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prosecute the enterprise； so much had he been dismayed by the
apparition； whether living or dead； of the grisly buccaneer。 In
the meantime； what a conflict of mind did he suffer！ He neglected
all his concerns； was moody and restless all day； lost his
appetite； wandered in his thoughts and words； and committed a
thousand blunders。 His rest was broken； and when he fell asleep
the nightmare； in shape of a huge money bag； sat squatted upon his
breast。 He babbled about incalculable sums； fancied himself
engaged in money digging； threw the bedclothes right and left； in
the idea that he was shoveling away the dirt； groped under the bed
in quest of the treasure； and lugged forth； as he supposed； an
inestimable pot of gold。
Dame Webber and her daughter were in despair at what they conceived
a returning touch of insanity。 There are two family oracles； one
or other of which Dutch housewives consult in all cases of great
doubt and perplexity；the dominie and the doctor。 In the present
instance they repaired to the doctor。 There was at that time a
little dark； moldy man of medicine； famous among the old wives of
the Manhattoes for his skill； not only in the healing art； but in
all matters of strange and mysterious nature。 His name was Dr。
Knipperhausen； but he was more commonly known by the appellation of
the 〃High German Doctor。〃＇1＇ To him did the poor women repair for
counsel and assistance touching the mental vagaries of Wolfert
Webber。
＇1＇ The same； no doubt； of whom mention is made in the history of
Dolph Heyliger。
They found the doctor seated in his little study； clad in his dark
camlet＇1＇ robe of knowledge； with his black velvet cap； after the
manner of Boerhaave；＇2＇ Van Helmont；＇3＇ and other medical sages； a
pair of green spectacles set in black horn upon his clubbed nose；
and poring over a German folio that reflected back the darkness of
his physiognomy。 The doctor listened to their statement of the
symptoms of Wolfert's malady with profound attention； but when they
came to mention his raving about buried money the little man
pricked up his ears。 Alas； poor women！ they little knew the aid
they had called in。
＇1＇ A fabric made of goat's hair and silk； or wool and cotton。
＇2＇ Hermann Boerhaave （1668…1738）； a celebrated Dutch physician and
philosopher。
＇3＇ Jan Baptista Van Helmont （1577…1644）； a celebrated Flemish
physician and chemist。
Dr。 Knipperhausen had been half his life engaged in seeking the
short cuts to fortune； in quest of which so many a long lifetime is
wasted。 He had passed some years of his youth among the Harz＇1＇
mountains of Germany； and had derived much valuable instruction
from the miners touching the mode of seeking treasure buried in the
earth。 He had prosecuted his studies； also； under a traveling sage
who united the mysteries of medicine with magic and legerdemain。
His mind； therefore； had become stored with all kinds of mystic
lore； he had dabbled a little in astrology； alchemy； divination；＇2＇
knew how to detect stolen money； and to tell where springs of water
lay hidden； in a word； by the dark nature of his knowledge he had
acquired the name of the 〃High German Doctor；〃 which is pretty
nearly equivalent to that of necromancer。 The doctor had often
heard rumors of treasure being buried in various parts of the
island； and had long been anxious to get on the traces of it。 No
sooner were Wolfert's waking and sleeping vagaries confided to him
than he beheld in them the confirmed symptoms of a case of money
digging； and lost no time in probing it to the bottom。 Wolfert had
long been sorely oppressed in mind by the golden secret； and as a
family physician is a kind of father confessor； he was glad of any
opportunity of unburdening himself。 So far from curing； the doctor
caught the malady from his patient。 The circumstances unfolded to
him awakened all his cupidity； he had not a doubt of money being
buried somewhere in the neighborhood of the mysterious crosses； and
offered to join Wolfert in the search。 He informed him that much
secrecy and caution must be observed in enterprises of the kind；
that money is only to be dug for at night； with certain forms and
ceremonies and burning of drugs； the repeating of mystic words；
and； above all； that the seekers must first be provided with a
divining rod；＇3＇ which had the wonderful property of pointing to
the very spot on the surface of the earth under which treasure lay
hidden。 As the doctor had given much of his mind to these matters
he charged himself with all the necessary preparations； and； as the
quarter of the moon was propitious； he undertook to have the
divining rod ready by a certain night。
＇1＇ A mountain chain in northwestern Germany； between the Elbe and
the Weser。
＇2＇ Astrology； alchemy； and divination were three imaginary arts。
The first pretended to judge of the influence of the stars on human
affairs； and to foretell events by their positions and aspects； the
second aimed to transmute the baser metals into gold； and to find a
universal remedy for diseases； while the third dealt with the
discovery of secret or future events by preternatural means。
＇3＇ A divining rod is a rod used by those who pretend to discover
water or metals underground。 It is commonly made of witch hazel；
with forked branches。
Wolfert's heart leaped with joy at having met with so learned and
able a coadjutor。 Everything went on secretly but swimmingly。 The
doctor had many consultations with his patient； and the good women
of the household lauded the comforting effect of his visits。 In
the meantime the wonderful divining rod； that great key to nature's
secrets； was duly prepared。 The doctor had thumbed over all his
books of knowledge for the occasion； and the black fisherman was
engaged to take them in his skiff to the scene of enterprise； to
work with spade and pickax in unearthing the treasure； and to
freight his bark with the weighty spoils they were certain of
finding。
At length the appointed night arrived for this perilous
undertaking。 Before Wolfert left his home he counseled his wife
and daughter to go to bed； and feel no alarm if he should not
return during the night。 Like reasonable women； on being told not
to feel alarm they fell immediately into a panic。 They saw at once
by his manner that something unusual was in agitation； all their
fears about the unsettled state of his mind were revived with
tenfold force； they hung about him； entreating him not to expose
himself to the night air； but all in vain。 When once Wolfert was
mounted on his hobby；＇1＇ it was no easy manner to get him out of
the saddle。 It was a clear； starlight night when he issued out of
the portal of the Webber palace。 He wore a large flapped hat； tied
under the chin with a handkerchief of his daughter's； to secure him
from the night damp； while Dame Webber threw her long red cloak
about