The fact is, however, that during this time of anxious waiting Kidd never sailed west of Oyster Bay in Long Island.

He was afraid to approach New York, although he had frequent communication with that city, and was joined by his wife and family.
About this time occurred an incident which has given rise to all the stories regarding the buried treasure of Captain Kidd.

The disturbed and anxious pirate concluded that it was a dangerous thing to keep so much valuable treasure on board his vessel which might at any time be overhauled by the authorities, and he therefore landed at Gardiner's Island on the Long Island coast, and obtained permission from the proprietor to bury some of his superfluous stores upon his estate.

This was a straightforward transaction.

Mr.Gardiner knew all about the burial of the treasure, and when it was afterwards proved that Kidd was really a pirate the hidden booty was all given up to the government.
This appears to be the only case in which it was positively known that Kidd buried treasure on our coast, and it has given rise to all the stories of the kind which have ever been told.
For some weeks Kidd's sloop remained in Long Island Sound, and then he took courage and went to Boston to see some influential people there.