ment it would be possible to uncover and raise whatever 

 we might discover. 



We had finally convinced ourselves that this was the 

 time and that, logically, we were the ones to make this one 

 more attempt to locate the long-lost treasure ship. 



Subsequent research revealed that little was actually 

 known of the Silver shoals. We read several accounts of 

 adventurous voyages to these waters — each writer seem- 

 ingly intent on outdoing the other in the extravagance of 

 his descriptions of the wild seas, the treacherous reefs, and 

 the dangerous sharks, barracuda, octopi, and other sea life 

 that were said to inhabit these waters in great numbers. 



We also read descriptions of the wreck itself, stand- 

 ing on the ocean floor as it had gone down centuries ago, 

 its decks littered with wreckage and its holds filled with 

 bars and treasure chests. Always it was so armored in 

 coral or so guarded by ferocious underwater monsters that 

 it had proved impossible for divers to approach or pene- 

 trate the hull, except in one case where the writer described 

 having been unexpectedly precipitated through the rot- 

 ting deck of the ancient wreck into its dark, terrifying hold. 



We had discounted most of these stories. From their 

 descriptions we were more than doubtful that the writers 

 had ever come upon the actual location. We well knew that 

 it is impossible for a wooden ship to remain on the bot- 

 tom for any number of years in waters such as these with- 

 out the timbers breaking up or being destroyed by the ever- 

 present teredo worms. We knew that all telltale cannon 

 had been removed, and that the ship had sacrificed its 

 anchors in other areas to hold it off the reefs. There would 

 be very little evidence left to identify it. 



There were other possible hazards. We did not know 

 just how dangerous to our own boat these reef-strewn 

 waters would be, or if we would be able to find a safe 

 place to anchor in case of storm. We also wondered if, 



248 Sea Diver 



