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handle at the other end to lift it in； when the motion propelled
the boat from the shore； the chest slipped off from the gunwale；
and； sinking into the waves； pulled the veteran headlong after it。
A loud shriek was uttered by all on shore； and a volley of
execrations by those on board； but boat and man were hurried away
by the rushing swiftness of the tide。 A pitchy darkness succeeded。
Wolfert Webber； indeed； fancied that he distinguished a cry for
help； and that he beheld the drowning man beckoning for assistance；
but when the lightning again gleamed along the water all was void；
neither man nor boat was to be seen；nothing but the dashing and
weltering of the waves as they hurried past。
The company returned to the tavern to await the subsiding of the
storm。 They resumed their seats and gazed on each other with
dismay。 The whole transaction had not occupied five minutes； and
not a dozen words had been spoken。 When they looked at the oaken
chair they could scarcely realize the fact that the strange being
who had so lately tenanted it； full of life and Herculean vigor；
should already be a corpse。 There was the very glass he had just
drunk from； there lay the ashes from the pipe which he had smoked；
as it were； with his last breath。 As the worthy burghers pondered
on these things； they felt a terrible conviction of the uncertainty
of existence； and each felt as if the ground on which he stood was
rendered less stable by his awful example。
As； however； the most of the company were possessed of that
valuable philosophy which enables a man to bear up with fortitude
against the misfortunes of his neighbors； they soon managed to
console themselves for the tragic end of the veteran。 The landlord
was particularly happy that the poor dear man had paid his
reckoning before he went； and made a kind of farewell speech on the
occasion。
〃He came；〃 said he； 〃in a storm； and he went in a storm； he came in
the night； and he went in the night； he came nobody knows whence；
and he has gone nobody knows where。 For aught I know he has gone
to sea once more on his chest； and may land to bother some people
on the other side of the world； though it's a thousand pities；〃
added he； 〃if he has gone to Davy Jones's＇1＇ locker； that he had
not left his own locker＇2＇ behind him。〃
＇1＇ Davy Jones is the spirit of the sea； or the sea devil； and Davy
Jones's locker is the bottom of the ocean； hence； 〃gone to Davy
Jones's locker〃 signifies 〃dead and buried in the sea。〃
＇2＇ Chest。
〃His locker！ St。 Nicholas preserve us！〃 cried Peechy Prauw。 〃I'd
not have had that sea chest in the house for any money； I'll
warrant he'd come racketing after it at nights； and making a
haunted house of the inn。 And as to his going to sea in his chest；
I recollect what happened to Skipper Onderdonk's ship on his voyage
from Amsterdam。
〃The boatswain died during a storm； so they wrapped him up in a
sheet； and put him in his own sea chest； and threw him overboard；
but they neglected； in their hurry…skurry； to say prayers over him；
and the storm raged and roared louder than ever； and they saw the
dead man seated in his chest； with his shroud for a sail； coming
hard after the ship； and the sea breaking before him in great
sprays like fire； and there they kept scudding day after day and
night after night； expecting every moment to go to wreck； and every
night they saw the dead boatswain in his sea chest trying to get up
with them； and they heard his whistle above the blasts of wind； and
he seemed to send great seas； mountain high； after them that would
have swamped the ship if they had not put up the deadlights。 And
so it went on till they lost sight of him in the fogs off
Newfoundland； and supposed he had veered ship and stood for Dead
Man's Isle。＇1＇ So much for burying a man at sea without saying
prayers over him。〃
＇1＇ Probably Deadman's Point； a small island near Deadman's Bay；
off the eastern coast of Newfoundland。
The thunder gust which had hitherto detained the company was now at
an end。 The cuckoo clock in the hall told midnight； everyone
pressed to depart； for seldom was such a late hour of the night
trespassed on by these quiet burghers。 As they sallied forth they
found the heavens once more serene。 The storm which had lately
obscured them had rolled away； and lay piled up in fleecy masses on
the horizon； lighted up by the bright crescent of the moon； which
looked like a little silver lamp hung up in a palace of clouds。
The dismal occurrence of the night； and the dismal narrations they
had made； had left a superstitious feeling in every mind。 They
cast a fearful glance at the spot where the buccaneer had
disappeared； almost expecting to see him sailing on his chest in
the cool moonshine。 The trembling rays glittered along the waters；
but all was placid； and the current dimpled over the spot where he
had gone down。 The party huddled together in a little crowd as
they repaired homeward； particularly when they passed a lonely
field where a man had been murdered； and even the sexton； who had
to complete his journey alone； though accustomed； one would think；
to ghosts and goblins； went a long way round rather than pass by
his own churchyard。
Wolfert Webber had now carried home a fresh stock of stories and
notions to ruminate upon。 These accounts of pots of money and
Spanish treasures； buried here and there and everywhere about the
rocks and bays of these wild shores； made him almost dizzy。
〃Blessed St。 Nicholas！〃 ejaculated he； half aloud； 〃is it not
possible to come upon one of these golden hoards； and to make
oneself rich in a twinkling？ How hard that I must go on； delving
and delving； day in and day out； merely to make a morsel of bread；
when one lucky stroke of a spade might enable me to ride in my
carriage for the rest of my life！〃
As he turned over in his thoughts all that had been told of the
singular adventure of the negro fisherman； his imagination gave a
totally different complexion＇1＇ to the tale。 He saw in the gang of
red…caps nothing but a crew of pirates burying their spoils； and
his cupidity was once more awakened by the possibility of at length
getting on the traces of some of this lurking wealth。 Indeed； his
infected fancy tinged everything with gold。 He felt like the
greedy inhabitant of Bagdad when his eyes had been greased with the
magic ointment of the dervish； that gave him to see all the
treasures of the earth。＇2＇ Caskets of buried jewels； chests of
ingots； and barrels of outlandish coins seemed to court him from
their concealments； and supplicate him to relieve them from their
untimely graves。
＇1＇ Aspect。
＇2＇ See Story of the Blind Man； Baba Abdalla； in Arabian Nights'
Entertainment。 An inhabitant of Bagdad； Asiatic Turkey； meets with
a dervish； or Turkish monk； who presents him with a vast treasure
and with a box of magic ointment； which