the works of edgar allan poe-1-第28章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ideas of all。 We； finally； lightened the box by removing two thirds
of its contents； when we were enabled； with some trouble； to raise it
from the hole。 The articles taken out were deposited among the
brambles； and the dog left to guard them； with strict orders from
Jupiter neither； upon any pretence； to stir from the spot； nor to
open his mouth until our return。 We then hurriedly made for home with
the chest； reaching the hut in safety； but after excessive toil； at
one o'clock in the morning。 Worn out as we were； it was not in human
nature to do more immediately。 We rested until two； and had supper；
starting for the hills immediately afterwards； armed with three stout
sacks； which； by good luck； were upon the premises。 A little before
four we arrived at the pit； divided the remainder of the booty； as
equally as might be； among us； and； leaving the holes unfilled； again
set out for the hut； at which； for the second time； we deposited our
golden burthens； just as the first faint streaks of the dawn gleamed
from over the tree…tops in the East。
We were now thoroughly broken down； but the intense excitement of
the time denied us repose。 After an unquiet slumber of some three or
four hours' duration； we arose； as if by preconcert； to make
examination of our treasure。
The chest had been full to the brim； and we spent the whole day；
and the greater part of the next night； in a scrutiny of its
contents。 There had been nothing like order or arrangement。 Every
thing had been heaped in promiscuously。 Having assorted all with
care； we found ourselves possessed of even vaster wealth than we had
at first supposed。 In coin there was rather more than four hundred
and fifty thousand dollars … estimating the value of the pieces； as
accurately as we could； by the tables of the period。 There was not a
particle of silver。 All was gold of antique date and of great variety
… French； Spanish； and German money； with a few English guineas； and
some counters； of which we had never seen specimens before。 There
were several very large and heavy coins； so worn that we could make
nothing of their inscriptions。 There was no American money。 The value
of the jewels we found more difficulty in estimating。 There were
diamonds … some of them exceedingly large and fine … a hundred and
ten in all； and not one of them small； eighteen rubies of remarkable
brilliancy； … three hundred and ten emeralds； all very beautiful； and
twenty…one sapphires； with an opal。 These stones had all been broken
from their settings and thrown loose in the chest。 The settings
themselves； which we picked out from among the other gold； appeared
to have been beaten up with hammers； as if to prevent identification。
Besides all this； there was a vast quantity of solid gold ornaments；
… nearly two hundred massive finger and earrings； … rich chains …
thirty of these； if I remember； … eighty…three very large and heavy
crucifixes； … five gold censers of great value； … a prodigious golden
punch bowl； ornamented with richly chased vine…leaves and
Bacchanalian figures； with two sword…handles exquisitely embossed；
and many other smaller articles which I cannot recollect。 The weight
of these valuables exceeded three hundred and fifty pounds
avoirdupois； and in this estimate I have not included one hundred and
ninety…seven superb gold watches； three of the number being worth
each five hundred dollars； if one。 Many of them were very old； and as
time keepers valueless； the works having suffered； more or less； from
corrosion … but all were richly jewelled and in cases of great worth。
We estimated the entire contents of the chest； that night； at a
million and a half of dollars； and upon the subsequent disposal of
the trinkets and jewels （a few being retained for our own
use）； it was found that we had greatly undervalued the treasure。
When； at length； we had concluded our examination； and the intense
excitement of the time had； in some measure； subsided； Legrand； who
saw that I was dying with impatience for a solution of this most
extraordinary riddle； entered into a full detail of all the
circumstances connected with it。
〃You remember；〃 said he； 〃the night when I handed you the rough
sketch I had made of the scarab鎢s。 You recollect also； that I became
quite vexed at you for insisting that my drawing resembled a
death's…head。 When you first made this assertion I thought you were
jesting； but afterwards I called to mind the peculiar spots on the
back of the insect； and admitted to myself that your remark had some
little foundation in fact。 Still； the sneer at my graphic powers
irritated me … for I am considered a good artist … and； therefore；
when you handed me the scrap of parchment； I was about to crumple it
up and throw it angrily into the fire。〃
〃The scrap of paper； you mean；〃 said I。
〃No； it had much of the appearance of paper； and at first I
supposed it to be such； but when I came to draw upon it； I discovered
it； at once； to be a piece of very thin parchment。 It was quite
dirty； you remember。 Well； as I was in the very act of crumpling it
up； my glance fell upon the sketch at which you had been looking； and
you may imagine my astonishment when I perceived； in fact； the figure
of a death's…head just where； it seemed to me； I had made the drawing
of the beetle。 For a moment I was too much amazed to think with
accuracy。 I knew that my design was very different in detail from
this … although there was a certain similarity in general outline。
Presently I took a candle； and seating myself at the other end of the
room； proceeded to scrutinize the parchment more closely。 Upon
turning it over； I saw my own sketch upon the reverse； just as I had
made it。 My first idea； now； was mere surprise at the really
remarkable similarity of outline … at the singular coincidence
involved in the fact； that unknown to me； there should have been a
skull upon the other side of the parchment； immediately beneath my
figure of the scarab鎢s； and that this skull； not only in outline；
but in size； should so closely resemble my drawing。 I say
the singularity of this coincidence absolutely stupified me for a
time。 This is the usual effect of such coincidences。 The mind
struggles to establish a connexion … a sequence of cause and effect …
and； being unable to do so； suffers a species of temporary paralysis。
But； when I recovered from this stupor； there dawned upon me
gradually a conviction which startled me even far more than the
coincidence。 I began distinctly； positively； to remember that there
had been no drawing upon the parchment when I made my sketch of the
scarab鎢s。 I became perfectly certain 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 I could not
have failed to notice it。 Here was indeed a mystery which I felt it
impossible to explain； but； even at that early moment； there seemed
to glimmer； faintly； within the most remote and secret chambers of my
intellect； a glow…worm…like conception of that truth which last
night's adventure brought to so magnificent a demonstration。 I arose
at once； and putting the parchment securely away； dismissed all
farther reflection until I should be alone。
〃When you had gone； and when Jupiter was fast asleep； I betook
myself to a more methodical investigation of the affair。 In the first
place I considered the manner in which the parchment had come into my
possession。 The spot where we discovered the scarabaeus was on the
coast of the main land； about a mile eastward of the island； and but
a short distance above high water mark。 Upon my taking hold of it； it
gave me a sharp bite； which caused me to let it drop。 Jupiter； with
his accustomed caution； before seizing the insect； which had flown
towards 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 lying half buried in t
