t pays, you see. And if
we could put the church on its feet again with something of that kind.
It's the propensity people have to go galloping after new things in
religion that we must study and turn to our advantage if we would be
prosperous." The little man fretted his fingers nervously through his
unkept hair, and his face assumed an air of great seriousness.

"How, my dear," enquired Mrs. Chapman, "could you put the church on its
feet with such a load of scandal on its back? Could'nt you invent
something else that would be novel and profitable?"

"There's where my new conception was coming in. That's the point I was
considering when you interrupted me with Mattie's love affair," Chapman
replied, looking more serious than ever.

"It struck me that we might do something profitable by getting up a
company for the discovery of Kidd's treasure. 'The Great Kidd Discovery
Company' would be a good name, my dear. You must always give a company a
good name. Then you must manage it with tact and prudence. A prodigious
enterprise, my dear. These simple-minded and honest Dutch people would
fall into it like a flock of sheep. They honestly believe Kidd was a
bold pirate, who amassed a great fortune by plundering towns on the
Spanish Main. That, having more gold and silver than he could invest to
advantage, he buried it on the bank of the river, a few leagues above
this place, where he entered into an agreement with the devil to stand
guard over it until he returned. They believe, also, that Hanz
Toodleburg, whose father knew Kidd well, and perhaps had something to do
with his adventures, is the only man now living who possesses the secret
of where that treasure is buried."

CHAPTER XI.

MRS. CHAPMAN CULTIVATES NEW ACQUAINTANCES.

It was spring-time of the year 1824. A new era in the history of the
nation's wealth and progress seemed to have fairly begun. Strong and
vigorous intellects ruled in the councils of the nation and inspired
confidence in the people. Science was breathing new life into our
enterprise, and leading us rapidly into new fields and richer prospects.
It was also brushing away the prejudices that had narrowed our thoughts
and confined our action to things of a past age. Steam was an adjustable
power now, a reality; still there were sensible men who shook their
heads in doubt; and the men who declared it would soon revolutionize the
commerce of the world were set down as not safe to do business with