It was apparent that if we were to have suJBBciently 

 cahn water to work around the reefs, we would have to 

 make an earher start in the morning. High winds were evi- 

 dently customary in this part of the world during the spring 

 months. 



We were up at five the next morning, and were on the 

 reefs at six thirty, planning to dive on the spot where the 

 cannon had been buoyed. A light, early-morning breeze 

 from shore had replaced the steady onslaught of the pre- 

 vailing easterly, and Sea Diver rode quietly at anchor. In- 

 spired by the temporary calm and the promise of some 

 underwater activity, Bill and Clayton were in the best of 

 spirits. 



Captain Weems, certain that he could find the missing 

 ballast, set out with Vital and Clayton in Wee Diver. They 

 planned to search both reefs while the water was cahn 

 enough to get in close to them. The rest of the party 

 boarded Reef Diver and headed for the buoy which marked 

 the cannon. Although the sun was still low, we found that 

 there was sufficient light to be able to see the bottom 

 clearly. 



As soon as we were anchored over the cannon, Ed and 

 Bill went overboard with the air hoses. I floated on the 

 surface, watching the divers as they inspected the cannon, 

 which lay side by side below. I could see no other signs 

 of wreckage, and when Ed came to the surface, he con- 

 firmed this. 



"They are old French sakers," he said. "There's noth- 

 ing else around. Perhaps they were thrown overboard to 

 lighten some ship so that it could be gotten off the reef." 



His remark reminded me of that time when this same 

 harbor had been a regular port of call for the commerce of 

 the world. Here once had lain at anchor Napoleon's mighty 

 fleet of conquest. There must have been many times when 

 anchors had dragged or ships had been forced upon the 



192 Sea Diver 



