ova Scotians have tried to reach the bottom of the "Money
Pit," and as an attractive speculation it has no rival in the field of
treasure-seeking. There may be documents somewhere in existence, a
chart or memorandum mouldering in a sea chest in some attic or cellar
of France, England, or Spain, that will furnish the key to this rarely
picturesque and tantalizing puzzle. The unbeliever has only to go to
Nova Scotia in the summer time and seek out Oak Island, which is
reached by way of the town of Chester, to find the deeply pitted area
of the treasure hunt, and very probably engines and workmen busy at the
fine old game of digging for pirates' gold.

Let us now give the real Captain Kidd his due, painting him no blacker
than the facts warrant, and at the same time uncover the true story of
his treasure, which is the plum in the pudding. He had been a merchant
shipmaster of brave and honorable repute in an age when every
deep-water voyage was a hazard of privateers and freebooters of all
flags, or none at all. In one stout square-rigger after another, well
armed and heavily manned, he had sailed out of the port of New York, in
which he dwelt as early as 1689. He had a comfortable, even prosperous
home in Liberty Street, was married to a widow of good family, and was
highly thought of by the Dutch and English merchants of the town. A
shrewd trader who made money for his owners, he was also a fighting
seaman of such proven mettle that he was given command of privateers
which cruised along the coasts of the Colonies and harried the French
in the West Indies. His excellent reputation and character are
attested by official documents. In the records of the Proceedings of
the Provincial Assembly of New York is the following entry under date
of April 18, 1691:

"Gabriel Monville, Esq. and Thomas Willet, Esq. are appointed to attend
the House of Representatives and acquaint them of the many good
services done to this Province by Captain William Kidd in his attending
here with his Vessels before His Excellency's[1] arrival, and that it
would be acceptable to His Excellency and this Board that they consider
of some suitable reward to him for his good services."

This indicates that Captain Kidd had been in command of a small
squadron engaged in protecting the commerce of the colony. On May 14,
the following was adopted by the House of Representatives:

"Ordered, that His Excellency be addressed unto, to order the Receive