“He was found by a traveler, washed up on the banks o’ the Charles a day or so later. He was still alive, but just barely. They took Captain Tew to a doctor in Boston, who was unable to save him. Many years later in my search for his treasure, I found that doctor and asked him what my grandfather told him. The old doctor told me the story I just told you. It was one of the most amazin’ deathbed stories he had ever heard. The doctor counted it as mindless jibber from a dying man, but I know better, Gabriel. I know Captain Tew hid his treasure in the hollow of a giant oak tree near the banks of the Charles, just upstream from a waterfall.”
“You’ve surely looked for it?” asked Gabriel.
“Aye, I’ve looked for it, Gabriel, but I haven’t found it. As for the rest of the treasure Captain Tew left, my father squandered it on ships, liquor, and women. There was but a little left for me, and I can’t say I’ve fared much better than my father.”
Gabriel felt sorry for the ragged man sitting in front of him.
“Gabriel, I’m gettin’ too old to be tromping around lookin’ for treasure. I’ve even changed some of my terrible ways in my old age, which is why I carry the Holy Scriptures with me. I’ve been waitin’ for some time now to find someone who I might tell this to. I don’t know what it is, but I sense the good Lord has sent you here to sit at this table and hear this story. It may be you’re meant to look for the treasure.”
Gabriel nodded his head. “I could look for the treasure on my way, but I can’t be delayed too long. I may have already missed my chance to join the militia.”
“The Charles River,” said Thomas, “nears the road about a day’s walk from Marlborough. You can hear it from the road. When ye do hear it, leave the road and follow it north. I have seen more than one waterfall, but I haven’t been able to explore them all. I would look not far from the town of Cambridge, just east of Boston.”
“There’s one more thing you should know,” said Thomas whispering. “While no one but me and you knows the true story about my grandfather, there’s still plenty o’ legends ’bout his death. Most people think he was struck down and killed by the bandits who stole away with his treasure, and so they say the ghost of Thomas Tew walks the banks of the Charles River at night with his sword in hand, looking for revenge. I tell you this not to scare ye lad, but just so ye know.”
Gabriel shuddered at this thought and wished Thomas had not told him this part of the story. He felt both thrilled and apprehensive. What if Thomas the Terrible was as crazy as he looked? But what if he wasn’t, and there really was treasure?
Well, he thought, I’ve heard this strange story for some reason, treasure or not, and I’m headed to Boston. What harm could there be in looking for this poor man’s lost treasure along the way?
“I will look for it,” said Gabriel, smiling.
“A good lad, ye are,” responded Thomas. “A good lad . . . and don’t worry nothin’ about that ghost.”
H 15 H
THE GHOST
OF THOMAS TEW
Thunder crashed outside the small window of the tavern. Gabriel saw the flash of lightning and the rain pelting down. He dreaded heading out into the storm. As he savored the last bites of meat and bread, he decided to wait inside the tavern until the owner told him he must leave.
Thomas had dozed off, his head face-down on the table. After finishing his food, Gabriel dozed off, too, but was not sure how long he had been asleep when Fletcher came up to him and shook him awake. “Lad, here’s the dried meat and bread I promised you. I’ve let you stay here till the storm cleared outside, but I need to lock up now, and you need to be on your way.”
Gabriel yawned and stretched. Looking across, he could see Thomas. He was snoring, still face-down on the table. Fletcher leaned over to shake Thomas now. “Wake up, Tew. Wake up!” he shouted, much more abruptly than he had dealt with Gabriel. “Time for you to move on now.”
Thomas stuttered and spat, then rose up from the table in a complete stupor, patted Gabriel on the back, gave him a wink, and without saying a word, walked out the door. Still groggy, Gabriel took the pack from the owner and tried to determine the weight of its contents. It didn’t seem too heavy, and he only hoped it would be enough to get him through to Boston now that he had no money. That, of course, could all change with Thomas Tew’s treasure.
Gabriel stepped out into the
