nces. His own vessel was full when he made the discoveries, but
misfortune befel her on her homeward-bound passage, until she was herself
totally lost in the West Indies, and that in a part of the ocean where she
had no business to be.

In consequence of these several calamities, Daggett and one more man were
the sole living depositories of the important information. These men
separated, and, as stated, Daggett had reason to think that his former
shipmate had been recently killed by a whale. The life and movements of a
sailor are usually as eccentric as the career of a comet. After the loss
of the sealing-vessel, Daggett remained in the West Indies and on the
Spanish Main for some time, until falling into evil company he was
imprisoned on a charge of piracy, in company with one who better deserved
the imputation. While in the same cell, the pirate had made a relation to
Daggett of all the incidents of a very eventful life. Among other things
revealed was the fact that, on a certain occasion, he and two others had
deposited a very considerable amount of treasure on a key that he
described very minutely, and which he now bestowed on Daggett as some
compensation for his present unmerited sufferings, his companions having
both been drowned by the upsetting of their boat on the return from the
key in question. Subsequently, this pirate had been executed, and Daggett
liberated. He was not able to get to the key without making friends and
confidants on whom he could rely, and he was actually making the best of
his way to Martha's Vineyard with that intent, when put ashore on Oyster
Pond. In most of that which this man had related to the deacon, therefore,
he had told the truth, though it was the truth embellished, as is so apt
to be the case with men of vulgar minds. He might have been misled by the
narrative of the pirate, but it was his own opinion that he had not been.
The man was a Scot, prudent, wary, and sagacious; and in the revelations
he made he appeared to be governed by a conviction that his own course was
run, and that it was best that his secret should not die with him. Daggett
had rendered him certain services, too, and gratitude might have had some
influence.

"My mind has been much exercised with this matter of the hidden gold,"
resumed the deacon, after the long pause already mentioned. "You will
remember that there may be lawful owners of that money, should Gar'ner
even succeed in finding it."

"'T would be