Seven long weeks had passed from the 

 time I left Sea Diver at Puerto Plata until school was 

 ended for the summer, and Clayton and I could set out to 

 rejoin her at Cockbum harbor, southernmost settlement of 

 the Caicos islands. During this period, Ed, who had re- 

 mained aboard, had spent nearly four weeks in the 

 vicinity of the Caicos archipelago, and the rest of the time 

 between Cap Haitien and the Silver shoals. 



Now, as Clayton and I headed for Nassau, I looked 

 forward eagerly to my part in Sea Diver's program for the 

 next few weeks, for we planned to complete our investiga- 

 tion of exactly where, in the Bahamas, Columbus had made 

 his first landfall and what track he had sailed from there 

 to Cuba. 



Our original idea of following and comparing the 

 two courses championed by Morison and Verhoog was 

 now augmented by another prospect, which had occurred 

 to Ed as he studied a chart of the Bahama area earlier 

 in the year. It promised most exciting possibilities. 



On the Track of Columbus 299 



