where within a ten-mile-long area. He retreated under the 

 black hood once more to consult the loran. He found that 

 Sea Diver was some distance north o£ the latitude which 

 Captain Phips had designated on his chart. As she was also 

 well east on the bank, he figured that by traveling due 

 south in the morning until we reached the latitude of the 

 plate wreck, and then heading directly west until we 

 reached deep water at the far end of the bank, Sea Diver 

 would be within the area of the lost ship. 



Fortunately, the following day proved perfect for 

 our task. The sea was so calm and clear that it appeared to 

 have no depth at all. We explored every black patch 

 which came within our vision as we slowly patrolled the 

 bank. We finally reached deep water without even the 

 thrill of a false hope. Then, finding ourselves in the deep 

 water of the Bahama canal, which signaled the end of 

 our course, we circled southward and started back across 

 the banks in a southwesterly direction. The sea was as still 

 as the extremely hot air which surrounded us. The day 

 was ideal for our search, but our spirits were low, for it 

 seemed most unlikely that what remained of the plate 

 wreck would be exposed to view in such deep and shifting 

 sand. 



We had traveled on this last course for about a half 

 hour when we glimpsed something sticking out of the 

 water far ahead. By turns we looked at it through the 

 binoculars, but could only make out that it was an open 

 pyramidal structure set on a slant — perhaps some ship's 

 wreckage or a drifted marker, we speculated, for there was 

 no beacon indicated on our chart anywhere in this remote 

 area of the banks. 



We headed toward it in glassy water only two fathoms 

 deep. Soon there was a cry of joy from Clayton, who was 

 straddling the plank flooring of the pulpit. A school of 

 porpoises had discovered Sea Diver and were sporting 



116 Sea Diver 



