The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-04-22
CHAPTER xI.-continued.

A return 10 Point Orote. to get my
bearings. would have cost good hour
and half; so determined 10 trust the
chart. which was laid out on a scale OF
three sixty-fourths of an inch 10 the
mile, and make straight run from
Tarofofo. Knowing as | now did the
exact position Of the reef il was sim
pie matter TO figure the distance ex-
sctly-i0 miles, south-southwest quar-
ter west-and steer accordingly.
My calculations proved correct, the
lead touching bottom a. about half-past
eleven. With my former dangerous
experience in mind. determined 10
locate the wreck. il possible, before go
ing down, and steered directly along
the precipitous face Of the shoal with
firm grip on the sounding-line, which
told the instant that we edged of over
deep water Proceeding in this way
the lend was pretty sure TO strike the
wreck and drag when we came 10 IL;
but, as an extra precaution. lowered
away the rock anchor and let IL hang
six feet under water. This experiment
was an entire success, for in a few mo-
menta IL caught so sharply against the
perpendicular side OF the hulk as al
most TO snap It's line; had there been
more than a rag of the sail up, il would
have done so.
AS we needed all the time there was,
told Dorotea TO turn around and gaze
upon the wonders OF the Vastly deep
while / got into that diving suit. 1t
/. l,8
fly got the better OF her before ! put
on the helmet, or my appearance might
have scared her into fit. The rig GER
tGinly made an uncouth monster Of me.
but IL didn't brighten her half SO much
as did the idea Of my remaining under
water la IL. She chung 10 me for several
moments. letting me kiss her as much
as / pleased. before ! could bottle my
self up. Her nervousness was con-
.agious; but / impressed upon her
mind tho necessity of keeping a sharp
lookout for other proas and showed
her how TO signal with the line II IL
sholld De necessary.
The descent was accompanied by the
same uncomfortable sensation that had
been feature OF my former experience;
but. regaining confidence a little more
quickly carefully examined the
wreck with the electric lantern. /
dreaded TO use dynamite, lest ii might
dislodge the stern and send il crashing
down 10 unfathomable depths; but
there was no choice in the matter. IL
would have taken all the afternoon 10
cut through the coral and timbers. SO.
fixing one of the cartridges in hole
drilled by the steel bar, arranged the
line so as 20 dctach heavy sledge ham
mer. which we had brought, and drop Il
upon the mercury capsule.
There was considerable doubt in my
mind whether the thing would ex-
pode; but when assembled TO the proa
and, after padding "A hundred feet
away, pulled the line, the doubt was
removed. Two or three square rods Ct
water rose In "A gigantic bubble, az II
from boiling spring, accompanied by
a rumbling which sounded very like
"un terremoto." an Dorotea said.
lost no time in descending again
when the commotion subsidized, and
found a gaping eight-foot. hole in the
null. Tor u moment OF TWO hthiihbtu
about entering. All the stories about
divers who had been caught and suffo
Gated In old wrecks flashed through my
mind. But, finally, mastering courage
enough to crawl inside. l began TO In
yestigate. The space evidently hsd
been an afterhold in the galleon, fol
Il was filled with packages done up In
hides; they and their contents
were now hard as coral rock. but had
once been indigo balcs, without doubt
A number OF them must have beer
stove through the planking when tho
Qalleon struck, for could almost Stapc
upright without touching the deck
beams overhead.
Cautiously making my way aft,
came TO a bulkhead separating I'll,
hold from lnzaretto directly beneath
the captains cabin. This fearc'
would be solid. In order 10 proven
communication from the forward par