which had scattered and sunk in the hurricane of 1733? 

 we wondered. 



Discouraged and more than a httle seasick from our 

 battle with the Gulf Stream, we finally headed for Angel- 

 fish creek, which cuts across the north end of Key Largo. 

 From there we followed the Inland Waterway to Fort 

 Lauderdale, loath to expose ourselves or Eryholme to 

 further bouts with the disturbed seas. 



At last the morning arrived when we had planned to 

 leave for Grand Bahama island, eighty miles away. We did 

 not even have to go on deck to know that the wind was 

 still blowing strong, for Eryholme was rocking and tug- 

 ging at her hues against the dock. A check with the 

 weather man confirmed that it would be foolhardy to 

 start out. Instead, Ed decided we should continue up the 

 Inland Waterway to Palm Beach, which is almost directly 

 opposite West End, our goal in the Bahamas. 



At midnight two days later we set out to cross the 

 Gulf Stream. Generally, both wind and sea are quieter at 

 night, and the weather man had at last forecast slackening 

 winds for the following day. With everything aboard well 

 secured, and the crew fortified with doses of Dramamine, 

 we left the shelter of the beaches and headed Eryholme 

 east into the the turbulent waves. I gladly followed Ed's 

 orders to go to bed, for the three men could easily handle 

 the night watches. 



They had already picked up Grand Bahama island 

 when Ed called me at six the next morning. To my sur- 

 prise, the wind had died completely. The surface of the 

 water was glassy as we felt our way through the shallow 

 channel leading into West End, on the inner side of the 

 island. Looking down tlirough thirty feet of water, I had 

 the feeling that if I were to stick my finger in I would be 

 able to touch bottom. 



The men started taldng soundings at fifteen feet, sure 



42 Sea Diver 



