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.
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