got around of Sea Diver's purpose, we were besieged by 

 a continuous stream of islanders, some diffidently, some 

 boldly, attempting to sell us information as to locations of 

 cannon or ballast stone on the bottom. 



At first we listened with eagerness, convinced that 

 when the weather improved, we would have a number of 

 wrecks to search out. We jotted down the names of our 

 informers and where they could be located, and we ar- 

 ranged to get in touch with them to guide us at the proper 

 time. Between storms we even managed to search for two 

 piles of ballast within short runs of Nassau. We spent 

 several days combing the areas which our guides indicated, 

 but we never came across a clue. 



After a few experiences of this kind Ed decided that 

 rather than pay a set sum a day for these men to guide us, 

 he would offer them only their keep while they were 

 aboard, but if they were able to take us to the site, he 

 would double the usual daily wage. He also promised that 

 if we found anything of value, we would share with them 

 on an equal basis. 



It was remarkable what a difference this made in 

 the number of candidates and the length of time they were 

 willing to put on a project. I am sure it was responsible for 

 weeding out many a speculative Bahamian who had noth- 

 ing to lose but his time, and yet could gain, almost for the 

 asking, a pleasant trip on Sea Diver with pay. 



One morning there appeared on the dock alongside 

 Sea Diver a graying old colored gentleman with a most 

 patrician manner. He inquired for Ed in a soft, pleasing 

 voice. He was from the Abaco islands to the north of 

 Nassau, he said, and he told us a fascinating yarn of buried 

 treasure on the outer shore of one of these islands. Like 

 most of our callers, he seemed sure that we would be able 

 to go ashore there with our metal detector and locate the 



132 Sea Diver 



