Chapter 6 golden beetle

hi what?What?He danced crazily, but was bitten by the poisonous spider Tarantula. Mr. William Legrand and I became intimate friends many years ago.He was a descendant of the ancient Huguenot family, who had once been extremely wealthy, but had fallen into poverty through a series of misfortunes.To avoid the humiliation that followed the scourge, he left his ancestral city of New Orleans and settled on Sullivan's Island near Charleston, South Carolina. The island was peculiar, about three miles long, and nowhere more than a quarter of a mile wide.There is very little else but the sand of the coast.The island is connected to the mainland by an almost invisible river lake. The river slowly flows through the vast reed marshes and mud, which is a place where swamp birds often come and go.It can be expected that the vegetation here is sparse, or at least short, and you can’t even see a tree of sufficient size. There is only one growing near the Mutri Fortress and a few poor shelf houses at the west end of the island. The fringed palm-shelf houses are rented in the summer to those escaping the dust and heat of Charleston.However, the whole island, save for the west end and the solid white beach along the shore, is entirely covered with fragrant thickets of myrtle--that shrub so highly prized by English gardeners, which often reaches as high as Fifteen to twenty feet, forming an almost impenetrable jungle, oppressing the air with a thick fragrance.

Legrand built himself a small hut in the depths of Myrtle not far from East Head (on the other side of the island).He lived there when I met him by chance.Our encounter immediately developed into a full-fledged friendship, for there was much in the hermit that deserved my respect and interest.I found him well-educated, brilliantly intelligent, cynic, with wild and intense emotions, alternately passionate and melancholic.He has a lot of books around him, but he doesn't read much.His chief recreation was hunting, fishing, or walking on the beach and among the myrtle bushes, while gathering shells or collecting insect specimens.His collection of insects is something even Swammedan would be jealous of.He was usually accompanied on his walks by an old Negro named Jupiter.Jupiter was liberated before the fate of his family reversed, but he refused to give up the right to follow "Master Will" every step of the way. No matter whether he threatened or made a wish, he couldn't stop him.It is probable that Legrand's relatives believed that Legrand was in a trance, and managed to impose this view on Jupiter, wanting him to supervise and protect the erratic man.

Located at the latitude of Sullivan's Island, where there is seldom severe cold even in winter, it is said that there is no need to light a stove in autumn, but there was an astonishingly cold day in mid-October in 18XX.I hurried through the evergreen groves to my friend's hut just before dusk.I hadn't seen him in weeks—I was living in Charleston, nine miles out of the island, and the traffic to and from it wasn't what it is today.When I came to the hut, I knocked on the door as I was accustomed to, but when there was no answer, I found the key where I knew it was hidden, opened the door, and entered the house.There was a roaring fire in the grate, and that was a welcome miracle.I threw away my overcoat, sat down in an armchair by the crackling fire, and waited patiently for my master to come home.

They came back just after dark, and welcomed me very warmly.Jupiter smiled happily and was busy packing the crakes for dinner.Legrand was in the middle of a mania (how shall I call it)?It turned out that he had found a pair of shellfish, a new genus that had never been seen before.Not only that, but he has poked around, and with the help of Jupiter has found a beetle which he believes to be an entirely new species, but which he wants me to have an opinion on that thing to-morrow. "Why don't you publish it tonight?" I rubbed my hands over the fire, wanting to send the beetles to the devil.

"Ah! I wish I had known you would come!" said Legrand, "but I haven't seen you for a long time, how could I know that you would come tonight? When I came home, I met the fortress. Lieutenant Lidger, I was foolish enough to lend him the beetle. So you won't see the beetle until you see him tomorrow morning. Stay here tonight and I'll send Jupiter tomorrow Get it—as soon as the sun comes out. Most wonderful!" "What is most beautiful?—the sunrise?" "Where! No!—a beetle! Brilliant gold, the size of a large hickory nut, with two dark spots on one end of the back, and a darker longer one on the other. The beetle's whiskers— —”

"Where's a beetle to have tin, Master Will, I've been telling you," put in Jupiter now, "that it's a gold-beetle, all real gold inside and out, except for its wings. All my life I've Never seen a beetle half its weight." "Well, assuming it's real gold, Jupi," Legrand replied, and I think Legrand was more serious than the circumstances required, "then you can burn the crake?—that color ..." At this point he turned to me and said, "It almost proves Jupiter's idea. You have never seen anything more dazzling than the metallic luster of its carapace-but you can't get down until tomorrow. Conclusion. I can draw it for you now." Having said this, he sat down at a small table.There is pen and ink on the table, but no paper.He looked in a drawer, but couldn't find it.

"That's all right," he said at last, "just use this." He took out a piece of paper from his vest pocket, which I thought was cut from "clown hat paper," and was dirty.He made a sketch with pen and paper, while I was still sitting by the fire, for I was cold.When he finished, he handed it to me without getting up.As soon as I took the hand, I heard something roaring loudly outside the door, and then the sound of scratching the door.As soon as Jupiter opened the door, a large Newfoundland rushed in and threw itself on my shoulder.The intimacy of the thing overwhelmed me, for I had given him many caresses when I came here before.I didn't look back at the paper until after its romp was over, and to be honest, my friend's sketch really blew my mind.

"Hi!" I said after looking at it for a few minutes, "I must admit it's a strange beetle, brand new, and I've never seen anything like it—unless it's a skull or a dead man's head. Nothing I've ever seen There's nothing quite like a skull." "Skull!" Legrand came back to his senses. "Ah, really, yes, it kind of looks like a skull on paper, yes. Those two dark spots on top are like eyes, aren't they? The long spot on the bottom is like a skull." Mouth, and the outline is oval." "Perhaps," I said, "but Legrand, I'm afraid you're not very good at drawing it, and I'd have to see the beetle myself to believe it looks like a skull."

"Yes, but I don't know," he said sullenly. "I'm pretty good at drawing, I can draw very well, I've had good teachers, and I don't claim to be a fool." "But, my dear fellow, you were joking when you drew it," I said. "You did draw a skull, and in fact, in the ordinary notion of such specimens of life, I can only say that it So much like a skull. Your beetle would be the strangest beetle in the world if it were. From this hint we could concoct a sensational superstition. I suppose you could call this beetle the 'human-headed beetle' ' and so on. Natural history is full of things named like that. But where are the tentacles you speak of?"

"The tentacles!" the question seemed to stir Legrand's emotions inexplicably. "You should have seen the tentacles, I'm sure. I drew them very clearly, exactly like the tentacles of the worm. Clear enough, I think." .” "Okay, okay," I said, "maybe you really drew it, but I really didn't see it." I didn't want to make him angry, so I handed the paper back to him without saying anything else.However, the sudden turn of events took me by surprise.His strange temper confuses me.As for the beetle in the painting, overall it looks too similar to the usual sketched skull, and there must be no tentacles to be seen.

He snatched the paper angrily, obviously intending to crumple it up and throw it into the fire, but glanced again.His attention was immediately attracted, his face flushed suddenly, and then turned pale again.He sat for several minutes, staring blankly at the painting.At last he got up, took a candle from the table, and sat down on a sea chest in one of the farthest corners of the room.He stared at the painting upside down for a long time again.He didn't say anything, but his behavior stunned me.I think it's better to be careful.His mood is getting worse and worse, and he can no longer talk to make him angry.He immediately took out a wallet from his pocket, put the painting in it, carefully stuffed it into the desk, and locked it.Now, his attitude is calmer, but the enthusiastic attitude just now has completely disappeared.He seemed more absent-minded than sullen, though.As the night gradually deepened, he became more and more immersed in hard thinking and meditation. Even if I attacked him, he might not be able to recover.I had intended to spend the night in the hut, as I used to do, but seeing my master in such a mood, I thought it best to say goodbye.He didn't keep me either, only shook my hand more warmly than usual when I left. About a month after this (during which I heard nothing from Legrand), Jupiter, his servant, came to see me at Charleston.I never saw that good old black person so depressed.My fear is that my friend has met with grave misfortune. "Hey, Jupiter," I said, "what's the matter? How's the master?" "Well, to tell you the truth, sir, he could have been better, but he is not." "No! Your words really worry me. Is there something wrong with him?" "That thing! That's the thing! He didn't say he was uncomfortable, but there was a big problem." "Big question? Jupiter, why didn't you say it right away? Did he fall out of bed?" "No, not out of bed! There's nowhere to find him--that's the problem. I'm sad, and I'm worried about poor Master Will." "Jupiter, I wish I could understand what you're talking about. You say your master is sick. Did he tell you where it hurts?" "Where, sir, don't worry about hurting you. Master Will said there was nothing wrong with him. But what made him like that? Why does he keep his head down, his shoulders shrugged, his face so pale?" Like a ghost? He even created a password." "What's the matter, Jupiter?" "Draw pictures on slates, write codes. Write the weirdest characters I've ever seen. I tell you, I'm terrified. I've got to be careful with his stuff. That morning the sun He slipped away as soon as he came out, and I saw no one all day. I cut a big stick, and wished I could beat him up as soon as he came back. But I'm too stupid to beat him up. He looks like that It's so pathetic." "Really? What's the matter? Oh, yes! Anyway, you'd better not be so hard on the poor fellow, I think--don't beat him with a stick. Jupiter, he can't bear it. But how did he get this trouble?" Yes, do you have any idea? Or how his behavior changed? Did something unpleasant happen after I saw you?" "No, sir, nothing unpleasant happened after that day. But my worry started from that day—the day you came." "Ah, what do you mean?" "Why, sir, I mean the worm—that's still there." "what?" "Beetle, I'm sure Master Will has a gold beetle bit somewhere on his head." "What grounds do you have for supposing this, Jupiter?" "By the worm's claws, sir, and its mouth. I've never seen such a damned beetle that kicks and bites anything that comes near it. Master Will caught it first, But I had to let it go immediately. He was bitten by that bug at that time, I see. I don’t know why, but when I saw the beetle’s mouth, I didn’t like it, so I didn’t catch it with my hands, but looked for it first. Catch it with a piece of paper. I wrapped it in paper and stuffed something in its mouth. That's how I caught it." "Then you think your master was really sick from a beetle bite?" "I don't think--know. If he hadn't been bitten by the beetle, would he have been dreaming of gold? I've heard about the beetle before." "But how do you know he dreams of gold all the time?" "How do I know? How else can I know? It's not because he even talks in his sleep is gold—that's how he knows." "Okay, Jupi, maybe you're right, but why are you here today for good luck? How should I explain it?" "What luck, sir?" "Have you brought news of Mr. Legrand?" "No, I have brought this letter." So Jupiter handed me a note, which read: There was something in the tone of the note that worried me so much, indeed that the whole style of it was out of Legrand's.What was Legrand dreaming again?What whimsical thoughts arose in his excitable mind?What "extremely important thing" could he have?Jupiter's description of him portends no good.I was afraid that my friend's mind would be seriously wounded at last by repeated misfortunes, so I did not hesitate for a moment, and set off with the negro, ready. When I came to the wharf and was about to board the boat, I saw a scythe and three shovels lying on the bottom of the boat, all obviously new. "What do these things mean, Jupiter?" I asked. "It's his sickle and shovel." "Yes, what are you doing here with such a thing?" "Master Will forced me to buy the sickle and shovel for him in the city. It really cost a lot of money to buy these things." "By all mysteries, what's your Master Will doing with a scythe and a shovel?" "Then I don't know, and I don't think he knows, or the devil will catch me. It's all the fault of the golden beetle." I found that Jupiter seemed to have only the beetle in his mind, and I could not get satisfactory answers from him, so I got into the boat and hoisted the sails.The wind was just right and strong enough, and we soon entered the creek north of Muotri Fort, and walked two miles to the hut.It was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Legrand had been waiting anxiously for us.He shook my hand with nervous enthusiasm, which terrified me and reinforced my old suspicions.His face was frighteningly pale, with sunken eyes that shone with an unnatural light.I didn't know what to say after inquiring about his health, so I asked him if the beetle had been brought back from Lieutenant Gregor. "Ah, coming back," he answered, his face flushed, "the next morning. Nothing will separate me from the beetle. Jupiter's words to the beetle It makes sense, you know?" "What's the point?" I asked with a premonition of something ominous in my heart. "He thinks that beetle is real gold." When he said this, his face was deep and serious.An indescribable terror came over me. "This golden beetle will bring me wealth," he continued with a triumphant smile, "and it will restore the reputation of my wealthy family. Is it any wonder that I value it so much? Since the god of fate I think that wealth should be given to me, so I can only use it well. I will find the gold that the golden beetle instructed. Jupiter, bring me the golden beetle." "What! Gold beetle? Young master, I won't mess with that bug. You have to take it yourself." Legrand stood up with a serious and solemn face, and took out the bug from the glass box containing the beetle. .It was a beautiful beetle, unknown to naturalists then, and certainly a valuable treasure from a scientific point of view.There are two round black spots on the beetle's back near this end, and a long black spot near the other end.The carapace is extremely hard and shiny, exactly like dazzling gold.The worm was incredibly heavy.In view of all this, I can no longer reproach Jupiter for his opinion; but Legrand should agree with him, I am ashamed as hell. "I have come to you," said Legrand, with exaggeration, after I had looked carefully at the beetle, "to seek your advice in carrying out the will of Fate and the golden beetle. and help." "My dear Legrand," I cried, interrupting him, "you must be ill. It is better to take precautions. You must lie down in bed. I will stay here with you for a few days, Until you are cured. You have a fever, and . . . " "Feel for my pulse," he said. I felt for his pulse, and to be honest, I didn't find the slightest sign of a fever. "You may not have a fever, but you are still ill. Let me prescribe you a second medicine, just this once. First, go to bed, and then..." "You're mistaken," he put in. "I'm in the best state of my excitement. If you really want me well, you've got to calm my excitement." "How can I calm your excitement?" "That's easy. Jupiter is going with me on an adventure into the mountains on land, and needs someone to help us. You're the only one we can trust. Whether this venture succeeds or fails, it's just as important." Calms the agitation you see in me right now." "I would like to satisfy your request in any way," I replied, "but do you mean that this unfortunate golden beetle has something to do with your going up the mountain?" "Have." "Then, Legrand, I cannot take part in such absurd activities." "I'm sorry, very sorry, because we'll just have to try it ourselves." "Then try it for yourselves! You must be mad!—but wait, how long are you going to go?" "Probably all night. We set off at once, and in any case we must be home before dawn." "Then, can you promise me on your honor that when you've done your beetle business-good God-satisfied and let your whims pass by, you'll come home and obey me unconditionally advice, like following a doctor's advice?" "Okay, I promise. Now let's go, there's no more time." It is with a heavy heart that I accompany my friend.It was about four o'clock when we started—LeGrand, Jupiter, the dog, and me.Jupiter carried the shovel and sickle, and it seems to me that he insisted on having these implements more from fear of letting any of them fall within reach of his master than from undue industry or gallantry.He was extremely tenacious, and the only thing that escaped his mouth during the whole journey was: "That, that beetle." As for me, I was put in charge of two shaded lanterns.Legrand, on the other hand, was content to hold the beetle.He tied the beetle to a string of silk, and twisted it about as he walked, with the air of a magician.When I saw this obvious symptom of my friend's insanity, I could hardly restrain my tears.I think the best thing to do is to accommodate him, at least for now, until I can take stronger steps with a better chance of success.At the same time, I also made insinuations, trying to find out the purpose of his trip.But it's completely useless.After he had succeeded in persuading me to go with him, he never seemed to want to touch secondary topics.And to all my questions he answered with one sentence: "We'll find out!" We came to the other side of the island, crossed the river in a small boat, climbed up the high slope on the shore of the mainland, and walked northwest through a very desolate and rarely visited wilderness.Legrand led the way resolutely, stopping only now and then to study some signposts which seemed to be his own. We walked like this for about two hours.The sun was almost setting by the time we came to a region vastly more desolate than any region before.There was a mesa abutting an almost unclimbable peak.Dense clumps of trees have been covered from the top to the foot of the mountain, only dotted with huge rocks.The rocks seemed to rest only loosely on the earth, and in places only the trees kept them from rolling into the canyon below.The large gullies and deep valleys on all sides add a lot of precipitousness and solemnity to the scenery. The natural terrace we had climbed was covered with dense thorns.We immediately saw that we couldn't get by without the scythe.Jupiter cut a road under his master's command, leading directly to a magnolia tree with towering branches and leaves.The magnolia tree stood side by side with eight to ten oaks, but in many places was much taller than the oaks and other trees I had seen at that time.Its green leaves are verdant and beautiful, its branches are broad and stretched, and its style is elegant and solemn.When we came to the tree, Legrand turned to Jupiter and asked if he could climb the tree.The old man seemed taken aback when he heard the question, and didn't answer for a moment.He finally came to the big tree, walked around it slowly, and made a careful observation.After checking, he only answered one sentence: "Yes, young master, I can climb any tree my old Zhu Pi has seen in his life." "Then hurry up, because it will soon be too dark to do business." "How high shall I climb, sir?" asked Jupiter. "Climb up the tree trunk first, and then I will tell you which direction to turn. Also, don't move! Take this golden beetle with you." "Bugs, Master Will! Gold bugs!" cried the Negro, stepping back in horror. "Why do you take bugs up the tree? I won't, unless I'm unlucky!" "You nigger, are you so big that you're afraid of a dead worm? It doesn't hurt anyone. You can take it up with this string. If you don't try to bring the worm up, I'll have to Take a shovel and break that head of yours." "What's the matter with you, sir?" said Jupiter, who seemed a little embarrassed, and obeyed. "Always find work for me old black person. I'm only joking, and can I be afraid of bugs? What am I doing?" Are you afraid?" At this point, he carefully took the end of the string, kept the maximum distance from the golden beetle as far as possible according to the environment, and prepared to climb the tree. The magnolia tree, or Liriodendron Tulipiferum, is the most magnificent tree known to American foresters, having an exceptionally smooth bark when young, often growing straight to great heights without branching, and at a more mature age the bark becomes Pimples began to grow, and many short branches began to grow on the main trunk.In this way, looking at the current situation, the difficulty of climbing the tree is more superficial than actual.Clinging as best he could with his arms and knees to the gigantic trunk, holding on to the ledges with his hands, and pressing on the others with his bare feet, Jupiter, after one or two near-falling dangers, finally climbed up to the first big one. tree branch.It seemed to him that the whole mission was actually over--indeed the adventurous part of the mission was over, although the man in the tree was now sixty or seventy feet above the ground. "Which way are you going now, Master Will?" he asked. "Climb up the biggest branch—the one this way," said Legrand.The Negro complied immediately, and without much difficulty, it seemed.He climbed higher and higher until his squatting figure was completely hidden by the thick foliage.His voice came down immediately, as if greeting. "How high do we have to climb?" "How tall are you?" Legrand asked. "Too high," answered the Negro, "to see the sky above the tree tops." "Forget about the sky, just follow my orders. Look down the trunk from this direction and count the branches below you. How many branches have you climbed?" "One branch, two branches, three branches, four branches, five branches - there are already five big branches under me, young master, on this side." "Then you can climb one more branch." A few minutes later there was another voice announcing that he had reached the seventh branch. "Now, Jupi," cried Legrand, visibly agitated, "I want you to climb out on that branch as far as you can. Let me know if you see anything in particular. " If there was any doubt in my heart about my friend's insanity, even that little doubt disappeared at this moment.I had no choice but to conclude that he had lost his mind, and began to worry about how to get him home.As I was considering what best to do, I heard Jupiter's voice again. "My biggest fear is climbing so far along this branch that it's almost dead." "Do you mean this branch is dead, Jupiter?" cried Legrand.His voice was trembling. "Yes, sir, dead as a nail in the door--it must be over--and die." "My God, what should I do?" Legrand asked, as if he had encountered the greatest pain. "What to do!" I was very glad that the opportunity came, and hurriedly interjected, "What else can I do? Go home and sleep. Come on, good man, it's late. Also, you should always remember your own promise." "Jupiter," he cried, deaf to my words, "can you hear me?" "I can hear you, Master Will, and it's clear enough." "Take your knife and give this branch a good chop, and see if it's very rotten." "It's rotten enough, sure," replied the Negro after a moment, "but not so rotten as I thought. I could risk climbing a little further on my own, really." "Alone!—what do you mean?" "What do you mean, I said beetle. Beetle is heavy. If I throw it away first, I can't bear the weight of a tree by myself." "You rascal to hell!" exclaimed Legrand, who seemed very relieved. "Why are you talking nonsense to me? If you try to throw the beetle away, I'll wring your neck. Listen carefully!" Come on, Jupiter! Can you hear me?" "You can hear me, sir, don't yell at the poor black person." "Now! Now listen!—if you can climb out of the branch as far as you can, and feel safe without losing the beetle, I will give you a silver dollar as a present as soon as you come down." "I'll climb right away, Master Will—really," answered the Negro promptly, "and get out there now." "Climb to the top!" Legrand was practically screaming now. "You mean you're going to get to the top of the branch?" "We'll be on the tip soon, my lord. Ah-ah-ah! My God! What's on that tree?" "Yes," exclaimed Legrand cheerfully, "what is it?" "Hey, it's nothing but a skull—someone left his head in a tree, and the crows pecked at the flesh." "It's a skull, you say!—very good!—how is it fastened to the branch?—what fastened it?" "I'll have to see first, sure, sir, there's something very strange about it, I dare say. There's a big nail in the bone of the skull. That's what drove it to the tree." "Now, now, Jupiter, do exactly as I say--do you hear me?" "I heard you, master." "Listen carefully, then you - find the left eye of the skull." "Uh, uh, okay! Why, this thing doesn't have a left eye at all." "Go to hell, you stupid head! Can you tell your left hand from your right hand?" "Yes, I know, I know everything, I split wood with my left hand." "Sure! You're left-handed, and your left eye is next to your left hand. Now I reckon you can find the skull's left eye, where it used to be. Have you found it?" There was a long pause in the conversation, and finally the Negro asked: "The skull's left eye is on the side with its left hand, right?—for the skull has no hands at all—don't worry! I've found the left eye now. Here it is! What am I supposed to do with the left eye?" "Let the beetle come through the left eye, and let the string hang down as far as it will go, but be careful not to let go of the string." "That's all done, Master Will. It's very easy to get the beetle through the eye hole-watch out, the beetle is down!" While this dialogue was going on, Jupiter's body was completely invisible, but his dangling golden beetle was visible, hanging from a string, shining like a golden ball in the afterglow of the setting sun.Part of the setting sun still dimly illuminates the hillside where we stand.The beetle was not hindered by any branch, and if it fell, it would fall at our feet.Legrand immediately seized the scythe, and cut a circular patch of land, about three or four yards in diameter, directly below the beetle, and then he ordered Jupiter to let go of the rope, and come down from the tree. Carefully driving a small stake into the exact spot where the beetle had landed, my friend took a measuring tape from his pocket.He tied one end of the measuring tape to the point where the magnolia tree was closest to the small stake, then let go of the measuring tape and pulled it over the stake, extending it about fifty feet in a straight line drawn between the two points of the tree and the stake.Jupiter, clearing away the thornbush with his scythe, drove in the place thus obtained a stake, and with this stake at its center roughly traced a circle about four feet in diameter.At this moment Legrand picked up a shovel himself, handed another to Jupiter, and another to me, and asked us to dig as quickly as possible. To tell the truth, I have never been particularly interested in such entertainment, and at that particular moment I would have liked to be able to refuse.It was getting dark, and I was very tired after the day's work, but I couldn't think of a way to escape, and I was worried that my refusal would disturb my friend's peace.If I could have counted on Jupiter's help, I would not have hesitated to try at once to bring the madman home by force, but I was well aware of the old Negro's tendency, and in my personal confrontation with his master, no matter what I can't expect him to help me anyway.Of the innumerable superstitions about hidden treasures in the Southern States, I have no doubt that one of them has been infected by Legrand, and his fantasies confirmed by the discovery of the Golden Beetle.He may also have been influenced by Jupiter, who stubbornly insisted that the beetle was the "true gold beetle."People with a tendency to madness can easily be led astray by such assumptions, especially if they coincide with their own favored ideas.Then I remembered what the poor man had said about the beetle "indicating wealth," and in short I felt a great pain and perplexity.But my final conclusion is to "turn needs into virtues", so I dug the ground seriously, trying to convince the visionary as soon as possible with seeing that his ideas are illusory. We lighted the blackout lamps and dug the ground, and the energy would have been worth it if it had been devoted to a more sensible cause.The lights fell on us and on the tools.I couldn't help feeling how special we were, and how strange and suspicious our labors would appear to anyone passing by by chance! We dug persistently for two hours, barely making a sound.It was mainly the barking of the dog that baffled us - the dog was very interested in our activities.Afterwards he barked so loudly that we were almost afraid (LeGrand, rather, that he should have been alarmed) by a casual passer-by, for I should have liked to be disturbed and get the tramp home).At last the barking was very effectively stopped by Jupiter.Jupiter came out of the pit with determined ferocity, bound the brute's mouth with his garter, and returned to work, giggling primly. As I said before, two hours passed, we had dug five feet, and there was no sign of any hidden treasure, so everyone stopped, and I began to hope that the farce would be over.But Legrand, in spite of his dismay, continued digging thoughtfully after he wiped the sweat from his brow.We had already dug a four-foot-diameter circle, and now enlarged a little, and dug a further two feet, and still found nothing.Finally, the gold digger I pitied in my heart crawled out of the hole, with a look of bitter disappointment on his face, and began to slowly and reluctantly put on the clothes that had been thrown away at the beginning of the labor.I didn't speak at this time, and Jupiter started to pack the tools according to the master's gesture.After tidying up and taking off the garter from the dog's mouth, everyone walked home in silence. After walking about ten steps in the direction of home, Legrand suddenly cursed, strode up to Jupiter, and grabbed his collar.The startled black stared round his eyes, opened his mouth wide, let go of the shovel in his hand, and knelt down on the ground. "You rascal," Legrand hissed out, gritting his teeth, "you black wretch to hell. Tell me! Tell me! Tell me right now, without prevarication, which eye, which eye is Your left eye?" "Oh, God, Master Will! Isn't this my left eye?" said the frightened Jupiter, desperately protecting his right visual organ, as if he was afraid that his master would pluck it out immediately. "I was right! I knew it all along! Hurrah!" cried Legrand, letting go of the black man and doing a few dancing steps that left his entourage dumbfounded.那黑人站起身来从主人望向我，又从我望向主人，说不出话来。 “来！咱们还得回去，”勒格兰说，“游戏还没有结束。”他再次领路来到玉兰树下。 “朱庇特，”我们来到玉兰树脚下，他说，“到这儿来。那骷髅头是脸朝外面还是脸朝树枝？” “脸朝外面，少爷，所以乌鸦很容易就把眼睛啄掉了，不费力气的。” “好了，你让金甲虫吊下来是穿过这只眼睛还是这只眼睛？”勒格兰问话时轮流指着朱庇特两只眼睛。 “这只眼睛，少爷，左眼，照你说的办的。”说时黑人指的却是自己的右眼。 “好了，我们还得再试。” 这时我从朋友的疯狂表现里看出了（或自以为看出了）某些有条不紊的迹象。他把指明金甲虫落地处的木桩往原地以西挪了大约三英寸，然后拿起皮尺跟上次一样从靠木桩最近的树干开始往木桩外直线延伸了五十英尺，找到了一处地方——离我们挖过的坑有好几码远。 他在新的地方画了一个更大的圆圈，我们拿起铲子又干了起来。我已经累得死去活来，但不知为什么心情却变了，对强加给我的劳动不再感到太大的抵触了。最无法解释的是，我竟然产生了兴趣——不，甚至感到了激动。说不定是勒格兰反常态度里的什么先见之明或深思熟虑打动了我。我迫不及待地挖着，不时发现自己事实上也似乎产生了期待的心理，在探索着想象中的宝藏——我那不幸的伙伴就是因为这种幻想而神经错乱的。在幻想弄得我们神魂颠倒时，我们又像这样挖了差不多一个半小时，那狗的狂吠再次干扰了我们。它上一次的不安显然是出于好玩和胡闹，可这一次它发出的却是一种痛苦而严肃的声音。朱庇特再次打算捆住狗嘴，狗却激烈地反抗了。它蹦进坑里，用爪子发疯似的刨着泥土。不一会儿，它就刨出了一大堆人骨头，足以构成两个完整的骷髅架子，还混杂了几个金属纽扣和一些破烂，像是腐败的毛呢。再铲上一两铲，又翻出了一把西班牙刀的刀片。我们继续挖，挖出了三四枚散落的银币和金币。 一见这些东西朱庇特几乎按捺不住自己的狂欢，可他的主人却露出满脸的极端失望。不过，他仍然催促我们继续努力。几乎没有人说话，我却一跤绊倒，扑了下去——靴尖挂在了一个大铁环上，铁环的一半还埋在刨松的泥土里。 我们又使劲干了起来。我这一辈子还没有经历过比那十分钟更强烈的激动。这时我们已经挖出了一个长方形木箱的大部分。箱子保存完好，非常坚硬，显然经过某种加工——说不定经过二氯化汞处理。箱子长三英尺半，宽三英尺，高二英尺半，整体用铁铸的板条强力加固，再用铆钉铆紧。箱子两面靠近箱顶处各有三个铁环，总共六个，靠着铁环六个人可以抓牢箱子。我们三个人一起使出了最大的力气，却只能让箱子在地里轻微地动了动。我们立即明白过来，这样大的家伙我们是无法搬动的。幸好箱盖只由两根活动铁栓拴住。我们拉开了铁栓，同时紧张得发抖和喘气。一箱无价之宝转瞬之间便闪耀在我们面前。遮光风灯照进坑里，光亮却从坑里反射回来，是乱七八糟的一大堆黄金和珠宝，金光灿烂，绝对地耀花了我们的眼睛。 我不敢冒昧描述我凝望着它时的情绪，当然，压倒一切的感觉是惊讶。勒格兰激动得似乎要衰竭了，说不出几个字来。朱庇特呆了，傻了，呆了好几分钟，似乎遭到了雷击，那张黑人脸死灰到了天然肤色所能达到的极点。他立即在坑里跪下，把一双赤裸的胳臂伸进金币堆里，一直埋到手肘，呆着不动，仿佛享受着金币浴的奢侈。最后，他深深地叹了一口气，像独白般喊叫起来： “这都是金甲虫带来的！美丽的金甲虫呀！可怜的小虫子呀！可我曾经那么野蛮地咒骂过它！你不觉得自己丢脸吗，黑鬼？回答我呀，你！” 终于，我觉得必须提醒这一主一仆应该考虑怎样搬走珍宝了。时间越来越晚，我们必须努力，要赶在天亮之前把珍宝藏好。该怎么办还很难说，我们花了好长的时间考虑，大家思绪都很混乱。最后，我们取出了箱里三分之二的财物，减轻了重量，这才费了不少力气把箱子从坑里抬了出来。我们把已经取出的财宝隐藏在荆棘丛里，让狗看守，再由朱庇特下达严格的命令，不到我们回来不许它以任何理由离开，也不许乱叫。然后我们抬了箱子便匆匆往回赶。半夜一点，我们费尽了力气终于安全回到家里。到达时已经筋疲力尽，要想再做什么已是人的本能所不允许的了。我们休息到了两点，吃了晚饭，用三个结实的口袋（幸好屋里正有）武装起自己，立即又上山了。四点前我们到达了坑边，三个人尽可能平均分担了剩下的重量。留下那坑没有填就动身回到茅屋。我们在家里安顿好这些黄金时，最初的晨曦正从东边的树梢照耀下来。 这时我们已完全累垮了，但是强烈的激动却不让我们休息。在三四个小时并不宁静的昏睡之后，我们几乎又不约而同地醒了过来。我们要清理我们的财宝。 箱子装得满满的，第二天我们花了整整一天和一个大半夜仔细清点了箱子里的东西。这些东西完全没有顺序或安排，一切都乱七八糟地堆在一起。仔细分类以后，我们发现自己所获得的财富比最初估计的要多得多。金币约合四十五万余美元——我们尽可能按当时货币牌价折算。完全没有银币，有的只是各种各样的古代金币：法国的、西班牙的、德国的，还夹杂了几个英国金几尼和几个我们没见过的纪念币品种。还有几枚非常巨大而沉重的金币，磨损得太厉害，已经看不出币面的花纹。美国金币一个都没有。我们发现更困难的是对珠宝价值的确定。还有的是钻石，一共是一百一十个，其中有的非常大，非常好，小钻石一枚都没有。还有十八颗红宝石，耀眼得惊人。有三百一十颗绿宝石，全都美丽异常。有二十一颗黄玉，再加上一个猫儿眼。这些宝石全是从首饰上掰下来，随意扔到箱子里的。首饰本身也从金币堆里清理了出来，看来被锤子砸过，好像是为了避免让人认出原物。除此之外，还有大量沉重的黄金首饰。戒指和耳环差不多有两百个。如果我记得不错的话，还有三十根豪华的链子，八十三个很大很沉的十字架，五只昂贵的黄金香炉，一只奇异的五味酒金尊（装饰有镂空的藤叶和酒神花样），还有两把有精美宝石镶嵌的剑柄和许多我已不记得的小玩意。这些珍宝按常衡共重三百五十磅以上——还不算一百九十七块超级金表，其中三块各值五百美元以上。有的表非常古老，但都是无价之宝。它们的机械多少遭到了锈蚀，但都镶嵌着名贵的宝石，装在极其豪奢的表盒里。据我们那天晚上估计，箱里的全部宝藏价值约一百五十万美元。而后来我们出售的一些珠宝首饰（我们取出了一些使用）则大大低估了它们的价值。 勒格兰早已看出我是迫不及待地想听他对这异常奇特的哑谜的解释。我们的清理结束，强烈的激动也恰当平缓之后，勒格兰便开始对有关情况作了详尽的说明。 “你还记得，”他说，“那天晚上我给你看了我为那金甲虫画的草图吧。你也应该记得，在你坚持说我画得像个骷髅头时我颇有几分生气。你第一次提出那说法时，我还以为你是在开玩笑。可我后来回想起了那虫子背上独特的斑点，便承认了你那说法事实上不无根据。可你对我绘画本领的嘲笑却叫我很不高兴——因为大家都认为我画得很好。因此，在你递给我那片羊皮纸时，我原是打算把它揉成一团，气冲冲地扔进火里的。 “你指的是那张纸片？”我说。 “不，它很像是纸片，我起初也以为是纸片，但是，在我开始在它上面画画时，却立即发现是一片很薄的羊皮纸。很脏，你记得。好了，我打算把它揉成一团，却瞥见了你仔细看过的那个轮廓。你可以想象，我在似乎画着金甲虫的地方事实上却看到一个骷髅头时，会是多么惊讶。我太惊讶了，一时几乎难以冷静思考。我知道我的画在细节上跟那个骷髅头很不一样——虽然轮廓近似。我立刻拿起一支蜡烛到屋子那头坐下，开始更仔细地观察那羊皮纸。我把它翻了过来，却在它的背面看见了我的速写，仍然是我画成的那样子。我的第一印象是两者轮廓那惊人的相似——这里有一种独特的巧合：羊皮纸上我画的金甲虫背面还有一个骷髅头，跟我画的那个不但轮廓非常相像，就连大小也几乎一样，而我竟还没有看见。我要说，那太特别的巧合绝对地、长时间地惊呆了我——这倒是这类巧合的常见效果。我在心里努力寻找两者之间的联系——因果关系，却没有找到，一时间我竟陷入了空白状态。但是，等到我从昏沉中回过神来，一个念头已在我头脑里逐渐闪出了光芒。那念头比那巧合更叫我吃惊。我开始明确地、清晰地回忆起一个事实：在我画金甲虫之前羊皮纸上根本不存在什么画。对此我很有把握，因为我想起自己曾经翻来覆去找最干净的地方。要是那上面有骷髅头，我是肯定不会注意不到的。这里绝对有一种我觉得难以解释的神秘。但是，即使在刚开始时，我头脑最深处也似乎模糊地闪动过一种光芒，一个萤火般的念头。那念头的正确性在昨晚的冒险里得到了辉煌的证实。我立即站起身来，把羊皮纸秘密地藏了起来，驱散了其他一切念头，一直等到我一个人独自待着的时候。 “你走掉了，朱庇特也睡熟了，我开始进行系统研究。首先，我考虑了羊皮纸落到我手里的过程。我们是在大陆岸边找到那金甲虫的，在我们这岛子东面大约一英里的地方，但是高出高水位线不多。我抓住那甲虫时，它还狠狠地咬了我一口，逼得我放掉了它。那虫子飞向了朱庇特，朱庇特以他一向的谨慎，向四面望了望，想找一张叶子之类的东西去抓它。他的眼睛和我的眼睛都在这时落到了那张羊皮纸上——那时我只以为是一张普通的纸。那羊皮纸有一半埋在沙里，翘起了一角。我在发现那羊皮纸的地点注意到了一艘商船上的大艇的残骸，它在那儿似乎已经躺了许久，因为船上的木料已几乎认不出了。 “好了，朱庇特拾起羊皮纸，包住金甲虫递给了我。不久以后我们就转身回家了。路上遇见了格什么中尉，我让他看了看那虫子，他要我让他拿到要塞里去。我同意之后他就把金甲虫装进了背心口袋，没有要包着它的羊皮纸。他看金甲虫时，羊皮纸一直拿在我的手里。他说不定是怕我改变主意，觉得还是应该把到手的东西立即收起来为好——他对一切牵涉到自然史的东西都很热心，这你是知道的。我一定是在这时不知不觉地把那羊皮纸放进了口袋的。 “你记得，在我为了画那金甲虫的草图来到桌子面前时，在平时放纸的地方没有找到纸。在抽屉里找过，也没有找到。我掏了掏口袋，想找出一张旧信笺，我的手却摸到了那张羊皮纸。这就是那羊皮纸落到我手里的确切经过，因为那情景给了我特别深刻的印象。 “毫无疑问你会觉得我是耽溺于幻想了，但是我已经建立起了一种联系，把一个巨大的链条上的两个环节扣到了一起。海岸边躺着一艘破船，离船不远处有一张羊皮纸——不是普通纸——上面画了个骷髅头。你当然会问：'那是什么联系？'我的回答是：那骷髅头，或人头，就是众所周知的海盗标志。海盗们进行一切活动时都扬着骷髅头大旗。 “我说过了，那东西是羊皮纸而不是普通纸。羊皮纸很结实，几乎不会朽坏，没有分量的事是很少记载在羊皮纸上的，因为作普通书写和绘画用时羊皮纸不如普通纸方便。这个想法就展示出了那骷髅头的某种意义和某种关系。那羊皮纸的形状我也没有忽略，虽然它有一个角因为某种意外而破损了，但仍然可以清楚地看出，它原来是长方形的，正好用来写备忘录，记录某件需要长期记住和小心保存的东西。” “但是你说过，”我插嘴道，“你在勾勒金甲虫的轮廓时，羊皮纸上并没有骷髅头。既然你自己也承认骷髅头是在你画了金甲虫后的某个时间才画出的（上帝知道是怎么画的，是谁画的），你又是如何追溯出破船跟骷髅头之间的联系的呢？” “啊，整个奥秘就转到了这里，虽然相对而言我解决这个阶段的奥秘不太费事。我的步骤是有把握的，而且只能导致一个结果。比如，我是这样推理的：我在画金甲虫时，纸上显然没有骷髅头，我画完之后递给了你，而且一直仔细望着你，然后你又还给了我。因此，那骷髅头并不是你画的，在场也没有别的人能画。那么，那就不是人画的。可是它又确实画了出来。 “思考到了这个阶段，我就努力回忆，而且确实十分清楚地回忆起了那时的每一个细节。天气很冷（啊，罕见而幸运的意外），壁炉里有一炉熊熊的火。我才走了路，身上暖和，坐在桌子边。可你却拉了把椅子，紧靠在烟囱旁坐下。我把羊皮纸递到你手里，你正打算细看，纽芬兰犬阿狼进来了，扑到你的肩膀上。你用左手抚摩它，也挡住它，而拿着羊皮纸的右手却随意垂到了两膝之间，很靠近炉火。我一时还担心火焰会烧着它，想提醒你。还没出声，你已经缩回了手，在仔细审视。我在考虑这一切细节时一刻也不曾怀疑过使我在羊皮纸上看出那骷髅头的是热度。你很明白，从年湮代远的时期起就存在着某些化学药剂，可以书写在羊皮纸上，字迹要用火烘才能看见。有时是用王水浸渍的氯化钴，加四倍重的水稀释，写出来是绿色。而钴熔融时的沉积块溶化到硝石酒精里，写出来的却是红色。写上的东西冷却之后，再经过或长或短的时间，颜色就消失了，但是重新一加热，颜色又出现了。 “现在我仔细地观察了那骷髅头，它的外轮廓——即最靠近羊皮纸边沿的画，比别的部分要清晰得多，显然是由于热的作用不完全或不均匀所造成的。我立即燃起一簇火，把羊皮纸的每一部分都放到火上。开始时变清晰的只是骷髅头的模糊部分；继续试下去，在羊皮纸上跟骷髅头成对角线的地方又出现了一个形象。我开始以为是山羊，可仔细一看，我满足了，原来它想表现的是个羔羊。” “哈哈！”我说，“我肯定是没有权利嘲笑你的，一百五十万的财富太严肃，不是好笑的事，你不会是想在你的链条上建立第三个环节吧。但是，你想在海盗跟山羊之间建立特别的联系可不容易。海盗跟山羊没有关系，你知道，山羊是庄稼汉才喜欢的东西。” “但是我刚才说过，画画的人想画的不是山羊。” “那就是羔羊，可羔羊跟山羊也大体是一回事。” “大体，但不完全是。”勒格兰说，“你可能听说过有个叫'羔羊基德'的船长吧。我立即把那动物形象认定是双关语，或象形文字签名。我说签名，是它画在羊皮纸上的位置使我这样想的。同样，跟它呈对角线的骷髅头也有印鉴或漆封的意味。但是我再也没有看见别的东西，又不禁茫然了。作为我想象中的一种工具，这东西缺少了主体；作为前后文，这东西缺少了正文。” “我估计你是希望在漆封与签名之间发现一封信。” “是那类东西。事实是，它给了我一种无法抗拒的印象，一种预感：有某种巨大的财富正逼人而来。我几乎说不出原因，也许归根到底只是一种愿望吧，并非真正的信念。但是，你知道朱庇特那傻话对我的幻想产生了惊人的影响吗？他说金甲虫是纯金的。还有那一连串的意外与巧合——非常奇特的意外与巧合。你注意到没有？这事就发生在一年之中的这个寒冷的日子里，冷得非点火不可。而如果没有火，没有那狗在那个时候闯进来干扰，我就绝不可能注意到那骷髅头，也就绝不可能得到那宝藏了。对不对？” “讲吧，我非常想听。” “好了，你当然听说过很多流行的故事和无数含混的谣言，是关于羔羊基德跟他的人在大西洋沿岸某处埋藏珍宝的事。这些谣言肯定有一定的事实根据，而在我看来，它们之所以能长期持续存在，只能是因为宝藏至今还没有人挖到。如果羔羊基德把珍宝埋藏过一段时间又取走了，那谣言就不可能直到现在还以这种完全没有变化的形式流传到我们耳里。你会注意到：流传的全是探宝人的故事，而不是得宝人的故事。要是那海盗取走了他的宝贝，那故事早就结束了。我觉得似乎出了什么事故，比如指明藏宝地点的记录丢失了，使他无法取走宝藏了。而这事故在他的部下里也有人知道（否则他们就不会知道藏宝这回事）。他们企图重新找到宝藏，却因为没有指示资料，白白地费了力气，于是现在这种普遍的谣言就传了出来，散布开来。你听说过大西洋沿岸有重大宝藏出土的事吗？” "there has never been." “但是众所周知，羔羊基德是积累了无穷财富的。因此我认为，财宝理所当然仍旧埋在地里；也因此，在我告诉你我觉得有了希望（几乎是肯定无疑的），说是那张来路如此离奇的羊皮纸记录了宝藏的地点时，你就不会太吃惊了。” “可你是怎么观察出来的呢？” “我提高了温度，把那羊皮纸往火边靠近，可是什么东西也没有出现。我觉得纸上那层脏污可能跟失败有关，便在纸上小心洒上温水，进行了清洗。洗干净之后我把羊皮纸放进一个白铁盘里，让画有骷髅头的一面朝下，再把盘子放到燃烧的木炭炉上。几分钟之后整个盘子都热了，我取下羊皮纸，在好几处发现了字迹，好像是排列成行的符号。我高兴得无法形容，再次把羊皮纸放到盘里，烤了一分钟，取下来时就是你现在看见的整个形象了。” 说到这儿勒格兰已重新烤好羊皮纸，递给我看。下面的符号出现在骷髅头跟羔羊之间，红色，笔迹粗笨。 “但是，”我把那羊皮纸还给他，说，“即使有戈尔孔达的全部珍宝在等待我破译这份密码文件，我仍然跟原来一样无所适从。我肯定是得不到那宝藏了。” “可是，”勒格兰说，“解读这东西也不像你匆匆看到符号时所想象的那么困难。谁也可以猜到，这些符号构成的是一套密码文件，就是说，表达了一种意思。但是，从我们知道的有关羔羊基德的情况看来，我不相信他有能力设计出特别繁难的密码文件。我立即认定这是较为简单的一种，只是对于水手简单的头脑而言，好像没有解读码就绝对无法破译东西了。” “你真破译出来了吗？” “很快就破译出来了。繁难一万倍的密码文件我也破译过。我的环境和心灵的某种倾向使我对这类东西极感兴趣。人类的智慧是否能编制出正确运用人类智慧也无法破译的密码呢？这是值得怀疑的。事实上只要创建的是可以认识的连续文字，我对揣摩出它们的意义所遇到的困难是几乎不当回事的。 “就目前这密码而言——实际上就一切秘密书写而言——第一个问题是文件的语言。到目前为止的解决原则，特别是解决简单密码的原则，所依靠的都是该语言的语法特点，和随之而变化的规则。一般说来，破译者必须依靠或然率指导，根据他懂得的每一种语言进行试验，找准语言，此外再无其他办法。但是，我们眼前这份密码文件上的签名却排除了一切困难。Kid一词只有在英语里才能读出双关的含意。要是没有考虑到这一点，我还得从西班牙语或法语入手，因为西班牙大陆的海盗使用这种语言书写秘密符号是极其自然的。可有了上述情况，我就把这份密码文件的语言假定为英语了。 “你注意到了，这份密码文件里的单词没有分写。要是分写了，工作也会容易一些。我就可以从短词的校勘或分析开始。如果有一个词只有一个字母（那是很容易出现的），比如a或I，我就可以认为有了解决的把握。但是，它没有分写。我的第一步工作就只好是确定出现率最高和最低的符号。我数了数所有的符号，列出了这样的一个表： 符号8有34个。 符号；有26个。 符号4有19个。 符号·有15个。 符号）有16个。 符号*有13个。 符号5有12个。 符号6有11个。 符号（有9个。 符号·有8个。 符号I有7个。 符号0有6个。 符号9和2各有5个。 符号：和3各有4个。 符号？有3个。 符号·有2个。 符号.、]和—各有1个。 “在英语里出现率最高的字母是e，随后依次是：aoidhnrstuycfglmwbkpqxz，而e则非常突出，无论一个句子多长，其中e不占突出地位的不多。 “于是，我们从开始就有了一个并非单纯依靠猜测的基础。很清楚，这个统计是可以普遍使用的。但在目前的密码文件里我们需要借助于这份统计的地方却不多，因为它突出的字母是8，我们就可以把8定为自然字母表里的e，从它入手。为了证实这一假定，我们可以观察8是否常常成双出现，因为在英语里字母e成双的时候很多。比如在以下的字里：'meet'，'fleet'，'speed'，'seen'，'been'，'agree'，等等。这种重复在我们这密码文件里出现了五次之多，虽然文件很短。 “那么，我们就把8假定为e吧。在英语词汇里the是最常用的。我们又来看一看是否有三个排列相同的字母，最后字母是8而反复出现的。如果我们发现有了这样顺序的字母组合反复出现，它们很可能就表示的是the。我们一检查，发现了七个有这样顺序的字母。符号是；48。因此我们不妨把；看作t，把4看作h，把8看作e。现在e得到可靠的确认，我们前进了一大步。 “确认了一个字，我们也就确定了很重要的一点。就是说，能确认好几个别的字的开头和结尾了。让我们看一看倒数第二个；48的组合——在离密码文件结尾处不远的地方。我们知道紧接而来的那个'；'是一个字的开头。在随着那the字而来的六个字母里我们已经认识了五个。让我们把这些符号按已知其代表的字母记下，不认识的符号留作空白： the teeth “在这儿我们可以立即排除th。我认为它不能形成那个以t开始的词的一部分，因为拿字母表上所有的字母都试过，没有一个适合那空白。我们看出，没有可以由th形成它的一部分的字。这样，我们就可以缩减为以下的字了： tee “然后，如果需要，再照样拿一个个字母去试，我们找到了tree，认为那是唯一可能的读法。这样，我们又认出了另一个字母r，符号是（，the tree两个字连到了一起。 “从这个字再往下一点，我们再次看见了组合；48，我们又有了以下的排列： the tree；4（··34the 或者换为我们已经认识的自然字母，就成了这样： the tree thr··34the “现在，如果我们把不认识的符号留下空白，或是换作省略号，就成了这样： the tree thr...h the “这时through自己立即显露了出来。这个发现给了我们三个新字母：o、u和g，分别用·、·和3表示。 “现在再仔细观察密码文件，找出我们已经知道的符号组合。我们在离开头不远处发现了以下的排列： 83（88，也就是egree “很显然，这就是degree一词的后半截。这又给了我们一个字母d，符号是·。 “与degree一词相隔四个字母我们看见了以下的组合： ；46（；88* “把已经知道的符号译出来，再用省略号代替不认识的符号，我们读到这样的字： th...rtee... “这个排列立即让我们想起了'thirteen'。这又给我们提供了两个新字母i和n，符号是6和*。 “现在回到密码文件的开头，我们发现了这样的组合： 53··· “照前面的办法翻译，我们得到了： good “它为我们肯定了它前面应该是A，那么，开头的两个字就是'A good'了。 “现在，为了避免混乱，已经是以表格形式排列出已经发现的解读码的时候了。是这样： 5表示a ·表示d 8表示e 3表示g 4表示h 6表示i *表示n ·表示o （表示r ；表示t