After a closer investigation
he was disappointed to find that she was not nearly as large as the
vessel described by the Indian; but by her appearance he judged she must
have been under water many, many years. All the iron work was eaten away
and the timbers badly decayed. He gave the signal, "kedge and buoy." The
answer from above was "all-right," and soon after he grabbed a kedge
that slowly and silently descended near him. Having fastened it to the
wreck, he signaled "haul away," and was soon to the surface and helped
aboard the yawl. When the helmet was removed he was very much
exhausted. The captain was enthusiastic over his discovery, but was
rather disappointed when told of the dimensions of the wreck. The
schooner was then hailed to come alongside and all sails were lowered.
One of the largest dredges was sent down and Paul descended after it. He
used the dredge to clear away the masses of vegetation which covered the
wreck. He fastened the claws in the decayed wood and signaling them to
haul away, an entrance was at last effected into the hull. He found
nothing there to reward him for his trouble and work except long white
rows, which on examination proved to be grinning skulls and bones and
the traces of rusty iron chains that bound them together in life.
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