since we had anchored two days before. I could not launch 

 Wee Diver alone, to say nothing of getting the outboard in 

 place and started. And I did not know how to contact a 

 Bahamian station by radiotelephone. Besides, I did not 

 want to raise an alarm unless I was sure it was necessary, 



I climbed the ladder up Sea Diver's mast to the cabin 

 top. From there I was able to see across the top of the cay 

 toward the section of reefs the men had headed for. But 

 even with the binoculars I could not make out a sign of 

 the little cruiser, I swung the glasses wildly back and forth, 

 to no avail. Then, way off to the west, in the shelter of 

 Double Breasted cay, I picked out a small dinghy. Closer 

 inspection revealed two native fishermen — surprisingly, 

 with an outboard. How could I attract their attention? 



For the next half hour I alternated between tooting 

 Sea Diver's horn and waving our large American flag, 

 which I removed from the stern. At last I caught their at- 

 tention, and they headed my way. I waited impatiently 

 until they had drawn alongside Sea Diver and cut their 

 motor. Their curiosity turned to sympathetic understand- 

 ing as I explained my predicament. I asked them if they 

 would take their boat around the end of the cay to where 

 they could see the outside waters. If Reef Diver was in 

 trouble, would they please go to her assistance? 



I waited, nearly hysterical with fear, while they dis- 

 appeared from sight, and then another long twenty min- 

 utes until I saw them coming back toward Sea Diver. To 

 my relief they reported the cruiser was on the way in. She 

 was close to the outer shore of the cay, and that was no 

 doubt why I had not been able to see her. 



I thanked them sheepishly, gave them some money for 

 their trouble, and waited impatiently for the three men to 

 return. When Reef Diver finally drew up alongside, I met 

 them, thankful for their safe return, yet seething with all 

 the emotions which had coursed through me during the 



154 Sea Diver 



