The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-04-20
THE GOLDBUG.
ConllAued trom first psj b.


nailed to tie limb with the face out
ward or with the face to the limb
de face was out. nassa. so dat de
crows could get at de eyes good wiGout
any trouble.
We'll. then. was It this eye or that
through which you dropped the beetle"
Here Legrard touched each of Jupi-
ter's eyes.
Twas dis eye. massa- de lef' ey-e-jis
as you tell me. and here it was his right
eye that the negro indicated.
That will dove must try it again"
Here my friend. about whose mad
ness now saw. or fancied that saw,
certain indications of method, removed
the peg vi ich marked the spot where
the beetle fell. TO Il spot about inches
to the westward Of it's former position.
Taking now the tape measure from the
nearest point of the trunk to the peg. as
befure and continuing Tie extension in Il
straight Iiizc to the distance Of so feet, a
spot was indicated, removed by several
yards from the point at which we had
been digging.
somewhat larger than in the former in
stance was now described. and we again
set to work with the spades. l was
.dreadfully weary, but scarcely under
standing what had occasioned the change
in my thoughts felt no longer any
great aversion from the labor imposed.
had become most unaccountably in
terested-nay. even excited. Perhaps
there was something amid all the ex-
travagant deineanor of Legrand-solne
air of forethought or of deliberation-
which impressed me. dug eagerly and
now and then caught myself actually
looking. with something that very much
resembled expectation. for the fanciej
treasure. the vision Of which had de-
mented my unfortunate companion.
At a period when such vagaries of
thought most fully possessed NE, and
when we lad been at work perhaps an
hour and half. we were again inter
rupted by the violent howlings of the
dog His uneasiness in the first instance
had been evidently but the result CT
playfulness or caprice. but he now as
sumed bitter and serious tone. Upon
Jupiter's again attempting to muzzle
him, he made furious assistance, and
leaping into the hole tore up the mold
frantically with his claws
Ip a few seconds he had uncovered a
mas ofhuman bones, forming two COM
plete skeletons, interningled with sew
eral buttons Of metal. and whaNappeared
to be the dust of decayed wooden. One
or two strokes of a spade upturned the
blade of large Spanish knife, and as
we dug farther three or four loose pieces
of gold and silver coin came to light.
At sight OF these the joy of Jupiter
could scarcely be restrained. but the
countenance of his master wore an air of
extreme disappointment. He urged us,
however. to continue our exertions, and
the words were hardly uttered when
stumbled and fell forward, having
caught the toe Of my boot in large ring
of iron that lay half buried in the loose
earth
We now worked in earnest, and never
did pass 10 minutes of more intense ex-
element. During this interval we had
fairly unearthed an oblong chest of wood.
which, from it's perfect preservation and
wonderful hardness, had plainly been
subjected to some mineralizing process
perhaps that of the bichloride Of mer-
curry, This box was 81 feet long, feet
broad and q feet deep. 1t was firmly Sc
cured by bands Of wrought iron, riveted,
and forming kind of open trellis work
over the whole. On each side of the chest
near the top were three rings of iron
six in abby means of which firm hold
could be obtained by six persons.
Our utmost united endeavors served
only to disturb the Golfer very slightly in
its bed. We at once saw the impossi-
bility of removing so great weight.
Luckily the sole fastenings Of the lid con-
sisted of two sliding bolts. These we
drew back, trembling and painting with
| anxiety. In an instant treasure of in
calculable value lay cleaning before us.
AS the rays of the lanterns fell within
the pit there flashed upward a glow and
glare from confused heap of gold and
of jewels that absolutely dazzled ou1
eyes.
l shall not pretend to describe the feel
ings with which l gazed. Amusement
was of course predominant. Legrand
appeared exhausted with excitement and
spoke very few words. Jupiter's coun.
tenance wore for some minutes as dead
ly pallor as it is possible in the nature
Of things for any Negroes visage to as
sumo. He seemed stupefed-thunder.
stricken. Presently he fell upon his
knees in the pit, and burying his naked
arms up to the elbows in gold let them
there remain, as if enjoying the luxury
of bath. At length with a deep sigh
he exclaimed. as if in soiloquy:
''And dis all come OBJ de goolebug! de
putty goolebug! de poor little goolebue
what boosed in dat sabage kind OF
style! Amt you shamed OBJ yourself, mig
ger? Answer me dat!"
It became necessary at last that
should arouse both master and valet tt
the expediency of removing the treasure
It was growing late, and it beloved III
to make exertion, that we might gel
Everything housed before daylight. I,