As we steered a careful course between Le Grand 

 Mouton and shore, we could see on our port clear to the 

 horizon the breaking white reefs which protect the inner 

 harbor from the sea. Somewhere out there the Santa Maria 

 had gone aground. Somewhere beneath those foaming 

 breakers lay what was left of Columbus's ill-fated flag- 

 ship. Now that we were so close to our goal, I wondered 

 again: Could we possibly find that historic wreck after 

 463 years? 



Search for the Santa Maria 169 



