The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-08-25
CHAPTER X.-Continued.

The rock must have been at least IS
feet higher than the surrounding
ledge, for l could see the sun through
the water overhead. 1t was longest
from east to west, and in the middle
was a small projection as high as my
shoulders. 1t was this which sent a
shivering conviction through me that
] had found the wreck at last, and I
eagerly searched for another projec-
tion at the westerly end. After TAX
dng about 20 steps 1 found it, or rath-
er found a small lump of rock where
1t should have been; and this settled
my last doubt. My first impression,
that the foremost had broken of short
er than the main, was accounted for by
the fact that the whole westerly end
of the mound was two or three feet
higher than the middle. Walking east,
to the other end, I found it several
feet lower yet; so our theory as to the
drift of the coral fragments had been
absolutely correct. 1t now remained
but to ascertain how thick the coating
was on the northerly side. and / rap
Idly scrambled down to where had
first stumbled against the wreck.
1 had brought the smaller steel bar
with me from the proa. and this be
gan driving against the perpendicular
incrustation of coral at a spot near the
stern. At the second blow, however.
slightly lost my equilibrium. and found
that the rock upon which l stood
shelved rapidly. A horror of the un-
fathomable depth which lay but few
feet beyond made me throw myself
fat upon the bottom, digging my nails
into the coral lest I should slip and
sink to knew not where. Lying there
until the beating of my heart slowed
down to something like a normal pull
sation, saw faint reflection Of light
beneath the keel-enough to show that
several feet of the stern hung sheer
over the precipice.
It must have been at least ten min
utes before 1 recovered strength
enough to crawl back upon the higher
portion of the ledge; then, realizing
that my supply of air was nearly cx-
hausted. braced myself firmly and
began driving away with the steel bar
again. The coral easily crumbled uu-
der the blows. though at that depth it
was filled with live animalculae, and in
Q few moments the bar had penetrated
several inches; then it struck some
thing soft and spongy. in which 1t
stuck. Rapidly enlarging the hole un-
til I could put my hand into it with
cut tearing the skin. felt about for
. second or two and succeeded In de.
taching a splinter of water-logged
wood-a piece of the hull itself.
This was.enough for one day. had
found the reef. had actually found
the wreck of q ship which. from its
coral deposit, must have lain in the
one position for over hundred years
at least presumably the gallcon
Neustra Sonora de Sevilla. And had
found that the coral jacket on the
northerly side of her hull was less than
ak inches in thickness! ! wanted to
dance from sheer satisfaction. but 1t
occurred to me that it might be safer
to do SO in the proa above water. so
started back toward her.
Now my mind was SO filed with ex-
ultation at having accomplished seem
ing impossibilities that tried to put
my hands in my pockets and whistle
as ! strobe along. But there were no
pockets in the COMPOUNDED rig. and
the whistle was mistake-a big mis-
take. 1t not only exhausted my breath
ing air. but it produced a conclusion
In that copper helmet which nearly
lifted the roof OF of my skull. 1t
shook my confidence so much that,
when the ringing partially subsidized in
my ears, hurried along even faster
toward the proa. After walking con-