第 25 节
作者:管他三七二十一      更新:2021-04-30 16:21      字数:9319
  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 the sand; a corner
  sticking up。 Near the spot where we found it; I observed the remnants
  of the hull of what appeared to have been a ship's long boat。 The
  wreck seemed to have been there for a very great while; for the
  resemblance to boat timbers could scarcely be traced。
  〃Well; Jupiter picked up the parchment; wrapped the beetle in it;
  and gave it to me。 Soon afterwards we turned to go home; and on the
  way met Lieutenant G…。 I showed him the insect; and he begged me to
  let him take it to the fort。 Upon my consenting; he thrust it
  forthwith into his waistcoat pocket; without the parchment in which
  it 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 prize at once … you know how
  enthusiastic he is on all subjects connected with Natural History。 At
  the same time; without being conscious of it; I must have deposited
  the parchment in my own pocket。
  〃You remem