Part 16 (1/2)
The ca their adventure known as _Slers' Reef_ He had built an underwater case for it froee aperture underwater, and a lightto use There was an ordinary inner-tube valve projecting froed with compressed air to compensate for the pressure of the water The unit was battery-powered and had a bracket for raphy
He unscrewed the front of the case and took the camera froht down there for color filht be,” Scotty replied, ”but you wouldn't gain raph in shades of green Might as well have it in shades of gray”
”You've got a point” Rick loaded the camera with fast black-and-white film and returned it to the case Then he replaced the cover and disconnected the coh to puo,” he announced
”Take it easy,” Scotty said ”We'd better rest a half hour or so If we don't knock ourselves out, we can get in three more dives today”
Rick knew the wisdom of that He adjusted the ca” shots, to establish that the movie had been taken on a boat near an island Then, when the ti the water At his direction, Scotty got out again, while Rick got in, swa frole Then the camera followed as Scotty flippered smoothly down into the deep water
Rick followed, caun-type sights rip on each side, with the controls handy to his fingers By watching the light ht required
He moved ahead of Scotty, panned across the wreck, then reversed the ca On a hunch, he stood well back when Scotty approached the underwater entrance and got a picture that was priceless! The grouper had returned to his hoht that suddenly probed his hide-out, he flashed out and caught Scotty by surprise Scotty dropped his flashlight and back-pedaled frantically Grinning, Rick kept his ca, and held both hands to his face inwith its safety line
Scotty picked up his light and crawled slowly into the opening Rick waited, watching anxiously to be sure his friend's hoses and regulator cleared the entrance Then Scotty vanished inside In a moment he reappeared, headfirst, and beckoned
Rick followed hiht extended It was a little rouper's hurried departure, but he saw instantly that they were in what had been for those days a large cabin This ht picked out the re one ood condition
Scotty gestured with his light and Rick saw an oaken door He swam over to it and inspected it closely It was still firm, still in place Where did it lead?
There was only one way to find out He took hold of the old-fashi+oned handle and pulled The door didn't budge Rick tried again and failed
He swung himself around and put both feet on the wall next to the door, then applied leverage
The handle came completely off Rick sailed backward across the cabin and his tank rang like a bell as it struck soestured that he was all right They turned to inspect the object against which Rick had hurtled and found that it was the still-sound strap for a beaht iron
Rick took his belt slate and wrote, ”Whre wld he hide it?”
Scotty read it with his light, then shrugged They began a methodical inspection of the cabin, surprised that it was so clear ofhad developed only recently, perhaps fro of the shi+p They found a closet and a heap of what had once been clothes on its floor Then Scottydiscovery of the day He reached into a shelf space above the bunk, hand exploring, and touched soreen-covered bundle about a foot long and two inches thick But before he had a chance to inspect it further, his air gave out and both boys hurried to the surface on their reserves
Aboard the _Water Witch_ they shed their equip proved to be layer after layer of oilcloth, wrapped around the object The outer layers had deteriorated somewhat, but the inner ones were intact
Scotty finished unwrapping and found a second wrapping of still-dry linen He pulled the linen off, and both boys gasped It was a jeweled dagger, with a good-sized ruby winking in its hilt!
”Take it out of the sheath,” Rick suggested
Scotty did so, and disclosed a blade covered with some hard brown substance ”That's not rust Got a jackknife?”
Rick found one and handed it to hiht rease,” Rick rerease hardened into a per Wait until the scientists see this!”
Scotty grinned his pleasure ”This is one treasure the log didn't ht a lot of it to protect it so thoroughly”
”He ift for some influential friend,” Rick ventured ”It looks like Spanish work”