Such was the state of feeling among some of the principal actors of our tale, when the sudden death of Daggett occurred.  The body was not removed from the house of the Widow White, but the next morning it was conveyed to the “grave-yard”—­’church-yard’ would have sounded too episcopal—­and interred in a corner that was bestowed on the unhonoured and unknown.  It was then, only, that the deacon believed he was the sole depository of the important secrets.  He had the charts in his possession, and no more revelations could pass the lips of Daggett.  Should the friends of the deceased sailor hear of his death, and come to look after his effects, there was very little probability of their finding anything among them to furnish a clue to either the new sealing-ground, or to the buried treasure of the pirate.  In order to be secured, he even went a little beyond his usual precautions, actually discharging all indebtedness of the deceased to the Widow White out of his own pocket, by giving to her the sum of ten dollars.  This was handsome compensation in her eyes as well as in his, and he quieted the suspicions so great and unusual an act of liberality would be apt to awaken, by saying, “he would look to the friends, or if they failed him, to the effects, for his returns; for it was better he should lose by the stranger, than a lone widow.”  He also paid for the coffin, the digging of the grave, and the other light expenses of the interment.  In a word, the deacon endeavoured to hush all impertinent inquiries by applying the salve of silver, wherever it was needed.

The chest had been removed to a large, light closet, that communicated with the deacon’s own room.  When all his accounts were settled, thither he repaired, armed with the key that was to expose so much treasure to his longing eyes.  Some slight qualms arose, after he had locked himself in the room, touching the propriety of his opening the chest.  It was not his, certainly; but he put such a construction on the nature of the revelations of Daggett, as he thought would fully justify him in proceeding.  He had purchased the schooner expressly to go in quest of the seals and the treasure.  This he had done with Daggett’s knowledge and acquiescence; nor did he conceive that his own rights were lessened by the mariner’s decease.  As for himself, the deacon had never believed that the Martha’s Vineyard man could accompany the expedition, so that his presence or absence could have no influence on his own rights.  It is true, the deacon possessed no direct legal transfer of the charts; but he inferred that all the previous circumstances gave him sufficient claims to justify him in, at least, looking, into their contents.