The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-04-20

mind struggles to establish connection
"a sequence of cause and effect and
being unable to do SO suffers species
Of temporary paralysis.
But when | recovered from this sfupOr
there dawned upon me gradually con-
viction which startled me even far more
than the coincidence. Ibagan distinctly,
positively, to remember that there had
been no drawing upon the parchment
when made my sketch Of the scarab@rs
/ 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 could not have failed to notice
it. Here was indeed mystery which !
felt it impossible to explain, but even at
that early moment there seemed to glim-
mer family within the most remote and
secret chambers of my intellect glow
wormlike conception Of that truth
which last nights adventure brought
to so magnificent demonstration.
arose at once, and putting the parcL-
ment securely away dismissed all further
reflection until l should be alone.
when you had gone and when Jupi-
ter was fast asleep, betook myself to a
more methosiical investigation Of the af-
fair. In the first place, considered the
manner in which the parchment had
come into my possession. The spot where
we discovered the scarabaus was on the
coast Of the mainland, about mile east
ward of the island and but short dis.
lance above nigh water mark. Upon my
taking hold of it, it gave me sharp bite.
which caused me to let it drop.
Jupiter, with his accustomed caution.
/, before Selling the insect, which had
flown toward him, looked about him for
a leaf or something Of that nature by
which to take hold Of it. It was at this
moment that his eyes, and mine also,
fell upon the scrap of parchment which
then supposed to be paper. 1t was ~
ing 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 a
ships longboat. The wreck seemed to
have been there for q very great while,
for the reseni blancet to boat timbers could
scarcely be traced. ~
well. Jupiter picked up the parch.
ment. wrapped the beetle in it and gave
it to me. Soon afterward we turned to
so hcme and on the way net Lieutenant
C.. showed him the insect. and he
begged me to let Linn take it to the fort
Upon my consenting he thrust it forth
with into his waistcoat pocket without
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 once-you know how ell.
thusiastic he is on all subjects con.
nected with natural history. At the
same time, without being conscious OF
it, must have deposited the parchment
in my own pocket.
You remember that when l went tc
the table for the purpose Of making .
sketch Of the beetle l found no paper
where it was usually kept. l looked in
the drawer and found none there.
searched my pockets, hoping to find al
old letter. when my hand fell upon the
parchment. l thus detail the precise
mode in which it came into my posses.
sion, for the circumstances impressed me
with peculiar force.
''Nodoubt you viii think me fanciful
but l had already established kind 81
connection. l had put together two
links of great chain There was boat
lying upon a seacoast, and not far from
the boat was psrchment-not paper
with a skull depicted upon it. You
will of course ask, Where is the connec
ton? reply that the skull or deaths
head is the well known emblem of the
pirate. The flag Of the deaths head i
hoisted in all engagements.
II have said that the scrap was parch
ment and not paper. Parchment is du
rable-almost imperishable. Matters o.
little moment are rarely consigned tt
parchment, since for the mere ordinary
purposes Of drawing or writing it is not
nearly SO we'll adapted as paper. This
reflection suggested some meaning-somt
relevancy-in the deaths head. I did MOI
fail to observe also the form Of the parch
ment. Although one of its corners hai
been by some accident destroyed, i
could be seen that the original form wa:
oblong. It was just such slip indeed
as might have been chosen for memo
randum-for record Of something to b.
long remembered and carefully pre-
served
But" interposed. ''you say that tn,
skull was not upon the parchment whe1
you made tie draw ing Of the beetle. How
then. do yosl trace G2.E connection be
| tween the boat :,.,:l The skull. since tEi
latter. according, TO your Own admission
must have, y i. signed Goo only know!
| how or by VIE III at sol.le period snben
! tfuent 30 ;r.7'r fetching LIE scar. leu
TO BE CONTINUED.