stories by modern american authors-第40部分

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The　tide　was　adverse　to　making　the　expedition　by　water；　and　Wolfert

was　too　impatient　to　get　to　the　land　of　promise　to　wait　for　its

turning；　they　set　off；　therefore；　by　land。　　A　walk　of　four　or　five

miles　brought　them　to　the　edge　of　a　wood；　which　at　that　time

covered　the　greater　part　of　the　eastern　side　of　the　island。　　It　was

just　beyond　the　pleasant　region　of　Bloomen…dael。＇1＇　　Here　they

struck　into　a　long　lane；　straggling　among　trees　and　bushes　very

much　overgrown　with　weeds　and　mullein　stalks；　as　if　but　seldom

used；　and　so　completely　overshadowed　as　to　enjoy　but　a　kind　of

twilight。　　Wild　vines　entangled　the　trees　and　flaunted　in　their

faces；　brambles　and　briers　caught　their　clothes　as　they　passed；　the

garter　snake　glided　across　their　path；　the　spotted　toad　hopped　and

waddled　before　them；　and　the　restless　catbird　mewed　at　them　from

every　thicket。　　Had　Wolfert　Webber　been　deeply　read　in　romantic

legend　he　might　have　fancied　himself　entering　upon　forbidden；

enchanted　ground；　or　that　these　were　some　of　the　guardians　set　to

keep　watch　upon　buried　treasure。　　As　it　was；　the　loneliness　of　the

place；　and　the　wild　stories　connected　with　it；　had　their　effect

upon　his　mind。





＇1＇　At　the　time　this　story　was　written　Bloomen…dael　（Flowery

Valley）　was　a　village　four　miles　from　New　York。　　It　is　now　that

part　of　New　York　known　as　Bloomingdale；　on　the　west　side；　between

about　Seventieth　and　One　Hundredth　Streets。





On　reaching　the　lower　end　of　the　lane　they　found　themselves　near

the　shore　of　the　Sound；　in　a　kind　of　amphitheater　surrounded　by

forest　trees。　　The　area　had　once　been　a　grass　plot；　but　was　now

shagged　with　briers　and　rank　weeds。　　At　one　end；　and　just　on　the

river　bank；　was　a　ruined　building；　little　better　than　a　heap　of

rubbish；　with　a　stack　of　chimneys　rising　like　a　solitary　tower　out

of　the　center。　　The　current　of　the　Sound　rushed　along　just　below

it；　with　wildly　grown　trees　drooping　their　branches　into　its　waves。



Wolfert　had　not　a　doubt　that　this　was　the　haunted　house　of　Father

Red…cap；　and　called　to　mind　the　story　of　Peechy　Prauw。　　The　evening

was　approaching；　and　the　light；　falling　dubiously　among　the　woody

places；　gave　a　melancholy　tone　to　the　scene　well　calculated　to

foster　any　lurking　feeling　of　awe　or　superstition。　　The　night　hawk；

wheeling　about　in　the　highest　regions　of　the　air；　emitted　his

peevish；　boding　cry。　　The　woodpecker　gave　a　lonely　tap　now　and　then

on　some　hollow　tree；　and　the　firebird＇1＇　streamed　by　them　with　his

deep　red　plumage。





＇1＇　Orchard　oriole。





They　now　came　to　an　inclosure　that　had　once　been　a　garden。　　It

extended　along　the　foot　of　a　rocky　ridge；　but　was　little　better

than　a　wilderness　of　weeds；　with　here　and　there　a　matted　rosebush；

or　a　peach　or　plum　tree；　grown　wild　and　ragged；　and　covered　with

moss。　　At　the　lower　end　of　the　garden　they　passed　a　kind　of　vault

in　the　side　of　a　bank；　facing　the　water。　　It　had　the　look　of　a　root

house。＇1＇　　The　door；　though　decayed；　was　still　strong；　and　appeared

to　have　been　recently　patched　up。　　Wolfert　pushed　it　open。　　It　gave

a　harsh　grating　upon　its　hinges；　and　striking　against　something

like　a　box；　a　rattling　sound　ensued；　and　a　skull　rolled　on　the

floor。　　Wolfert　drew　back　shuddering；　but　was　reassured　on　being

informed　by　the　negro　that　this　was　a　family　vault；　belonging　to

one　of　the　old　Dutch　families　that　owned　this　estate；　an　assertion

corroborated　by　the　sight　of　coffins　of　various　sizes　piled　within。

Sam　had　been　familiar　with　all　these　scenes　when　a　boy；　and　now

knew　that　he　could　not　be　far　from　the　place　of　which　they　were　in

quest。





＇1＇　〃Root　house；〃　i。e。；　a　house　for　storing　up　potatoes；　turnips；

or　other　roots　for　the　winter　feed　of　cattle。





They　now　made　their　way　to　the　water's　edge；　scrambling　along

ledges　of　rocks　that　overhung　the　waves；　and　obliged　often　to　hold

by　shrubs　and　grapevines　to　avoid　slipping　into　the　deep　and

hurried　stream。　　At　length　they　came　to　a　small　cove；　or　rather

indent　of　the　shore。　　It　was　protected　by　steep　rocks；　and

overshadowed　by　a　thick　copse　of　oaks　and　chestnuts；　so　as　to　be

sheltered　and　almost　concealed。　　The　beach　shelved　gradually　within

the　cove；　but；　the　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

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　th