mass of rocks now known as Alligator reef, four more bat- 

 tered merchantmen could be seen in the shallower water, 

 well in toward shore. Ahead, just off Viper key, the ad- 

 miral was shocked to come across the barest indication 

 of a sunken galleon, the Almirante, her broken masts pro- 

 truding just above the surface of the water. 



By the next morning the wind had subsided, and 

 the sea was slowly resuming a more normal look. From his 

 overnight anchorage off Viper key to the lower end of Key 

 Vaca, the admiral counted four more wrecks. At the far 

 end of Vaca he came upon a tliird galleon, which had been 

 delegated to bring up the rear of the merchant fleet. She 

 was well aground on an outside shoal. But this time 

 signs of activity could be discerned aboard. As Rubi ap- 

 proached, those on board could see that the hull of the 

 ship was whole and seemed to be riding fairly high in the 

 water. 



The admiral gave orders to bring Rubi about, and a 

 way was carefully sounded in to an anchorage near the 

 stranded galleon. The merchantman, still following, an- 

 chored close by. A longboat was launched, and soon the 

 captain of the stricken ship was aboard Rubi. 



The galleon was stuck fast on the shoal, he reported, 

 but still in floatable condition. Fortunately she had not 

 struck on a coral reef, where disaster would have been 

 almost certain. By manning the pumps, the captain was 

 confident he could get her to Havana ff only she could 

 be moved from the bar. Now, with Rubi's help, this might 

 be possible. How fortunate ff they could save her and her 

 cargo of treasure. 



The two officers concluded that it would be necessary 

 to get rid of her cannon before attempting to kedge her 

 off the shoal. So all through that night, while the stars 

 twinkled in a calm, clear sky above, and the waters of the 

 Gulf Stream flowed more and more placidly on their way 



84 Sea Diver 



