disappeared on this spot. He suggested that we give up 

 working this location for a while and continue our search 

 of the other reefs. Crestfallen, we returned to Sea diver. 



After the many wakeful nights which had begun to 

 wear on our nerves, we were now favored with a series 

 of calm and beautiful days. We employed them to the 

 utmost in making a thorough search of all the reefs in the 

 area from the two smaller boats. Wherever there seemed 

 to be the possibility of a wreck being concealed in coral or 

 sand, we anchored the boats and dove overboard to in- 

 spect the spot at closer range. But in spite of the careful- 

 ness of our searches, we failed to come across any fur- 

 ther indications. 



One morning we rose to find the sea like glass. There 

 was not a cloud in the sky. Not a breath of wind stirred. 

 Over all hung such a stillness, it almost hurt the ears. Yet 

 Sea Diver rose and fell to the motion of giant swells, 

 which, in slow and silent rhythm, swept across the sea 

 without disturbing its mirrorlike surface. Around us the 

 reefs at low tide were plainly visible, their dry rocks 

 jutting above the surface. No waves broke upon them; yet, 

 as the swells raised and lowered the surface of the sea, 

 water poured in upon them equally from all directions, as 

 over the sides of a cup. 



At breakfast we talked about leaving for Puerto 

 Plata the next afternoon, for our time was nearly up. Kemp 

 thought that the giant ocean swells which had appeared 

 might indicate the presence of a distant storm at sea, 

 which would be apt to bring high winds the next day. 



We finally decided that morning to take Reef Diver 

 to some reefs a couple miles to the west which had not yet 

 been searched, and complete other explorations in Wee 

 Diver nearby. We would then put Reef Diver aboard, late 



284 Sea Diver 



