Wolfert Webber, or Golden Dreams by Washington Irving
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some sick chamber, or from_the cabin window of some vessel at anchor in_the stream . not a cloud obscured the deep, starry firmament, the lights of_which wavered on_the surface of_the placid river, and ashooting meteor, streaking its pale course in_the very direction they were taking, was interpreted by_the doctor into a most propitious omen .

[1] " three wise men of Gotham, they went to sea in a bowl-- and if_the bowl had_been stronger, my tale had_been longer ." mother goose melody .

[1] Gotham was a village proverbial for_the blundering simplicity of_its inhabitants . at first the name referred to an English village .Irving applied it to New_York city .

in a little while they glided by_the point of Corlear's hook, with_the rural inn which had_been the scene of_such night adventures . the family had retired to rest, and_the house was dark and still .Wolfert felt a chill pass over him as_they passed the point where the buccaneer had disappeared . he pointed it out to Dr .Knipperhausen . while regarding it they thought they saw a boat actually lurking at_the very place; but the shore cast such a shadow over the border of_the water that they_could discern nothing distinctly . they had_not proceeded far when_they heard the low sounds of distant oars, as_if cautiously pulled .Sam plied his oars with redoubled vigor, and knowing all the eddies and currents of_the stream, soon left their followers, if such they were, far astern . in a little while they stretched across turtle Bay and Kip's Bay,[1] then shrouded themselves in_the deep shadows of_the Manhattan shore, and glided swiftly along, secure from observation . at_length the Negro shot his skiff into a little cove, darkly embowered by trees, and made it fast to_the well- known iron ring . they now landed, and lighting the lantern gathered their various implements and proceeded slowly through_the bushes . every sound startled them, even that of_their own footsteps among_the dry leaves, and_the hooting of a screech owl, from_the shattered chimney of_the neighboring ruin, made their blood run cold .

[1] a small bay in_the east river below Corlear's hook .

in_spite of all Wolfert's caution in taking note of_the landmarks, it_was some_time before_they could find the open place among_the trees, where the treasure was supposed to_be buried . at_length they came to_the ledge of rock, and on examining its surface by_the aid of_the lantern, Wolfert recognized the three mystic crosses . their hearts beat quick, for_the momentous trial was at hand that was to determine their hopes .

the lantern was now held by Wolfert Webber, while the doctor produced the divining rod . it_was a forked twig, one end of which_was grasped firmly in each hand, while the center, forming the stem, pointed perpendicularly upward . the doctor moved his wand about, within a certain distance of_the earth, from place to_place, but for some_time without any effect, while Wolfert kept the light of_the lantern turned full upon it, and watched it with_the most breathless interest . at_length the rod began slowly to_turn . the doctor grasped it with greater earnestness, his hands trembling with_the agitation of_his mind . the wand continued to_turn gradually, until at_length the stem had reversed its position, and pointed perpendicularly downward, and remained pointing to one spot as fixedly as_the needle to_the pole .

" this_is_the spot ! " said the doctor, in an almost inaudible tone .

Wolfert's heart was in_his throat .

" shall I dig ? " said the Negro, grasping the spade .

"Pots tausend,[1] no ! " replied the little doctor hastily . he now ordered his companions to_keep close by him, and to maintain the most inflexible silence; that certain precautions must_be taken and ceremonies used to_prevent the evil spirits which kept about buried treasure from doing them any harm . he then drew a circle about_the place, enough to include the whole party . he next gathered dry twigs and leaves and made a fire, upon_which he threw certain drugs and dried herbs which he had brought in_his basket .a thick smoke rose, diffusing a potent odor savoring marvelously of brimstone and asafetida, which, however grateful it might_be to_the olfactory nerves of spirits, nearly strangled poor Wolfert, and produced a fit of coughing and wheezing that made the whole grove resound .Dr .Knipperhausen then unclasped the volume which he had brought under his arm, which_was printed in red and black characters in German text . while Wolfert held the lantern, the doctor, by_the aid of_his spectacles, read off several forms of conjuration in Latin and German . he then ordered Sam to seize the pickax and proceed to work . the close- bound soil gave obstinate signs of not having been disturbed for many a year . after having picked his way through_the surface, Sam came to a bed of sand and gravel, which he threw briskly to right and left with_the spade .

[1] a German exclamation of anger, equivalent to_the English "zounds ! "

" hark ! " said Wolfert, who fancied he heard atrampling among_the dry leaves and arustling through_the bushes .Sam paused for a moment, and_they listened . no footstep was near . the bat flitted by_them in silence; a bird, roused from its roost by_the light which glared up among_the trees, flew circling about_the flame . in_the profound stillness of_the woodland they_could distinguish the current rippling along the rocky shore, and_the distant murmuring and roaring of Hell gate .

the Negro continued his labors, and had already digged a considerable hole . the doctor stood on_the edge, reading formulae every now_and_then from_his black- letter volume, or throwing more drugs and herbs upon_the fire, while Wolfert bent anxiously over the pit, watching every stroke of_the spade . anyone witnessing the scene thus lighted up by fire, lantern, and_the reflection of Wolfert's red mantle, might_have mistaken the little doctor for some foul magician, busied in_his incantations, and_the grizzly- headed Negro for some swart goblin obedient to_his commands .

at_length the spade of_the fisherman struck upon something that sounded hollow . the sound vibrated to Wolfert's heart . he struck his spade again .

"'Tis a chest," said Sam .

" full of gold, I'll warrant it ! " cried Wolfert, clasping his hands with rapture .

scarcely had he uttered the words when a sound from above caught his ear . he cast up his eyes, and lo ! by_the expiring light of_the fire he beheld, just over the disk of_the rock, what appeared to_be the grim visage of_the drowned buccaneer, grinning hideously down upon him .

Wolfert gave a loud cry and let fall the lantern . his panic communicated itself to_his companions . the Negro leaped out_of_the hole, the doctor dropped his book and basket, and began to pray in German . all was horror and confusion . the fire was scattered about, the lantern extinguished . in their hurry- scurry[1] they ran against and confounded one another . they fancied a legion of hobgoblins let loose upon them, and that_they saw, by_the fitful gleams of_the scattered embers, strange figures, in red caps, gibbering and ramping around them . the doctor ran one_way, the Negro another, and Wolfert made for_the water side . as he plunged struggling onward through brush and brake, he heard the tread of some one in pursuit . he scrambled frantically forward . the footsteps gained upon him . he_felt himself grasped by his cloak, when suddenly his pursuer was attacked in turn; a fierce fight and struggle ensued, a pistol was discharged that lit up rock and bush for a second, and showed two figures grappling together; all was then darker than ever . the contest continued, the combatants clinched each_other, and panted and groaned, and rolled among_the rocks . there_was snarling and growling as of a cur, mingled with curses, in_which Wolfert fancied he_could recognize the voice of_the buccaneer . he_would fain have fled, but he_was on_the brink of a precipice, and could go no farther .

[1] a swift, disorderly movement .

again the parties were on their feet, again there_was atugging and struggling, as_if strength alone could decide the combat, until one was precipitated from_the brow of_the cliff, and sent headlong into_the deep stream that whirled below .Wolfert heard the plunge, and a kind of strangling, bubbling murmur, but the darkness of_the night hid everything from_him, and_the swiftness of_the current swept everything instantly out of hearing . one_of_the combatants was disposed of, but whether friend or foe Wolfert could_not tell, nor whether they_might_not both be foes . he heard the survivor approach, and_his terror revived . he_saw, where the profile of_the rocks rose against the horizon, a human form advancing . he_could_not be mistaken; it must_be the buccaneer . whither should he fly ? - -a precipice was on one side, a murderer on_the other . the enemy approached-- he_was close at hand .Wolfert attempted to let himself down the face of_the cliff . his cloak caught in a thorn that grew on_the edge . he_was jerked from off his feet, and held dangling in_the air, half choked by_the string with_which his careful wife had fastened the garment around his neck .Wolfert thought his last moment was arrived; already had he committed his soul to St .Nicholas, when_the string broke, and he tumbled down the bank, bumping from rock to rock and bush to bush, and leaving the red cloak fluttering like a bloody banner in_the air .

it_was a long while before Wolfert came to himself . when he opened his eyes, the ruddy streaks of morning were already shooting up the sky . he_found himself grievously battered, and lying in_the bottom of a boat . he attempted to sit up, but was too sore and stiff to move .a voice requested him in a friendly accents to lie still . he turned his eyes toward the speaker; it_was Dirk Waldron . he had dogged the party, at_the earnest request of Dame Webber and her daughter, who, with_the laudable curiosity of_their sex, had pried into_the secret consultations of Wolfert and_the doctor .Dirk had_been completely distanced in following the light skiff of_the fisherman, and had just come in_time to rescue the poor money digger from_his pursuer .

thus ended this perilous enterprise . the doctor and black Sam severally found their way back to_the Manhattoes, each having some dreadful tale of peril to relate . as_to poor Wolfert, instead of returning in triumph, laden with bags of gold, he_was borne home on a shutter, followed by a rabble- rout[1] of curious urchins . his wife and daughter saw the dismal pageant from a distance, and alarmed the neighborhood with their cries; they thought the poor man had suddenly settled the great debt of nature in one of_his wayward moods .Finding him, however, still living, they had him speedily to bed, and a jury of old matrons of_the neighborhood assembled to determine how he_should_be doctored . the whole town was in a buzz with_the story of_the money diggers . many repaired to_the scene of_the previous night's adventures; but though they found the very place of_the digging, they discovered nothing that 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 apicaroon,[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

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