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compensated them for their trouble。 Some say they found the
fragments of an oaken chest； and an iron pot lid； which savored
strongly of hidden money； and that in the old family vault there
were traces of bales and boxes； but this is all very dubious。
＇1＇ A noisy throng。
In fact； the secret of all this story has never to this day been
discovered。 Whether any treasure were ever actually buried at that
place； whether； if so； it were carried off at night by those who
had buried it； or whether it still remains there under the
guardianship of gnomes and spirits until it shall be properly
sought for； is all matter of conjecture。 For my part； I incline to
the latter opinion； and make no doubt that great sums lie buried；
both there and in other parts of this island and its neighborhood；
ever since the times of the buccaneers and the Dutch colonists； and
I would earnestly recommend the search after them to such of my
fellow citizens as are not engaged in any other speculations。
There were many conjectures formed； also； as to who and what was
the strange man of the seas； who had domineered over the little
fraternity at Corlear's Hook for a time； disappeared so strangely；
and reappeared so fearfully。 Some supposed him a smuggler
stationed at that place to assist his comrades in landing their
goods among the rocky coves of the island。 Others； that he was one
of the ancient comrades of Kidd or Bradish； returned to convey away
treasures formerly hidden in the vicinity。 The only circumstance
that throws anything like a vague light on this mysterious matter
is a report which prevailed of a strange； foreign…built shallop；
with much the look of a picaroon；＇1＇ having been seen hovering
about the Sound for several days without landing or reporting
herself； though boats were seen going to and from her at night； and
that she was seen standing out of the mouth of the harbor； in the
gray of the dawn； after the catastrophe of the money diggers。
＇1＇ A piratical vessel。
I must not omit to mention another report； also； which I confess is
rather apocryphal； of the buccaneer who is supposed to have been
drowned； being seen before daybreak； with a lantern in his hand；
seated astride of his great sea chest； and sailing through Hell
Gate； which just then began to roar and bellow with redoubled fury。
While all the gossip world was thus filled with talk and rumor；
poor Wolfert lay sick and sorrowfully in his bed； bruised in body
and sorely beaten down in mind。 His wife and daughter did all they
could to bind up his wounds； both corporal and spiritual。 The good
old dame never stirred from his bedside； where she sat knitting
from morning till night； while his daughter busied herself about
him with the fondest care。 Nor did they lack assistance from
abroad。 Whatever may be said of the desertion of friends in
distress； they had no complaint of the kind to make。 Not an old
wife of the neighborhood but abandoned her work to crowd to the
mansion of Wolfert Webber； to inquire after his health and the
particulars of his story。 Not one came； moreover； without her
little pipkin of pennyroyal； sage； balm； or other herb tea；
delighted at an opportunity of signalizing her kindness and her
doctorship。 What drenchings did not the poor Wolfert undergo； and
all in vain！ It was a moving sight to behold him wasting away day
by day； growing thinner and thinner and ghastlier and ghastlier；
and staring with rueful visage from under an old patchwork
counterpane； upon the jury of matrons kindly assembled to sigh and
groan and look unhappy around him。
Dirk Waldron was the only being that seemed to shed a ray of
sunshine into this house of mourning。 He came in with cheery look
and manly spirit； and tried to reanimate the expiring heart of the
poor money digger； but it was all in vain。 Wolfert was completely
done over。＇1＇ If anything was wanting to complete his despair； it
was a notice； served upon him in the midst of his distress； that
the corporation was about to run a new street through the very
center of his cabbage garden。 He now saw nothing before him but
poverty and ruin； his last reliance； the garden of his forefathers；
was to be laid waste； and what then was to become of his poor wife
and child？
＇1＇ Exhausted。
His eyes filled with tears as they followed the dutiful Amy out of
the room one morning。 Dirk Waldron was seated beside him； Wolfert
grasped his hand； pointed after his daughter； and for the first
time since his illness broke the silence he had maintained。
〃I am going！〃 said he； shaking his head feebly； 〃and when I am
gone； my poor daughter〃
〃Leave her to me； father！〃 said Dirk manfully； 〃I'll take care of
her！〃
Wolfert looked up in the face of the cheery； strapping youngster；
and saw there was none better able to take care of a woman。
〃Enough；〃 said he； 〃she is yours！ And now fetch me a lawyerlet
me make my will and die。〃
The lawyer was brought；a dapper； bustling； round…headed little
man； Roorback （or Rollebuck； as it was pronounced） by name。 At the
sight of him the women broke into loud lamentations； for they
looked upon the signing of a will as the signing of a death
warrant。 Wolfert made a feeble motion for them to be silent。 Poor
Amy buried her face and her grief in the bed curtain。 Dame Webber
resumed her knitting to hide her distress； which betrayed itself；
however； in a pellucid tear； which trickled silently down； and hung
at the end of her peaked nose； while the cat； the only unconcerned
member of the family； played with the good dame's ball of worsted
as it rolled about the floor。
Wolfert lay on his back； his nightcap drawn over his forehead； his
eyes closed； his whole visage the picture of death。 He begged the
lawyer to be brief； for he felt his end approaching； and that he
had no time to lose。 The lawyer nibbed＇1＇ his pen； spread out his
paper； and prepared to write。
＇1＇ In Irving's time； quills were made into pens by pointing or
〃nibbing〃 their ends。
〃I give and bequeath；〃 said Wolfert faintly； 〃my small farm〃
〃What！ all？〃 exclaimed the lawyer。
Wolfert half opened his eyes and looked upon the lawyer。
〃Yes； all；〃 said he。
〃What！ all that great patch of land with cabbages and sunflowers；
which the corporation is just going to run a main street through？〃
〃The same；〃 said Wolfert； with a heavy sigh； and sinking back upon
his pillow。
〃I wish him joy that inherits it！〃 said the little lawyer；
chuckling and rubbing his hands involuntarily。
〃What do you mean？〃 said Wolfert； again opening his eyes。
〃That he'll be one of the richest men in the place；〃 cried little
Rollebuck。
The expiring Wolfert seemed to step back from the threshold of
existence； his eyes again lighted up； he raised himself in his bed；
shoved back his red worsted nightcap； and stared broadly at the
lawyer。