Part 32 (1/2)

The details of the work had been decided upon during the conversation held the evening previous; therefore there was nothing to prevent them from putting into immediate execution the plan proposed by Bob.

Walter went around to the left sh.o.r.e of the harbor to reach his lonely post of duty, while the others made their way in the opposite direction to where the raft had been partially pulled up on the beach.

”It's a case of swimmin'; but I think we had better keep on our trousers and s.h.i.+rts, otherwise the flies and mosquitoes will make matters too lively for us,” Bob said, as he removed a portion of his clothing, and then waded into the water to launch the raft. ”On a hot day like this we shall soon dry off an' be none the worse for the bath.”

The work was to be done entirely by diving, as a matter of course; and since the laborers would be out of the water a greater portion of the time, the old sailor's advice was very good. To expose their bare skins to the fervent rays of the sun and the attacks of insects would cause great suffering.

They carried with them nothing but a piece of the heaving-line and two lengths of iron pipe, which had been taken from the burning steamer only because they chanced to be on deck. These last would serve as a weight to hold them down in the water, and also as a poor apology for shovels in digging away the ballast covering the treasure; but Joe hoped to find the long fire-hoe, a tool which would lessen their labors very materially.

The two elder members of the party waded out in advance, pulling the raft after them while the boys pushed on the timbers until the depth of water made swimming a necessity, when Harry and Jim allowed themselves to be towed.

Not more than half an hour was spent getting the collection of timbers into position, and then they were made fast to the charred rail near the bow, opposite that portion of the hull where the treasure was supposed to be.

If the machinery had fallen toward the stern there was every chance the work would be successful; but in case it tumbled forward when the wooden supports were burned, all hope was vain, because the heavy metal could not be hoisted out with the limited means at their command.

The boiler remained upright, held in position by the bolts and bands of iron which were fastened to the keel itself; and Joe said, as the excited party stood a moment on the raft to survey the scene:

”Six feet forward of the boiler is where we must search, and I'd better make the first attempt, for I can tell just what part of the machinery is in our road, while the rest of you wouldn't know so much about it.”

”Lower yourself by the timbers. It won't do to dive head foremost until we're sure everything is clear,” and Bob held out his hand to a.s.sist the engineer in making the descent.

Joe fastened the heaving-line to the iron pipes that he might have weight enough to hold him at the bottom while making the investigation, when those on the raft could haul up the metal to be used again, and, swinging clear of the rail with Bob's aid, he sunk beneath the surface.

Never had a hundred seconds appeared so long to Harry as now. It seemed that the diver had been out of sight fully five minutes, and he was beginning to fear some accident had happened, when Joe reappeared, gasping for breath but looking very happy.

”There's nothing to interfere with our working,” he said, as soon as it was possible to speak. ”Nearly everything has fallen aft, and, with the exception of some light fittings, the ballast is as free as when we left it.”

”Is the raft in the right position?” Bob asked.

”As near as I can make out it should be run ahead, ten or a dozen feet.

I pulled away five or six of the largest rocks; but a fellow can't do very much work when it's impossible to breathe.”

Bob was eager to make the descent, and after Jim had pulled in the pipe-weights he hauled the raft ahead where Harry and Joe made her fast again as the old sailor disappeared beneath the surface.

He remained below several seconds longer than had the engineer, and on coming up confirmed the first report.

”It's only a matter of time before we'll have our hands on that gold once more,” he said. ”I reckon Joe begun in the right place, an' we must all work on the same hole. Jim, you go over, and leave Harry to 'tend to the weights.”

”What's to be done when I'm down there?”

”Pull away the rocks an' gravel as we've done. Don't try to stay too long at a time, but work lively while you are there.”

Jim was too good a swimmer to be afraid, and he leaped in from the rail, since there was no further fear in making the descent. He looked red in the face when Harry saw him again, but appeared to be in high glee.

”It's nothin' more'n I've done down to the Isle of Shoals lots of times when the fellers have tried to see who could stay under water the longest,” he said as Harry pulled in the weight and Joe took possession of it at once, that the work might not be delayed.

”I thought it was my turn;” and Harry looked disappointed because he had not been allowed to follow Jim.

”You'll have plenty of chances after awhile,” Bob replied. ”Although it don't seem very much to do, none of us can keep it up a great while.