Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-17

and seating myself at the other end Of the
room proceeded to scrutinize the parch-
ment more closely Upon turning 1t over l
saw my own sketch upon the reverse just
as 1 had made it. My first idea now was
mere surprise at the really remarkable
similarity Of outline-at the singular COM
cidence involved in the fact, that unknown
to me, there should have been a skull upon
the other side of the parchment immediate.
ly beneath my figure of the scarabaeus, and
that this skull, not only in outline, but In
size, should so closely resemble my draw
ing. 1 say the singularity Of this com
This Is the usual effect of such coin
cidences. The mind struggles to establish
a connections sequence of cause and effect
and, being unable to do SO, suffers a spe-
!! recovered from this stupor, there dawned
upon me gradually a conviction which
startled me even far more than the com
cidence. I began distinctly, positively to
remember that there had been no drawing
on the parchment when I made my sketch
of the scarabaeus. 1 became perfectly GER
tain Of this, for I 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 a mystery
which felt 1t impossible to explain, but
even at that early moment. there seemed 10
glimmer family, within the most remote
and secret chambers Of my intellect, q
glow worm-li ike q conception of that truth
which last nights adventure brought to 80
magnificent demonstration. I arose at
once, and putting the parchment securely
away, dismissed all farther reflection until
/ should be alone
when you had gone, and when Jupiter
was fast asleep Ibbetook myself to a more
methodical Investigation of the affair. In
the first place Ic6nsidered the manner in
which the parchment had come into my
possession. The spot where we discovered
| the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES on the coast of the
main land. aboutsta mile eastward of the
| island, and but7a short distance above high
| water mark Upon my taking hold of It, II
gave me a 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 1 then
| supposed to be paper. 1t was lying half
buried in the sand, a corner sticking up.
Near the spot where we found 1t observed
| the remnants of the hull of what red
+, to have been ships long boat The wreck
seemed to have been there for very great
while, for the resemblance to boat timbers
| could scarcely be traced.
well, Jupiter picked up the parchment,
| wrapped the beetle in 1t. and gave 1t to me.
| Soon afterward We turned to go home, and
| on the way met Lieutenant c.. I showed
him the insect, and ne begged me to let him
take 1t to the fort. On my consenting, he
thrust 1t forthwith into his waistcoat pock-
| ct, without the, parchment in which 1t had
| been wrapped, and which I 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