Part 30 (2/2)

Rick surveyed the scene with discouragement The statue was somewhere under the sand, which probably meant they would never find it He had another sudden realization, too They had no proof that this shi+p was the _Maiden Hand_, no proof that the whole business wasn't just a wild-goose chase

By the tied The first group surfaced and Jiht be left Then the group was to start work on the probable location of the foredeck

During the rest period, Rick told Jimmy about the other wreck they had found, the uessed was a war casualty

”We'll take a look at it first thing in thebefore we shove off for St Thomas,” Jimmy promised ”You never knohat you'll find in a wreck We've found a lot of things worth salvaging”

The boys were operating under Navy rules now They put on fresh tanks and got their instructions froer decompression this time Stick with et the bends”

The boys nodded their understanding, then took to the water

The frogh pressure through the hose that ran down froreat clouds The boys watched They couldn't doaround until the water settled

Then they saw that the frog around with their hands Rick saw one e a round object that could only have been a cannon ball

He and Scotty plunged in, too Working with the frogmen they rapidly assembled a treasure trove of cannon, ood condition, and useless shi+p's gear

Fifteen ht the Zircon and Tony got there at the same time, and soon all work had ceased while Jonesy's find was examined

Tony took his belt knife and scraped Then he looked around at the watching group and nodded He clasped his hands together and shook the the crowd

Rick and Scotty hooted their triumph Jonesy had found the statue of St

Francis!

The boys, the scientists, Steve, and Jie they put the statue doith loving care Even under the ure of the sainted monk, head bent over the fawn he held in his arold that brought a yell of triuleam of dull silver

”Hobart, look at this!” Tony exclai scientist knelt and examined the silvery streak He borrowed Tony's knife and probed, then his laugh boomed across the water

”We are the victims of our own research!” he roared ”All this trouble--over a statue of lead!”

”Lead!” Rick stared incredulously This couldn't be true! ”There's gold, too,” he pointed out

”Apparently gold leaf over a lead base,” Tony said with a sigh ”No, Rick Hobart is right This is lead”

A call fro buddy had surfaced, and they were carrying a statue of St Francis!

Behind themen, with still another statue!

Within a half hour there were no less than eight identical statues lined up on deck St Francis, in lead, repeated eight times