refreshing themselves at the counter. The appearance of these men--for
they were known to be the best boatmen on the Tappan Zee--greatly
surprised Bright and the gossips who were enjoying his ale around a
little table. One and then another invited them to drink, but they
refused, saying they had merely dropped in to light their pipes and look
for the men who were to join them. Various questions were now put to
them concerning their mission and its object. But the boatmen affected a
mysterious air; and all that could be got from them was that when they
returned it would be with money enough to buy all Nyack. They seemed
somewhat disappointed at not meeting some one, whose name they would not
disclose, at the inn.

Bright now mixed warm punches and set them before the boatmen, saying
that on such a night they were just what were needed to prop a man's
courage up. The men, however, steadily refused all invitations to drink,
and when they had lighted their pipes, and bid the host and his
customers good night, left the inn and proceeded to a landing at the
bank of the river, where a boat with two men in it was waiting them.

The manners of the boatmen had so excited the curiosity of the
inn-keeper and his guests, that no sooner had they left the inn than
Bright and several others put on their hats and followed, resolved to
see for themselves what was going on. Imagine, then, what must have been
their surprise to find the men in the boat Bigelow Chapman and Hanz
Toodleburg--both with heavy overcoats on. The boatmen were welcomed by
the men in the boat, whose voices were plainly heard, and after
exchanging a few words they threw in their oars carelessly and followed
themselves. In another minute the little craft was heading up the
stream, and disappeared in the thick mist.