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tell you Kidd never was up the Hudson。 What a plague do you know
of Kidd and his haunts？〃
＇1＇ 〃In your teeth；〃 a phrase to denote direct opposition or
defiance。
〃What do I know？〃 echoed the half…pay officer。 〃Why； I was in
London at the time of his trial； aye； and I had the pleasure of
seeing him hanged at Execution Dock。〃
〃Then； sir； let me tell you that you saw as pretty a fellow hanged
as ever trod shoe leather。 Aye！〃 putting his face nearer to that
of the officer； 〃and there was many a landlubber＇1＇ looked on that
might much better have swung in his stead。〃
＇1＇ A term of contempt used by seamen for those who pass their
lives on land。
The half…pay officer was silenced； but the indignation thus pent up
in his bosom glowed with intense vehemence in his single eye； which
kindled like a coal。
Peechy Prauw； who never could remain silent； observed that the
gentleman certainly was in the right。 Kidd never did bury money up
the Hudson； nor indeed in any of those parts； though many affirmed
such to be the fact。 It was Bradish＇1＇ and others of the
buccaneers who had buried money； some said in Turtle Bay；＇2＇ others
on Long Island； others in the neighborhood of Hell Gate。 〃Indeed；〃
added he； 〃I recollect an adventure of Sam； the negro fisherman；
many years ago； which some think had something to do with the
buccaneers。 As we are all friends here； and as it will go no
further； I'll tell it to you。
＇1＇ Bradish was a pirate whose actions were blended in the popular
mind with those of Kidd。 He was boatswain of a ship which sailed
from England in 1697； and which； like Kidd's； bore the name of the
Adventure。 In the absence of the captain on shore； he seized the
ship and set out on a piratical cruise。 After amassing a fortune；
he sailed for America and deposited a large amount of his wealth
with a confederate on Long Island。 He was apprehended in Rhode
Island； sent to England； and executed。
＇2＇ A small cove in the East River two miles north of Corlear's
Hook。
〃Upon a dark night many years ago； as Black Sam was returning from
fishing in Hell Gate〃
Here the story was nipped in the bud by a sudden movement from the
unknown； who； laying his iron fist on the table； knuckles downward；
with a quiet force that indented the very boards； and looking
grimly over his shoulder； with the grin of an angry bear；
〃Hearkee； neighbor；〃 said he； with significant nodding of the head；
〃you'd better let the buccaneers and their money alone； they're not
for old men and old women to meddle with。 They fought hard for
their moneythey gave body and soul for it； and wherever it lies
buried； depend upon it he must have a tug with the devil who gets
it！
This sudden explosion was succeeded by a blank silence throughout
the room。 Peechy Prauw shrunk within himself； and even the one…
eyed officer turned pale。 Wolfert； who from a dark corner of the
room had listened with intense eagerness to all this talk about
buried treasure； looked with mingled awe and reverence at this bold
buccaneer； for such he really suspected him to be。 There was a
chinking of gold and a sparkling of jewels in all his stories about
the Spanish Main that gave a value to every period； and Wolfert
would have given anything for the rummaging of the ponderous sea
chest； which his imagination crammed full of golden chalices；
crucifixes； and jolly round bags of doubloons。
The dead stillness that had fallen upon the company was at length
interrupted by the stranger； who pulled out a prodigious watch of
curious and ancient workmanship； and which in Wolfert's eyes had a
decidedly Spanish look。 On touching a spring； it struck ten
o'clock； upon which the sailor called for his reckoning； and having
paid it out of a handful of outlandish coin； he drank off the
remainder of his beverage； and without taking leave of anyone；
rolled out of the room； muttering to himself as he stamped upstairs
to his chamber。
It was some time before the company could recover from the silence
into which they had been thrown。 The very footsteps of the
stranger； which were heard now and then as he traversed his
chamber； inspired awe。
Still the conversation in which they had been engaged was too
interesting not to be resumed。 A heavy thunder gust had gathered
up unnoticed while they were lost in talk； and the torrents of rain
that fell forbade all thoughts of setting off for home until the
storm should subside。 They drew nearer together； therefore； and
entreated the worthy Peechy Prauw to continue the tale which had
been so discourteously interrupted。 He readily complied；
whispering； however； in a tone scarcely above his breath； and
drowned occasionally by the rolling of the thunder； and he would
pause every now and then and listen； with evident awe； as he heard
the heavy footsteps of the stranger pacing overhead。 The following
is the purport of his story：
Adventure of the Black Fisherman
Everybody knows Black Sam； the old negro fisherman； or； as he is
commonly called； 〃Mud Sam；〃 who has fished about the Sound for the
last half century。 It is now many years since Sam； who was then as
active a young negro as any in the province； and worked on the farm
of Killian Suydam on Long Island； having finished his day's work at
an early hour； was fishing； one still summer evening； just about
the neighborhood of Hell Gate。
He was in a light skiff； and being well acquainted with the
currents and eddies； had shifted his station； according to the
shifting of the tide； from the Hen and Chickens to the Hog's Back；
from the Hog's Back to the Pot； and from the Pot to the Frying Pan；
but in the eagerness of his sport he did not see that the tide was
rapidly ebbing； until the roaring of the whirlpools and eddies
warned him of his danger； and he had some difficulty in shooting
his skiff from among the rocks and breakers； and getting to the
point of Blackwell's Island。＇1＇ Here he cast anchor for some time；
waiting the turn of the tide to enable him to return homeward。 As
the night set in； it grew blustering and gusty。 Dark clouds came
bundling up in the west； and now and then a growl of thunder or a
flash of lightning told that a summer storm was at hand。 Sam
pulled over； therefore； under the lee of Manhattan Island； and；
coasting along； came to a snug nook； just under a steep； beetling
rock； where he fastened his skiff to the root of a tree that shot
out from a cleft； and spread its broad branches like a canopy over
the water。 The gust came scouring along； the wind threw up the
river in white surges； the rain rattled among the leaves； the
thunder bellowed worse than that which is now bellowing； the
lightning seemed to lick up the surges of the stream； but Sam；
snugly sheltered under rock and tree； lay crouching in his skiff；
rocking upon the billows until he fell asleep。
＇1＇ A long； narrow islan