Before the story begins, the narrator sets the scene by telling us about the pirate 1., who long ago buried his ill-gotten treasure in a thickly-wooded 2. not far from Boston, Massachusetts. Old stories have it that the 3.himself guards the money. Kidd never enjoyed his wealth, however, for he was arrested in Boston soon after burying it and later 4. in England for his crimes. The story opens in 1727. 5. is a 6.man, who lives near the swamp with his nagging, scolding, just as greedy, and abusive 7. . Their house is 8.-looking, and has about it “an air of 9.,” as does their 10. horse. One evening Tom is taking a shortcut home through the 11.when he comes to the ruins of an old 12.fort.