SHIPWRECK 



our heads to spare them further wettings we made our way to 

 the deck. It was now careened at such an angle that we could 

 not walk on it. We slid into the water and struggled for the 

 lagoon. 



Back again. This time for the sextant, motion picture camera, 

 ship papers, collecting equipment and choice books. Some we 

 got ashore, some we did not. It was a herculean task. The reef 

 was the worst of all, though swimming the eighth-mile lagoon 

 was not easy. By the third trip the hull had heeled so far over 

 that we could swim directly into the companionway. It was 

 heartbreaking. All our valuable instruments and materials were 

 being washed back and forth. Even as we tried to salvage them 

 great rollers would dash in the open companionway, snatch 

 them from our fingers and wash them out on the reef. The 

 white sand bottom for yards around was strewn with glitter- 

 ing tins, paper and brass. The cabin was a dangerous place. 

 Floating boards, boxes and weighty containers were being 

 hurled about with every entering wave. Every now and then 

 the ship would turn and roll on the opposite side. Then with a 

 mighty rush all these floating things would charge the length 

 of the cabin and slam into the farthest bulkhead. 



Coleman had a narrow escape. He was in the cabin alone 

 trying to retrieve a valuable item that was packed low down 

 in one of the lockers. The missing object could not be found 

 and he had dropped on his knees holding his breath underwater 

 so that he could better feel with his hands. Without warning 

 the ship lurched far to one side, rushing all the water to his part 

 of the cabin, carrying with it loose boards and a floating bunk 

 mattress. One of these boards and the mattress wedged above 

 his body, pinning him tightly against the cabinet. He fought 

 like a madman to get free but could not budge the material. 

 Still fighting, he could feel the breath leave him in little bubbles, 

 could feel himself growing weaker and weaker, saw every- 



