despair; he knew that the
love of money was often as strong in the minds of human beings as the
love of justice. Sir George Bellomont, who was now in New York, was one
of the principal stockholders in the enterprise, and Kidd hoped that the
rich share of the results of his industry which would come to the
Governor might cause unpleasant reports to be disregarded. In this case
he might yet return to his wife and family with a neat little fortune,
and without danger of being called upon to explain his exceptional
performances in the eastern seas.

Of course Kidd was not so foolish and rash as to sail into New York
harbor on board the _Quedagh Merchant_, so he bought a small sloop and
put the most valuable portion of his goods on board her, leaving his
larger vessel, which also contained a great quantity of merchandise, in
the charge of one of his confederates, and in the little sloop he
cautiously approached the coast of New Jersey. His great desire was to
find out what sort of a reception he might expect, so he entered
Delaware Bay, and when he stopped at a little seaport in order to take
in some supplies, he discovered that there was but small chance of his
visiting his home and his family, and of making a report to his superior
in the character of a deserving mariner who had returned after a
successful voyage. Some people in the village recognized him, and the
report soon spread to New York that the pirate Kidd was lurking about
the coast. A sloop of war was sent out to capture his vessel, and
finding that it was impossible to remain in the vicinity where he had
been discovered, Kidd sailed northward and entered Long Island Sound.

Here the shrewd and anxious pirate began to act the part of the watch
dog who has been killing sheep. In every way he endeavored to assume the
appearance of innocence and to conceal every sign of misbehavior. He
wrote to Sir George Bellomont that he should have called upon him in
order to report his proceedings and hand over his profits, were it not
for the wicked and malicious reports which had been circulated about
him.

It was during this period of suspense, when the returned pirate did not
know what was likely to happen, that it is supposed, by the believers in
the hidden treasures of Kidd, that he buried his coin and bullion and
his jewels, some in one place and some in another, so that if he were
captured his riches would not be taken with him. Among the wild stories
which were bel