_The Cruise around the Bay.--A quaint and curious Town.--Sleepy
Hollow.--A home-like Inn.--A genial and communicative Landlord.--A
delicate Manipulation.--Aspotogon and Deep Cove.--Bart enters into an
Argument.--The Landlord plunges into the Subject of Captain Kidd.--A
wonderful Revelation.--The Treasure of the Seas at last.--The Island of
golden Store._
THE cruise around Mahone Bay had thus proved useless, as might have
been expected. The search after one island out of hundreds, where the
appearance, and even the name, of that island were unknown to them, was
certainly an extraordinary piece of folly. Had they allowed themselves
to make direct inquiries, they could have found the island without any
trouble. But this was the very thing which they were unwilling to do;
partly, as has been said, from the fear of drawing attention to their
proceedings, and of being interrupted or interfered with in some
way; but partly, no doubt, because they found a much greater charm in
movements which were thus surrounded by mystery. It was appropriate for
the members of the great secret society of the B. O. W. C. to enter upon
this new undertaking in secrecy.
But now this had to be given up, and they concluded to go ashore at the
chief settlement of the bay, and make inquiries. In these inquiries they
resolved still to maintain their secret as far as possible, and not to
divulge it unless it was absolutely necessary; they determined to
hint, rather than ask, and obtain information indirectly, rather than
directly.
The chief settlement of Mahone Bay is the town of Chester, one of the
greatest curiosities in America. It is not a settlement. It is a town.
It is situated on a peninsula, with a harbor on its front and on its
rear. This peninsula is all laid out in streets, which cross one
another at right angles, with perfect regularity. At the point where
the peninsula terminates, is a spacious place, intended to serve as a
promenade; and here there is a narrow shoal running off to another piece
of land, which is a peninsula or an island by turns, as the shoal is
covered or uncovered by the water.
There is a wonderful quaintness and quiet in Chester. It is the Nova
Scotian representative of Sleepy Hollow. The streets, which are so
nicely laid out, are all covered with turf, and are as green as the town
lots on either side. The houses are all old; the people are all quiet
and leisurely, taking the world in the easiest manner possible. The very
dogs, affected by the peace and calm around, seem unwilling to bark,
except under the strongest possible provocation.
The scenery around this quaint little town may safely be classed among
the most beautiful in the world. The wide bay, with its hundreds of
islands, forms an almost unequalled place for yachting. Many of the
islands have curious names, associated with some curious legend.
The waters abound with myriads of shell fish, and sometimes have a
marvellous transparency. The winding shore of the bay forms one of the
loveliest of drives, and affords perpetual variety of scenery; and the
climate in summer time is so genial, that it forms the perfection of
a watering-place for those who have to fly from the heat of southern
latitudes. And this will one day be the destiny of Chester, when the
world knows it; when the rush of parched travellers takes place; when
great hotels face its promenade, and the streets, once laid out with so
bold a design, are lined with houses and shops. Such changes will one
day take place; but whether Chester will be then so altogether lovely as
it is now in its Sleepy Hollow epoch, is a matter about which there may
well be doubt.
Such was the place, then, in which the boys found themselves; and they
all agreed with one opinion, that Chester was, in every respect, worthy
of standing here in this lovely bay, in the immediate vicinity of the
mysterious Island of the Buccaneers, where lay stored up the treasure of
the sea and the plunder of the Spanish Main.
On looking about the place, they came to an inn, which had such an air
of comfort and tranquillity, and such a home-like appearance, that they
determined to put up at it, and prosecute their investigations in a
leisurely fashion. They arrived in time for dinner; and, if there had
been any doubt in their minds as to the propriety of deserting the
Antelope, it was dispelled at the appearance of the dinner which was
served up. For there were salmon and green peas,--delicacies of which,
like all good boys, they were particularly fond, and to which they had
been strangers for a long time. There, too, were strawberries, the last
of the season, with cream of the richest kind; and together with these
were the mealiest of potatoes, the whitest of bread, the freshest of
butter, and the most immaculate coffee. To all these things their late
sea fare afforded a striking contrast, and Solomon’s star declined
sadly.
The landlord they found most good-natured, and most genial, like all the
inhabitants of this favored spot. He was communicative about himself,
proud of his town, proud of the scenery around, and yet not at all
inquisitive as to the purposes of his guests. This seemed to them to
be the very man whom they might interrogate without endangering
their secret; for, while his communicativeness would lead him to tell
everything that there was to be told, his lack of curiosity would
prevent him from asking any unpleasant questions.
Accordingly, as soon as they could get a convenient chance, they
button-holed the landlord, and began a series of questions of a very
non-committal character, referring chiefly to the scenery of Mahone Bay,
and the places most worthy of a visit. They did not make the remotest
reference to the buccaneers or to Captain Kidd, but seemed to have their
thoughts occupied with scenery only.
The landlord grew eloquent upon the theme of the scenery of Mahone
Bay. He told them about the islands, and mentioned the number very
particularly, insisting upon it that their number was exactly three
hundred and sixty-five. He spoke of the drive along the shore, of a
place called Gold River, where there was excellent fishing, and finally
mentioned a place which he called Aspot-ogon. Upon this theme he
grew more enthusiastic than ever. Aspotogon, he said, was the highest
mountain on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, and the approach to it
afforded a view of the most remarkable scenery in the whole bay.
This approach lay through a narrow inlet which ran to the base of the
mountain, and was called Deep Cove. It was bordered by precipices, for
a long way, on either side, and was a wild and romantic spot. It
terminated in a circular basin, on one side of which was a deep
declivity, by which they could find the shortest ascent to the summit of
Aspotogon; and, in addition to this, they could find fishing and bathing
to their hearts’ content.
In all this, however, there was no mention made of any island like
the one which they wished to find. He mentioned, indeed, the names of
several islands, in a casual sort of way, but made no allusion to any
legends of the buccaneers. The only reference which he made to treasure,
was on the name of that fishing stream which he had described to them.
This was Gold River; and the name excited their attention. Bart asked
what the name had reference to; and the landlord replied, that it arose
from the color of its water. This commonplace derivation of such a
name disgusted and disappointed them all, for they hoped to hear of a
different origin, and one more in accordance with their present purpose.
The landlord dwelt to a great extent on Aspotogon and Deep Cove, and
finally offered to go there with them, if they felt inclined to make a
visit to the place. Though the boys were still as eager as ever about
the Island of the Buccaneers, yet they were by no means indifferent to
the charms of a romantic place like this, nor at all disinclined to roam
about the bay farther. The offer of the landlord was also an additional
inducement, and they thought that in the intimacy of shipboard they
might manage to get something more direct out of him, and learn from him
all that there was to be learnt about any existing legends current among
the people, such as the governor of Sable Island had mentioned. It was
arranged, therefore, that they should go on the following day.
After dinner the boys started off in different directions. Bruce in a
boat, Arthur along the shore, Tom and Phil over the hills, while Bart
and Pat sauntered about the wharves, catching star-fish, sea-urchins,
and jelly-fish, of which there were myriads. Towards evening they
returned to the inn, and found the landlord seated on the steps. They
seated themselves too, and gradually fell into a conversation.
“This bay must have been a great place in old times,” said Bart,
trying to feel his way as easily as possible towards the subject of the
buccaneers.
The landlord shook his head with solemn emphasis.
“Tre--mendous!” he slowly ejaculated.
“Such a capital place for hiding from any ship that might be chasing!”
said Bart; “so many islands! Why, if a ship once got in here, she could
never be found.”
“Best dodging-place in the world,” said the landlord. “Lots of islands,
lots of harbors, and deep water too, everywhere.”
“The old French day’s must have been pretty exciting hereabouts,”
continued Bart, making a fresh advance. “The English and French used
to have it hot and heavy; and I dare say this bay had its share of the
fun.”
“Of course, of course,” said the landlord; “and before that too, long
before; and worse goings on than fair, stand-up fights. There’s been
queer doings in these waters.”
To these words the landlord gave emphasis by a significant shake of his
head, which spoke unutterable things, and drove Bart and Pat wild with
curiosity.
“What do you mean?” asked Bart.