174 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON
and other booty and, with what remained of his
crew, he set sail for New York. Thus at San
Domingo the Quedagh Merchant, with her fifty
guns and her valuable cargo, was abandoned. Her
fate has continued a mystery to this day, and from
time to time the search for the lost booty is still
suggested and inaugurated by enthusiasts for ad-
venture or seekers for gold.
When Kidd drew near New York he found that
the Earl of Bellomont had gone to Boston, and he
resolved to follow the Governor to Massachusetts.
Much uncertainty surrounds his course at this
time. It is said that he sailed up Long Island
Sound, stopped at Gardiner's Island, and buried a
chest of treasure there, that he presented Mrs.
Gardiner with brocades embroidered with gold
threads and dropped jewels into his wine. It is
said that he succeeded in reaching his wife by a
letter, asking her to meet him at Block Island.
Rumor has it that from Narragansett Bay he
communicated with Bellomont and informed his
lordship that he, William Kidd, was on board a
sloop with ten thousand pounds' worth of goods
and that he was entirely guiltless of the piracy
with which he was charged. It is said that Bel-
iomont replied that, if Kidd could establish his