The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-04-15
CHAPTER x.-Continued.

The rock must have been al least Is
feet higher than the surrounding
ledge, for / 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. Ii was this which sent
shivering conviction through me that
i had found the wreck at last, and
eagerly searched for another projec-
tion at the westerly end. After TAX
ing about 20 steps | found it, or rath-
err l found small lump OF rock where
1t should have been; and this settled
my last doubt. My first impression,
that the foremost had broken off short
err 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 IL several
feet lower yet; so our theory as 20 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 10 where | had
first stumbled against the wreck.
had brought the smaller steel bar
with me from the proa. and this be-
gan driving against the perpendicular
incrustation OF coral al a spot near the
stern. At the second blow. however,
slightly lost my equilibrium. and found
that the rock upon which ] 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 / should slip and
sink 10 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.
1t must have been at least ten min
utes before | recovered strength
enough 10 crawl back upon the higher
portion Of the ledge; then, realizing
that my supply OF air was nearly ex-
hausted, braced myself firmly and
began driving away with the steel bar
again. The coral easily crumbled nm
der the blows. though at that depth x
vas filed with live animalculae, and in
few moments the bar had penetrated
Several inches; then IL struck some
thing soft and spongy, in which II
stuck Rapidly enlarging the hole UNI
I'll | could put my hand into il with
cut tearing the skin, felt about for
n second or two and succeeded in de-
tnching 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 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 Sevilln. 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 II
occurred 10 me that II might be safer
TO do so In the proa above water, so
started back toward her.
Now my mind was so filed with ex-
ultntion AZ having accomplished seem
ing impossibilities that tried 10 put
my hands In my pockets and whistle
as blfOOt hloHks nut lHfft WNIt io
pockets In the confounded rig. and
the whistle was mistake-a big mis-
take. II not only exhausted my breath
ing air, but Il produced a conclusion
In that copper helmet which nearly
lifted the roof off OF my skull. II
shook my confidence so much that,
when the ringing partially subsidized in
my ears, | hurried along even faster
toward the proa. After walking con-
siderably farther than what should
have been the proper distance began
20 curse my thoughtlessness In not
towing the thing along after me, in
stead of leaving IL to be hunted up
when even seconds were precious. In
my nervousness l must have gone too
far. Finally l turned back, looking
ight and left for the line which had
been fastened TO the lump of coquina.
Just when hope had almost left me |
stumbled upon the piece OF rock and
Qrasped the rope TO ascend. But things
ssemed 10 be turned around. Instead
of slanting TO the westward, as IL
should have done, the line hung over
coward the precipice.
Thinking that ! had surely lost my
bearings. / took n step or two under 1t
IN an attempt 10 haul the proa direct
Nv overhead. but the rock shelyed abb
ruptiy. III another second lost my
footing. pulled frantically at the end
which vas fast 10 the rock. but eslx