Wolfert Webber, or Golden Dreams by Washington Irving
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of_the noise . one_of_the red-caps cocked a pistol, and pointed it toward the very place where Sam was standing . he stood motionless, breathless, expecting the next moment to_be his last .Fortunately his dingy complexion was in_his favor, and made no glare among_the leaves .

"'Tis no one," said the man with_the lantern ." what a plague ! you_would_not fire off your pistol and alarm the country ! "

the pistol was uncocked, the burden was resumed, and_the party slowly toiled along the bank .Sam watched them as_they went, the light sending back fitful gleams through_the dripping bushes, and it_was not till they were fairly out of sight that he ventured to draw breath freely . he now thought of getting back to_his boat, and making his escape out_of_the reach of_such dangerous neighbors; but curiosity was all- powerful . he hesitated, and lingered, and listened . by and by he heard the strokes of spades ." they_are digging the grave ! " said he to himself, and_the cold sweat started upon his forehead . every stroke of a spade, as it sounded through_the silent groves, went to_his heart . it_was evident there_was as little noise made as possible; everything had an air of terrible mystery and secrecy .Sam had a great relish for_the horrible; a tale of murder was a treat for him, and he_was a constant attendant at executions . he_could_not resist an impulse, in_spite of every danger, to steal nearer to_the scene of mystery, and overlook the midnight fellows at their work . he crawled along cautiously, therefore, inch by inch, stepping with_the utmost care among_the dry leaves, lest their rustling should betray him . he_came at_length to where a steep rock intervened between him and_the gang, for he_saw the light of_their lantern shining up against the branches of_the trees on_the other side .Sam slowly and silently clambered up the surface of_the rock, and raising his head above its naked edge, beheld the villains immediately below him, and so near that though he dreaded discovery he dared not withdraw lest the least movement should_be heard . in_this_way he remained, with_his round black face peering above the edge of_the rock, like the sun just emerging above the edge of_the horizon, or the round- cheeked moon on_the dial of aclock .

the red-caps had nearly finished their work, the grave was filled up, and_they were carefully replacing the turf . this done they scattered dry leaves over the place ." and now," said the leader, "I defy the devil himself to_find it out ."

" the murderers ! " exclaimed Sam involuntarily .

the whole gang started, and looking up beheld the round black head of Sam just above them, his white eyes strained half out of_their orbits, his white teeth chattering, and_his whole visage shining with cold perspiration .

" we're discovered ! " cried one .

" down with_him ! " cried another .

Sam heard the cocking of a pistol, but did_not pause for_the report . he scrambled over rock and stone, through brush and brier, rolled down banks like a hedgehog, scrambled up others like a catamount . in every direction he heard some one or other of_the gang hemming him in . at_length he reached the rocky ridge along the river; one_of_the red-caps was hard behind him .a steep rock like a wall rose directly in_his way; it seemed to cut off all retreat, when fortunately he espied the strong, cord- like branch of agrapevine reaching half way down it . he sprang at it with_the force of a desperate man, seized it with both hands, and, being young and agile, succeeded in swinging himself to_the summit of_the cliff . here he stood in full relief against the sky, when_the red- cap cocked his pistol and fired . the ball whistled by Sam's head . with_the lucky thought of a man in an emergency, he uttered a yell, fell to_the ground, and detached at_the same time a fragment of_the rock, which tumbled with a loud splash into_the river .

"I've done his business," said the red-cap to one_or_two of_his comrades as_they arrived panting ." he'll tell no tales, except to_the fishes in_the river ."

his pursuers now turned to meet their companions .Sam, sliding silently down the surface of_the rock, let himself quietly into his skiff, cast loose the fastening, and abandoned himself to_the rapid current, which in_that place runs like a mill stream, and soon swept him off from_the neighborhood . it_was not, however, until he had drifted a great distance that he ventured to ply his oars, when he_made his skiff dart like an arrow through_the strait of Hell gate, never heeding the danger of pot, Frying pan, nor hog's back itself, nor did he feel himself thoroughly secure until safely nestled in bed in_the cockloft of_the ancient farmhouse of_the Suydams .

here the worthy Peechy Prauw paused to_take breath, and to_take a sip of_the gossip tankard that stood at his elbow . his auditors remained with open mouths and outstretched necks, gaping like a nest of swallows for an additional mouthful .

" and is_that all ? " exclaimed the half- pay officer .

" that's all that belongs to_the story," said Peechy Prauw .

" and did Sam never find out what_was buried by_the red-caps ? " said Wolfert eagerly, whose mind was haunted by nothing but ingots and doubloons .

" not that I_know of," said Peechy; " he had no time to spare from_his work, and, to_tell the truth, he_did_not like to run the risk of another race among_the rocks . besides, how should he recollect the spot where the grave had_been digged ? everything would look so different by daylight . and then, where was_the use of looking for a dead body when there_was no chance of hanging the murderers ? "

"Aye, but are_you sure it_was a dead body they buried ? " said Wolfert .

" to_be_sure," cried Peechy Prauw exultingly ."Does it not haunt in_the neighborhood to_this very day ? "

"Haunts ! " exclaimed several of_the party, opening their eyes still wider, and edging their chairs still closer .

"Aye, haunts," repeated Peechy; " have none of you heard of father red-cap, who haunts the old burned farmhouse in_the woods, on_the border of_the sound, near Hell gate ? "

"Oh, to_be_sure, I've heard tell of something of_the kind, but then i_took it for some old wives' fable ."

" old wives' fable or not," said Peechy Prauw, " that farmhouse stands hard by_the very spot . it's been unoccupied time out of mind, and stands in a lonely part of_the coast, but those who fish in_the neighborhood have often heard strange noises there, and lights have_been seen about_the wood at night, and an old fellow in a red cap has_been seen at_the windows more than once, which people take to_be the ghost of_the body buried there . once upon a time three soldiers took shelter in_the building for_the night, and rummaged it from top to bottom, when_they found old father red-cap astride of a cider barrel in_the cellar, with ajug in one hand and a goblet in_the other . he offered them a drink out of_his goblet, but just as one_of_the soldiers was putting it to_his mouth--whew ! - -a flash of fire blazed through_the cellar, blinded every mother's son of_them for several minutes, and when_they recovered their eyesight, jug, goblet, and red-cap had vanished, and nothing but the empty cider barrel remained ."

here the half- pay officer, who was growing very muzzy and sleepy, and nodding over his liquor, with half- extinguished eye, suddenly gleamed up like an expiring rush- light .

" that's all fudge ! " said he, as Peechy finished his last story .

" well, I don't vouch for_the truth of it myself," said Peechy Prauw, " though all the world knows that there's something strange about_that house and grounds; but as_to_the story of mud Sam, I believe it just as_well as_if it had happened to myself ."

the deep interest taken in_this conversation by_the company had made them unconscious of_the uproar abroad among_the elements, when suddenly they were electrified by a tremendous clap of thunder .alumbering crash followed instantaneously, shaking the building to its very foundation . all started from their seats, imagining it the shock of an earthquake, or that old father red-cap was coming among them in all his terrors . they listened for a moment, but only heard the rain pelting against the windows and_the wind howling among_the trees . the explosion was soon explained by_the apparition of an old Negro's bald head thrust in at_the door, his white goggle eyes contrasting with_his jetty poll, which_was wet with rain, and shone like a bottle . in a jargon but half intelligible he announced that_the kitchen chimney had_been struck with lightning .

a sullen pause of_the storm, which now rose and sank in gusts, produced a momentary stillness . in_this interval the report of a musket was heard, and a long shout, almost like a yell, resounded from_the shores . everyone crowded to_the window; another musket shot was heard, and another long shout, mingled wildly with arising blast of wind . it seemed as if_the cry came up from_the bosom of_the waters, for though incessant flashes of lightning spread a light about_the shore, no one was to_be seen .

suddenly the window of_the room overhead was opened, and a loud halloo uttered by_the mysterious stranger . several hailings passed from one party to_the other, but in a language which none_of_the company in_the barroom could understand, and presently they heard the window closed, and a great noise overhead, as_if all the furniture were pulled and hauled about_the room . the Negro servant was summoned, and shortly afterwards was seen assisting the veteran to lug the ponderous sea chest downstairs .

the landlord was in amazement ." what, you_are_not going on_the water in_such a storm ? "

" storm ! " said the other scornfully, " do_you call such a sputter of weather a storm ? "

" you'll get drenched to_the skin; you'll catch your death ! " said Peechy Prauw affectionately .

" thunder and lightning ! " exclaimed the veteran; "don't preach about weather to a man that has cruised in whirlwinds and tornadoes ."

the obsequious Peechy was again struck dumb . the voice from_the water was heard once more in a tone of impatience; the bystanders stared with redoubled awe at_this man of storms, who seemed to_have come up out_of_the deep, and to_be summoned back to_it again . as, with_the assistance of_the Negro, he slowly bore his ponderous sea chest toward the shore, they eyed it with a superstitious feeling, half doubting whether he were_not really about to embark upon it and launch forth upon_the wild waves . they followed him at a distance with a lantern .

"Dowse[1] the light ! " roared the hoarse voice from_the water ." no one wants light here ! "

[1] extinguish .

" thunder and lightning ! " exclaimed the veteran, turning short upon them; " back to_the house with_you ! "

Wolfert and_his companions shrank back in dismay . still their curiosity would_not allow them entirely to withdraw .a long sheet of lightning now flickered across the waves, and discovered a boat, filled with men, just under a rocky point, rising and sinking with_the heaving surges, and swashing the waters at every heave . it_was with difficulty held to_the rocks by a boat hook, for_the current rushed furiously round the point . the veteran hoisted one end of_the lumbering sea chest on_the gunwale of_the boat, and seized the 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 .apitchy 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

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