SHIPWRECK 45 



way seemed as good as another. Perhaps south would be best, 

 particularly if we were on Grand Caicos as I thought, for 

 several islands down the chain there was reputed to be a 

 settlement. Possibly I could reach it by swimming the interven- 

 ing channels. I trudged off on the crest of a sand ridge that 

 paralleled the shore. Looking back I could see Coleman wading 

 into the lagoon preparatory to swimming out to the reef. The 

 last I saw of him he was bobbing about in the lee of the breakers, 

 looking for an opening that he might reach the ship without 

 being hammered against the coral. 



Below the ridge on which I was walking stretched mile upon 

 mile of gorgeous beach, pure white sand melting into a subtle 

 green on the land's edge. Beyond the beach were the still waters 

 of the lagoon, intense emerald and pale green where the bot- 

 tom alternated from coral sand to growths of sea grass. On the 

 outer edge of the emerald, as if to enclose it tightly, was the 

 barrier reef, sweeping on and on in gentle undulations. On 

 the reef the great sea swells broke in brilliant foam, intensified 

 and brought into vivid contrast by the dark blue of the waters 

 beyond. Further on, the bottom dipped down and down into 

 the depths. Two thousand fathoms, the chart said, twelve thou- 

 sand feet of dark blue water. 



It was good to be on land again, even though the landing 

 was not as we would have had it. From out of the island were 

 coming deep pungent smells— the scent of myriad flowers, 

 warm grass in the sun, of dried mud, and all those things that 

 go to make up the earth-odor. It was good to feel the sand 

 crunching under foot, good to have live things about, for even 

 as I walked dozens of lizards dashed from their basking places 

 and fled for shelter. One of these lizards excited me immensely. 

 It was a new species, a type not yet described to science. I tried 

 to capture it, missed, and ruefully watched it disappear into 

 the scrub. Well, what difference did it make? I did not have 



