The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-03-27
began distinctly. positively, to remem-

tne parchment Wnen 1 Inhue my shetCA VI
the searabeus. I became perfectly cer>
tain of this, for I recollected turning up
first the one side, and then the other, in
search of the cleanest spot. Had the
skull been then there, Of course l could
not have failed to notice it. Here was
indeed mystery which I felt it impossi-
BILE TO explain, but, even at that early
moment there seemed to glimmer, family
within the most remote and secret cham
bers of my intellect, glow worm like
conception of that truth whichlast nights
adventure brought to SO magnificent de-
all further reflection until l should be
alone 6s t# @% F c5s
When you had gone, and when Jnpi.
ter was fast asleep, betook myself to
more methodieal Investigation of the af-
fair In the irst place l considered the
manner in which the parchment had come
into my possession The spot where we
discovered The Scdrabens was on the coast
of the main land, about mile eastward
of the island, and but short distance
above high water mark Upon my seizing
liz, IL gave me sharp bite, which caused
me to let it drop Jupiter with his aecus-
toned caution, before seizing the insect,
which had flown toward lim,. looked
about him for a leaf, or something of that
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 supposed to be paper 1t
was lying half buried in the sand, cor
ner sticking up. Near the spot where
we found it, l observed the remnants of
the huh of what appeared to have been a
ships long boat The wreck seemed to
have been there for very great while, for
the resemblance to boat timhers could
scarcely be traced.
well, Jupiter picked up the parchment,
wrapped the beetle in it, and gave it to
me. Soon afterward we turned to 60
home, and on the way We met Lieutenant
g. / showed him the insect, and
he begged NE to let him take it to the
fort. Upon nay consenting, he thrust it
forthwith into his waiscosct pocket, with
out the parchment in which it had been
wrapped, and which / had continued to
hold in my hand during his inspection.
Perhaps he dreaded my changing my
mind, and thought it best to make sure
of the prize at onee-you know how en-.
thasiastic he is on all subjects connected
with Natural History. At the same time
without being conscious of it, Imust hav'
deposited the parchment in my owr
pocket. A 4 5 W
You remember that when I went t
the table, for the purpose of making ,
sketch of the beetle, I found no paper
where it was usually kept looked ii
!, the drawer and found none there.
] searched my pockets, hoping to find al
. old letter, when my hand fell upon th'
parchment. / thus detail the preeis
mode in which it came into my possession
t for the circumstances impressed me will
peculiar force, .5 sa 80
.Ne doubt you will think me fancifal
I but had already established kind G
: connection / had put together two link
t cf great chain, There YVES boat lynn
e upon the sea coast, and not far from til
4 boat was parchment-note "a paper--wit
: a skull depicted upon it You will, {
7 course, ask where iss the coHuection
!, l.reply that the skull, or deaths head,
: the well known emblem of the pirat,
d The flag of the deaths head is heiste
q in all engagements. @ ia
It Il have. said that The scrap was parcl
q ment aud not paper. Parchment is dur,
ble-almost imperishable. Matters
| little moment are rarely consigned
IF parchment; since, for the merely ordnal
'e purposes of drawing or writing, it is M
t nearly so, well adapted as paper. Th
Of reflection suggested some meaning--sou
y relevancy--in the deaths head d
not fail to observe, also, the form of Il
o. parchment. Although one of it's corne
h had been, by some accident, destroyed,
IN could be seen that the original form VI
1 oblong. 1t was just. such a slip, indee
IS as might have,b been chosen for "a mem
I'd randam-fer record of something to
a long remembered and carefully preser
TX ed - q Il = ,c04 96 .aesli
m } But i interposed, you say that q
= skull was not upon the parchment VIII
in you made the drawing of the beet
n. How then do you trsce any connect,
I'd between the boat and the skull-sin
be this latter, according to your own adm
~ sion, must have been designed (God on
e knows how or by whom) at some peri
st subsequent to your sketching the scar
ly beus? 81 x
ae .Ah hsreupon turns the whole mys'
1t, terry; although the secret. at this point,
We had comparatively little difficulty, in sol
he ing. My steps were sure ard could
re ford but q single result. 1 reasoned.
OF example, thus: When I drew the sea,
SO 5eus there was no<skull apparent up
he the parchment. When had complet
,ly the drawing gave it to you, and obsel
Ial ed you narrowly until you returned
nd You, therefore, did not design the ski
"a and no one else was present to do