114 CRAB, SHRIMP, AISD LOBSTER LORE. 



occupation with Captain Phipps. In the year 1683 we 

 find him employed by the English Government to dis- 

 cover another lost ship (also Spanish), of immense 

 value. This he failed in accomplishing, but became 

 convinced that perseverance in the search would be 

 ultimately crowned with success. For five years he 

 was unsuccessful in his urgent applications for funds to 

 renew his investigations, when the Duke of Albemarle, 

 the then Governor of Jamaica, not only fully credited 

 the assurances of Captain Phipps, but, better still, fur- 

 nished him with ample means and fitting apparatus for 

 his new expedition. How he reached the scene of his 

 labours — how every lagune and gulf between the reefs 

 was searched in vain, until hope well-nigh vanished — 

 we need not dwell on here. Xo WTCck could be dis- 

 covered, and he had almost determined to abandon the 

 undertaking in despair, when, after a day of more than 

 ordinary fatigue and anxious exploration amongst the 

 coral rocks, his boat's crew were rowing him slowly 

 and dejectedly back to his ship, one of the sailors 

 directed his attention to a beautiful sea feather, growiug 

 from the ledges of a sunken rock. " Alas ! " said poor 

 Phipps, " there is a sea treasure indeed. I wish I 

 could get it." 



One of the good-humoured black divers who accom- 

 panied him, anxious to oblige his commander, shot 

 rapidly down to the coveted specimen, and just as 



