disengaged the automatic pilot and took over the wheel 

 to steer a devious course between them. 



A short time later Barney called from the masthead. 

 "Breakers on the starboard bow." 



Ed turned Sea Diver in the direction indicated, but 

 found that he was forced continuously to the southeast by 

 intervening coral heads. Suspense lay heavy on us all. We 

 knew from past experience that we could hunt for days, 

 even weeks, for the spot we were seeking. We had no bear- 

 ings to go by, no present-day accurate charting of these 

 rocks, and, because of our inaccurate course the night be- 

 fore, a very hazy idea of what part of the bank we were 

 on at the moment. We only knew that if we could find a 

 small dry rock just sticking its head above water, we might 

 be able to find the spot. 



We were very lucky. For as we moved slowly along 

 in soundings of ten to fifteen fathoms, there was a hail 

 from the crow's-nest. "Over there to the left, just off the 

 bow! I see a rock sticking up!" Barney was pointing with 

 his whole arm extended and shouting like a madman. 



Down on the deck we had to use the binoculars, and 

 even then it was some time before we could spot the rock, 

 as Ed continued to edge the boat in its direction. Glenn 

 brought out the little sketch that Korganoff had given him. 



As we drew closer, we could make out a narrow chan- 

 nel leading to the almost solid line of reefs ahead of us. 

 The dry rock was now plainly visible, sticking up from a 

 flat reef to our port. 



The day was calm, and Kemp, on the pulpit, could 

 spot any dangerous heads well in advance. The moderate 

 sea was breaking gently over the reefs, leaving a slight 

 tracing of white to mark their location. Beyond the dry 

 rock we could now make out a circular area of deep water, 

 encircled by reefs except for the narrow channel just 

 ahead. The men debated whether we should follow it in 



254 Sea Diver 



