cryptograph。 It now only remains to give you the full translation of
the characters upon the parchment； as unriddled。 Here it is：
〃 '_A good glass in the bishop's hostel in the devil's seat
forty…one degrees and thirteen minutes northeast and by north main
branch seventh limb east side shoot from the left eye of the
death's…head a bee line from the tree through the shot fifty feet
out_。' 〃
〃But；〃 said I； 〃the enigma seems still in as bad a condition as
ever。 How is it possible to extort a meaning from all this jargon
about 'devil's seats；' 'death's heads；' and 'bishop's hotels？' 〃
〃I confess；〃 replied Legrand； 〃that the matter still wears a
serious aspect； when regarded with a casual glance。 My first endeavor
was to divide the sentence into the natural division intended by the
cryptographist。〃
〃You mean； to punctuate it？〃
〃Something of that kind。〃
〃But how was it possible to effect this？〃
〃I reflected that it had been a point with the writer to run his
words together without division； so as to increase the difficulty of
solution。 Now； a not over…acute man； in pursuing such an object would
be nearly certain to overdo the matter。 When； in the course of his
composition； he arrived at a break in his subject which would
naturally require a pause； or a point； he would be exceedingly apt to
run his characters； at this place； more than usually close together。
If you will observe the MS。； in the present instance； you will easily
detect five such cases of unusual crowding。 Acting upon this hint； I
made the division thus： 'A good glass in the Bishop's hostel in the
Devil's seat … forty…one degrees and thirteen minutes … northeast and
by north … main branch seventh limb east side … shoot from the left
eye of the death's…head … a bee…line from the tree through the shot
fifty feet out。' 〃
〃Even this division；〃 said I； 〃leaves me still in the dark。〃
〃It left me also in the dark；〃 replied Legrand； 〃for a few days；
during which I made diligent inquiry； in the neighborhood of
Sullivan's Island； for any building which went by the name of the
'Bishop's Hotel；' for； of course； I dropped the obsolete word
'hostel。' Gaining no information on the subject； I was on the point
of extending my sphere of search； and proceeding in a more systematic
manner； when； one morning； it entered into my head； quite suddenly；
that this 'Bishop's Hostel' might have some reference to an old
family； of the name of Bessop； which； time out of mind； had held
possession of an ancient manor…house； about four miles to the
northward of the Island。 I accordingly went over to the plantation；
and re…instituted my inquiries among the older negroes of the place。
At length one of the most aged of the women said that she had heard
of such a place as Bessop's Castle； and thought that she could guide
me to it； but that it was not a castle nor a tavern； but a high rock。
〃I offered to pay her well for her trouble； and； after some
demur； she consented to accompany me to the spot。 We found it without
much difficulty； when； dismissing her； I proceeded to examine the
place。 The 'castle' consisted of an irregular assemblage of cliffs
and rocks … one of the latter being quite remarkable for its height
as well as for its insulated and artificial appearance I clambered to
its apex； and then felt much at a loss as to what should be next
done。
〃While I was busied in reflection； my eyes fell upon a narrow
ledge in the eastern face of the rock； perhaps a yard below the
summit upon which I stood。 This ledge projected about eighteen
inches； and was not more than a foot wide； while a niche in the cliff
just above it； gave it a rude resemblance to one of the hollow…backed
chairs used by our ancestors。 I made no doubt that here was the
'devil's seat' alluded to in the MS。； and now I seemed to grasp the
full secret of the riddle。
〃The 'good glass；' I knew； could have reference to nothing but a
telescope； for the word 'glass' is rarely employed in any other sense
by seamen。 Now here； I at once saw； was a telescope to be used； and a
definite point of view； admitting no variation； from which to use it。
Nor did I hesitate to believe that the phrases； 〃forty…one degrees
and thirteen minutes；' and 'northeast and by north；' were intended as
directions for the levelling of the glass。 Greatly excited by these
discoveries； I hurried home； procured a telescope； and returned to
the rock。
〃I let myself down to the ledge； and found that it was impossible
to retain a seat upon it except in one particular position。 This fact
confirmed my preconceived idea。 I proceeded to use the glass。 Of
course； the 'forty…one degrees and thirteen minutes' could allude to
nothing but elevation above the visible horizon； since the horizontal
direction was clearly indicated by the words； 'northeast and by
north。' This latter direction I at once established by means of a
pocket…compass； then； pointing the glass as nearly at an angle of
forty…one degrees of elevation as I could do it by guess； I moved it
cautiously up or down； until my attention was arrested by a circular
rift or opening in the foliage of a large tree that overtopped its
fellows in the distance。 In the centre of this rift I perceived a
white spot； but could not； at first； distinguish what it was。
Adjusting the focus of the telescope； I again looked； and now made it
out to be a human skull。
〃Upon this discovery I was so sanguine as to consider the enigma
solved； for the phrase 'main branch； seventh limb； east side；' could
refer only to the position of the skull upon the tree； while 'shoot
from the left eye of the death's head' admitted； also； of but one
interpretation； in regard to a search for buried treasure。 I
perceived that the design was to drop a bullet from the left eye of
the skull； and that a bee…line； or； in other words； a straight line；
drawn from the nearest point of the trunk through 'the shot；' （or the
spot where the bullet fell；） and thence extended to a distance of
fifty feet； would indicate a definite point … and beneath this point
I thought it at least possible that a deposit of value lay
concealed。〃
〃All this；〃 I said； 〃is exceedingly clear； and； although
ingenious； still simple and explicit。 When you left the Bishop's
Hotel； what then？〃
〃Why； having carefully taken the bearings of the tree； I turned
homewards。 The instant that I left 'the devil's seat；' however； the
circular rift vanished； nor could I get a glimpse of it afterwards；
turn as I would。 What seems to me the chief ingenuity in this whole
business； is the fact （for repeated experiment has convinced me it is
a fact） that the circular opening in question is visible from no
other attainable point of view than that afforded by the narrow ledge
upon the face of the rock。
〃In this expedition to the 'Bishop's Hotel' I had been attended
by Jupiter； who had； no doubt； observed； for some weeks past； the
abstraction of my demeanor； and took especial care not to leave me
alone。 But； on the next day； getting up very early； I contrived to
give him the slip； and went into the hills in search of the tree。
After much toil I found it。 When I came home at night my valet
proposed to give me a flogging。 With the rest of the adventure I
believe you are as well acquainted as myself。〃
〃I suppose；〃 said I； 〃you missed the spot； in the first attempt
at digging； through Jupiter's stupidity in letting the bug fall
through the right instead of through the left eye of the skull。〃
〃Precisely。 This mistake made a difference of about two inches
and a half in the 'shot' … that is to say； in the position of the peg
nearest the tree； and had the treasure been beneath the 'shot；' the
error would have been of little moment； but 'the shot；' together with
the nearest point of the tree； were merely two points for the
establishment of a line of direction； of course the error； however
trivial in the beginning； increased as we proceeded with the line；
and by the time we had gone fifty feet； threw us quite off the scent。
But for my deep…seated impressions that treasure was here somewhere
actually buried； we might have had all our labor in vain。〃
〃But your grandiloquence； and your conduct in swinging the beetle
… how excessively odd！ I was sure you were mad。 And why did you
insist upon letting fall the bug； instead of a bullet； from the
skull？〃
〃Why； to be frank； I felt somewhat annoyed by your evident
suspicions touching my sanity； and so resolved to punish you quietly；
in my own way； by a little bit of sober mystification。 For this
reason I swung the beetle； and for this reason I let it fall it from
the tree。 An observation of yours about its great weight suggested
the latter idea。〃
〃Yes； I perceive； and now there is only one point which puzzles
me。 What are we to make of the skeletons found in the hole？〃
〃That is a question I am no more able to answer than yourself。
There seems； however； only one plausible way of accounting for them …
and yet it is dr