CHAPTER XVII.

MR. GUSHER IS INTRODUCED TO MATTIE.


The Reverend Warren Holbrook was left in the farm-house to further
develop the discovery, and lift the great enterprise into popularity
among the confiding people in that portion of the country. The rest of
the party, including Gusher, returned to the boat near sundown and set
off for Nyack, the sturdy oarsmen singing a merry song. There in the
bottom of the boat was the bucket containing the black sand and
discolored dollars--the capital stock of the great Kidd Discovery
Company--which Chapman and Gusher affected to guard with particular
care.

They reached Nyack the next day about noon, looking fatigued and
careworn, for they had enjoyed but little sleep since leaving. During
their absence all sorts of wild rumors had been circulated concerning
the object of the expedition. Imagination had made some of its highest
flights, and even found a relative of Kidd, who was to join the
expedition a few miles up the river, and who possessed the power to make
the devil surrender sounding-rock--in case he proved obstinate and
refused to acknowledge Hanz's authority. Titus Bright's inn was the
place where all the wisdom of the settlement concentrated of a night.
And it was here that all the various features of the great expedition
were discussed over ale and cider. Sundry honest Dutchmen shook their
heads suspiciously, and declared no good would come of it if Chapman got
his finger in. Others said it was all clear enough now where Hanz
Toodleburg got his dollars and his doubloons. It was no wonder that he