The Edgar Allan Poe story 'The Gold-Bug' is a short story about a man who discovers a secret code that leads him to buried treasure. It was first published in 1843 and is considered one of Poe's most popular works. The story follows William Legrand, a man who discovers a gold-colored bug and uses it as a clue to decipher a secret code. With the help of his friend, Legrand is able to locate a hidden treasure and solve the mystery.