Wolfert Webber, or Golden Dreams by Washington Irving
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current swept deep and black and rapid along its jutting points . the Negro paused, raised his remnant of a hat, and scratched his grizzled poll for a moment, as he regarded this nook; then suddenly clapping his hands, he stepped exultingly forward, and pointed to a large iron ring, stapled firmly in_the rock, just where a broad shelf of stone furnished a commodious landing place . it was_the very spot where the red-caps had landed .Years had changed the more perishable features of_the scene; but rock and iron yield slowly to_the influence of_time . on looking more closely Wolfert remarked three crosses cut in_the rock just above the ring, which had no_doubt some mysterious signification . old Sam now readily recognized the overhanging rock under which his skiff had_been sheltered during the thunder gust . to_follow up the course which the midnight gang had taken, however, was a harder task . his mind had_been so_much taken up on_that eventful occasion by_the persons of_the drama as to_pay but little attention to_the scenes, and these places looked so different by night and day . after wandering about for some_time, however, they came to an opening among_the trees which Sam thought resembled the place . there_was a ledge of rock of moderate height, like a wall, on one side, which he thought might_be the very ridge whence he had overlooked the diggers .Wolfert examined it narrowly, and at_length discovered three crosses similar to_those on_the above ring, cut deeply into_the face of_the rock, but nearly obliterated by moss that had grown over them . his heart leaped with joy, for he doubted not they were the private marks of_the buccaneers . all now that remained was to ascertain the precise spot where the treasure lay buried, for otherwise he might dig at random in_the neighborhood of_the crosses, without coming upon_the spoils, and he had already had enough of_such profitless labor . here, however, the old Negro was perfectly at a loss, and indeed perplexed him by a variety of opinions, for_his recollections were all confused .Sometimes he declared it must_have been at_the foot of a mulberry tree hard by; then beside a great white stone; then under a small green knoll, a short distance from_the ledge of rocks, until at_length Wolfert became as bewildered as himself .

the shadows of evening were now spreading themselves over the woods, and rock and tree began to mingle together . it_was evidently too late to attempt anything further at present, and, indeed, Wolfert had come unprovided with implements to prosecute his researches . satisfied, therefore, with having ascertained the place, he_took note of all its landmarks, that he might recognize it again, and set out on_his return homeward, resolved to prosecute this golden enterprise without delay .

the leading anxiety which had hitherto absorbed every feeling being now in some measure appeased, fancy began to wander, and to conjure up a thousand shapes and chimeras as he returned through_this haunted region .Pirates hanging in chains seemed to swing from every tree, and he almost expected to_see some Spanish don, with_his throat cut from ear to ear, rising slowly out_of_the ground, and shaking the ghost of a money bag .

their way back lay through_the desolate garden, and Wolfert's nerves had arrived at so sensitive a state that_the flitting of a bird, the rustling of a leaf, or the falling of a nut was enough to startle him . as_they entered the confines of_the garden, they caught sight of a figure at a distance advancing slowly up one_of_the walks, and bending under the weight of a burden . they paused and regarded him attentively . he wore what appeared to_be a woolen cap, and, still more alarming, of a most sanguinary red .

the figure moved slowly on, ascended the bank, and stopped at_the very door of_the sepulchral vault . just before entering it he looked around . what_was the affright of Wolfert when he recognized the grisly visage of_the drowned buccaneer ! he uttered an ejaculation of horror . the figure slowly raised his iron fist and shook it with a terrible menace .Wolfert did_not pause to_see any more, but hurried off as fast as his legs could carry him, nor was Sam slow in following at his heels, having all his ancient terrors revived . away, then, did they scramble through bush and brake, horribly frightened at every bramble that tugged at their skirts, nor did they pause to breathe until they had blundered their way through_this perilous wood, and fairly reached the highroad to_the city .

several_days elapsed before Wolfert could summon courage enough to 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 areturning 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 atraveling 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 adivining 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] adivining 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 his shoulders, and fastened it round his neck .

[1] hobby, or hobbyhorse, a favorite theme of thought; hence, " to mount a hobby" is to_follow a favorite pursuit .

the doctor had_been no less carefully armed and accoutered by his housekeeper, the vigilant Frau Ilsy, and sallied forth in_his camlet robe by way of surcoat,[1] his black velvet cap under his cocked hat, a thick clasped book under his arm, a basket of drugs and dried herbs in one hand, and in_the other the miraculous rod of divination .

[1] overcoat .

the great church clock struck ten as Wolfert and_the doctor passed by_the churchyard, and_the watchman bawled in hoarse voice a long and doleful " all's well ! " a deep sleep had already fallen upon_this primitive little burgh; nothing disturbed this awful silence excepting now_and_then the bark of some profligate, night-walking dog, or the serenade of some romantic cat . it_is true Wolfert fancied more than once that he heard the sound of astealthy footfall at a distance behind them; but it might_have_been merely the echo of_their own steps along the quiet streets . he thought also at one_time that he_saw a tall figure skulking after them, stopping when_they stopped and moving on as_they proceeded; but the dim and uncertain lamplight threw such vague gleams and shadows that_this might all have_been mere fancy .

they found the old fisherman waiting for_them, smoking his pipe in_the stern of_the skiff, which_was moored just in front of_his little cabin .a pickax and spade were lying in_the bottom of_the boat, with a dark lantern, and a stone bottle of good Dutch courage,[1] in_which honest Sam no_doubt put even more faith than Dr .Knipperhausen in_his drugs .

[1] Dutch courage is courage that results from indulgence in Dutch gin or Hollands; here applied to_the gin itself .

thus, then, did these three worthies embark in their cockleshell of a skiff upon_this nocturnal expedition, with a wisdom and valor equaled only by_the three wise men of Gotham,[1] who adventured to sea in a bowl . the tide was rising and running rapidly up the sound . the current bore them along, almost without the aid of an oar . the profile of_the town lay all in shadow . here and there a light feebly glimmered from some

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