sketching the saTabaeHs.
"Ah, hereup@ turns the whole mystery; al
though the secret, at this point, had compare
lively little difficulty in solving. My steps we're
sure and could afford but single result. l rea-
soned, for example, thus: When drew the
seGrabaeus there was no skull apparent upon the
parchment. When had completed the draw
ing gave it TO you, and obserTed you narrowly
until you returned it. Yoz, therefore, did not
design the skull, and No one else was preseu. to
do it Then il was not done by human agency.
And, nevertheless, Il ~as doae.