And are there not the ' Norwalk Islands,' with their pines, -- 'Old Sasco,' with her rocks, -- ' Fairweather,' with the wild birds' eggs deep buried in her sands, -- and the far famed fishing banks ofl" the ' Middle Ground.' Ay ! and is it not from the fierce boiling whirlpools of the ' Gate' to 'Gardiners,' and the lone beacon tower of 'Old Montaukett,' one continuous ground of thrilling lore and bold adventure. In her waters the *FJre ship'^ glared amid the darkness; her phantom crew, like red hot statues, standing at their quarters, as rushing onwards,

» The tradition is, that she was taken by pirates, all hands murdered, and abandoned after being set on fire by the buccaneers. Some accounts state that a large white horse which was on board, was left near the foremast to perish in the flames, and in storms of peculiarly terrific violence, that she may be seen, rushing along enveloped in fire, the horse stamping and pawing at the heel of the foremast, her phantom crew assembled at quarters. Gallop among Amer Scenery by A- B. Silliman,

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 435

in the furious storm, she passed the siiuddering mariner, leaving comet-like long streams of flame behind. Beneath her sands the red-shirted buccaneers did hide their ill-gotten, blood-bespotted treasure. Ay ! and 'twas on her broad bosom that with ironseared conscience, sailed that pirate, fierce and bold, old Robert Kidd ; and to this very day his golden hoards, with magic mark and sign, still crowd her wooded shores.''^-