The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-08-31
7at1hgss4ss
-4I1|esz!gss &
CLARENCE HERBERT NEW.
'Copyrishs. ,ss,. by }. 0. uppiueou Col
CHAPTER X.-Contipued-

the water overhead. IL was longest
from east to west, and In the middle
was small projection as high as my
shoulders. II was this which sent a
shivering conviction through me that
i had found the wreck at last, and I
eagerly searched for another pro jec-
tion mt the westerly end. After TAX
ing about 20 steps found II, or rath-
er found a small lump OF rock where
IT should have been; and this settled
my last doubt. My first impression,
that the foremast 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, l found II several
feet lower yet; so our theory as to the
drift Of the coral fragments had been
absolutely correct. Ii now remained d
but to ascertain how thick the Goa ting
was on the northerly side, and rap.
idly scrambled down to where I had
first stumbled against the wreck.
had brought the smaller steel bar
with me from the proa, and this be
gan driving against the perpendicu ular
fncrustation Of coral at spot near the
stern. At the second blow, however, I
slightly lost my equilibrium, and found
that the rock upon which l stood
sbelved rapidly. A horror Of the un-
fathomable depth which lay but few
feet beyond made me throw myself
fiat upon the bottom, digging my nails
Into the coral lest should slip and
sink to l knew not where. Lying there
until the beating Of my heart slowed
down to something like normal pull
sation, ! saw n faint reflection of light
beneath the kecl--enough to show that
several feet OF the stern hung sheer
over the prccipice.
1t must have been at least ten min
ntes before l recovered strength
enough to crawl back upon the higher
portion of the ledge; then. realizing
that my supply of air was nearly cx-
haustcd, ! braced myself firmly and
began driving away with the steel bar
again. The coral easily crunbled un.
der the blows. though at that depth II
was filled with live anfmalculae. and In
few moments the bar had penetrated
several inches; then IT struck some
thing soft and spongy, In which Il
stuck. Rapidly enlarging the hole un.
I'll | could put my hand into Il with
cut tearing the skin. l felt about for
a second or two and succeeded In de.
tachinR q splinter OF water-logged
wood--a piece of the hull itself.
This was enough for one dny. Ihnd
found the reef. l had actually found
the wreck Of ship which. from it's
coral deposit. must have lain in the
one position for over hundred years
at least presumably the gallcon
Neustra Sonora de Scvilla. And | had
found that the coral jacket on the
northerly side OF her hull was less than
ak inches in thickness! I wanted to
dance from sheer satisfaction. but II
occurred to me that IL might he 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 I tried to put
:" my Po.h''s anu Wh'siie
Us s.roae along but there were no
pockets In the confounded rig, and
W.. "n's'Ie was ,his'ake-a n'g ms
e ~ not oh'y exhausted my breath
Ing air, but IL produced n concussion
In that copper helmet which nearly
lifted the roof or OF my skull. II
N,o'n my coh"uehcc 30 hiuch that'
fhA,x 81, Al n.
VIZ" 'he ,',s'"g Par,'ai'y supsiueu IN
my ears' ! hurried niohg even faster
UoWaru 'he Proa' hi'er waikihg con-
ueao'y iar'her 'han "hat shouiu
nave peen lhe proper Instance pegan
" .urse my .ho"ghtiessness IN not
lowing .ne 'n'ng aiohg ai'er me- IN
s."u Vi ""'ihB " 10 oe huhteu up
"hen even secohus were precious In
my hes,ousnes' ! must nave gone 700
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