The Press., 1893-04-20

agine my astonishment when T per- ceived in fact the figure of deaths head just where, it seemed to me, I had made the drawing of the beetle. For moment I was too much amazed to think with accuracy. l knew that my design was very different in detail from this al though there was a certain similarity in general outline
 Presently took candle, and seating myself at the other end of the room pro ceeded to scrutinize the parchment more closely. Upon turning it over saw my own sketch upon the reverse just as had made it. My first idea now was mere surprise at the really remarkable similarity of outline-at the singular CO., incidence involved in the fact that, un- skull upon the other side of the parch- ment immediately beneath my figure of the scarab@us, and that this skull, not only in outline, but in size, should so closely resemble my drawing. I say the singularity of this coincidence absolute ly stupefed me for a time. This is the usual effect of such condolences. The mind struggles to establish connection "a sequence of cause and effect and being unable to do so suffers species of temporary paralysis.
 But when I recovered from this stupor there dawned upon me gradually con viction which startled me even far more than the coincidence. Ibegan distinctly, positively, to remember that there had been no drawing upon the parchment when I Imademy sketch of the scarab@us 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 I felt it impossible to explain, but even at that early moment there seemed to glim- mer faintly within the most remote and secret chambers of my intellect glow wormlike conception of that truth which last nights adventure brought to so magnificent a demonstration. arose at once, and putting the parch- ment securely away dismissed all further reflection until I should be alone.
 When you had gone and when Jupi- ter was fast asleep, betook myself to a more methodical 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 scarab@us was on the coast of the mainland, about a mile east ward of the island and but short dis. tance above high 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 seizing 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 I then supposed to be paper. It was ly- 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 8 very great while, for the resemblance 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 go home and on the way met Lieutenant G.. l showed him the insect, and he begged me to let him 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 en- 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. s-.s
 'SYou remember that when I went to the table for the purpose of making a sketch of the beetle I found no paper where it was usually kept. I looked in the drawer and found none there ] searched my pockets, hoping to find an old letter, when my hand fell upon the parchment. I thus detail the precise mode in which it came into my posses sion, for the circumstances impressed me with peculiar force. =
 ''No doubt you will think me fanciful, but I had already established kind of connection. I had put together two links of 8 great chain. There was boat lying upon seacoast, and not far from the boat was a parchment paper with a skull depicted upon it. You xryiJ1 of co,7rco ao1, sVVbo-o io tho oo,,o,, tion? Ireply 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.
 "I have said that the scrap was parch
 ment and not paper. Parchment is du
 rable-almost imperishable. Matters o
 little moment are rarely consigned t
 parchment, since for the mere ordinar,
 purposes of drawing or writing it is no nearly so well adapted as paper. Thi reflection suggested some meaning som relevancy-in the deaths head. Idid no fail to observe also the form of the parch ment. Although one of it's corners ha.
 been by some accident destroyed, i could be seen that the original form wa
 oblong. It was just such slip indee
 as might have been chosen for memo randum-for 8 record of something to b
 long remembered and carefully pre- served"
 "But,'' I interposed, "you say that tn skull was not upon the parchment whel you made the drawing of the beetle. How
 then, do you trace any connection be
 tween the boat and the skull, since thi latter, according to your own admission must have been designed God only know how or by whom) at some period snbse quent to your sketching the scarabmus?
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