Abaco Gold

by Patrick Mansell

  At dinner Lisa announced, “I’m thinking about going home tomorrow or the day after. I’ve been here a week and I’ve gotten all the relaxation I can take. I have a mountain of work at home that needs my attention. Is that OK with you?”

  “I just made a commitment to Virgil that I would work on the underwater project for a while, at least until the preliminary work gets done. I need to stay a minimum of another week before I can get out of here. If Skeet says he’ll help us then I might be able to get out sooner.”

  “How much work is there to do?” asked Lisa.

  “There’s the little detail of finding the wreck. It would be helpful if we did that before we make too many commitments. Jenny and I agree that the coins we found and the die wood I saw is strong evidence that the wreck is near. If we can find a few more artifacts then that should be enough to get some momentum going in Nassau. After we get Nassau fully on board, the rest of the work we can hire out to professionals. We’ll be diving a lot over the next few days.”

  “I’d like to stay and help, but I really feel I need to get to my work at home. If you don’t need me to dive or something like that, then I’d rather head back.”

  “Let’s see what Skeet says. If we can get him to make a commitment, we’ll have all the help we need. I’ll try to get home as soon as possible. I have a job I’d like to get to also. P.J. and Gaffer can stay and help for a while after I come home.”

  “I definitely like that idea,” said P.J.

  “Me too,” said Gaffer.

  “You’ll have to get real busy too, Jenny,” said Max. “Nassau is looking for a proposal so they can get you the funding for the project. How do you figure to do that?”

  “It starts with getting in the water with the wreckage to see what we have. I can make four dives a day if I have to. With you and P.J. and Gaffer diving, we can cover a lot of territory in a couple of days. If Skeet dives, then that is that much more help.”

  “Skeet dives,” volunteered Gaffer. “In fact, Skeet dives better than any of us. I saw his Navy insignia. He used to be what they call a Frogman. Today they call them Seals.”

  “I’m glad I made friends with him,” said Max. “I imagine he could do some damage to you if he didn’t like you.”

  “I don’t think you have to worry about Skeet. He’s one of the good guys. He just happens to be tougher and better trained than the rest of us. Besides, Dad, he said he’s glad he got to know you better and he thinks you’re OK.”

  “Anyhow, Honey,” said Max to Lisa, “we’re going to have to get moving on this project very quickly, so it looks like the vacation is mostly over. You go ahead home and I’ll get there as soon as I can. If P.J. and Gaffer want to stay after I leave then I’ll just fly home and leave the boat with them. I’m sure they will be able to stay at Great Guana if Skeet takes the job.”

  Gaffer was beaming. This was going to be great. P.J.’s expression said he was not so sure.

  With Max, Gaffer and Jenny on board, Bimini Twist idled into the turning basin at Great Guana Cay. Matthew was waiting on the dock with a line to tie off, while Susan waited inside the house with fresh coffee and home made pastries. Skeet met Max with a friendly greeting and was introduced to Jenny. The morning was unseasonably cool with a light breeze out of the southeast. It was pleasant enough to sit outside on the porch and enjoy the gentle elements. Matthew took off with Gaffer to show him around the island.

  Skeet was first to speak. “Jenny, welcome to Great Guana Cay. Max, welcome back. What have you been up to since we last saw each other? You sounded excited about your new project. I’m anxious to hear about it.”

  Max responded, “Jenny is from the Maritime Studies Department of the University of Miami. Recently when my wife and I were diving, we found some artifacts that looked promising so I sent them to Jenny to have them analyzed. It turns out that they might lead to something pretty big. Jenny sent the information to a researcher friend in Spain who has access to the original manifests of all Spanish galleons. They’re archived in Seville. The results came back indicating that we should keep looking. It could be an important find.”

  “I think I’ve dived practically every square inch of Abaco,” said Skeeter. “I’ve only recovered a few old time bottles and a few more recent wrecks. I had them checked out, but they turned out to be unimportant. How did you get so lucky?”

  Jenny took a small pouch out of her beach bag and opened it. She handed the coins over, one to Skeeter and the other to Susan. While they were examining them Max spoke, “The place I found these coins has always been interesting to me. I’ve found other small unimportant artifacts in the same area before and that’s why I keep coming back. It didn’t surprise me to find these coins. I figured sooner or later something would show up. I’ve studied this some and I know where to look.”

  Susan was impressed with the whole scenario. “Is this a treasure ship in our back yard?” she asked jokingly.

  In a more serious tone Jenny answered, “It might be something like that. We intend to find out.”

  Susan and Skeeter traded coins and examined each one carefully. Skeeter added, “Some people have all the luck, don’t they?”

  Max did not want the conversation to get off track. “We’re not treating this like a treasure dig. Jenny is a student of archaeology and is interested in the wreck from a historical standpoint. If this is the wreck we think it is, we’ll turn this into an underwater archaeological excavation.”

  “If word gets out that you have an historical Spanish galleon, you’ll never be able to keep the thieves away. They’ll smell the gold and come running,” said Skeeter. “More than anything, you’ll have to keep the buzzards in Nassau away from it.”

  “Nassau is already on our side, ready to issue permits, a license and provide protection. We were there yesterday,” said Jenny proudly, “and we have assurance from the Governor and the Minister of Antiquities.”

  “In fact,” added Max, “this project will be set up and funded by the Government of the Bahamas. There’s still some paperwork to be done, but we’ve been assured that the process will be fast-tracked.”

  “I can see that I have way underestimated you, Max. No offense meant, but nobody goes to Nassau and gets the way cleared for them like that. How did you do it?” Skeeter was incredulous.

  “First of all, I have a friend who works at Government House and he can get practically anything done. Second, anything found relating to this wreck has been promised to be returned to the government for inclusion in a museum to be established solely for the purpose of displaying artifacts and treasures from this wreck. These islands stand to make a fortune off this if we’re lucky enough to locate the rest of the ship and its contents.”

  “I think that’s very noble,” said Susan. “More people should work toward preserving the resources of the islands. Everybody uses them but nobody cares about preserving them. These islands are not wealthy in the sense of having enough to waste anything. That goes for the fishing, too. Skeeter and I talk about it and a lot of folks are genuinely concerned about getting fished out.”

  “Is this where I’m supposed to start to feel guilty,” asked Max. “I’m a fisherman.”

  “Me too,” agreed Skeeter. “I do it commercially and you do it for sport. The commercial fishermen and the sport fishermen had both better think about what they’re doing. The entire fishery of the Bahamas is in pretty tough shape compared to what it used to be. We all need to be aware of that.”

  Max saw an opening, “Here’s your chance, Skeet. If things work out, you may never have to take another fish out of the ocean.”

  “I didn’t mean to lecture, Max. It’s just something that I’ve been thinking about. Believe me, it affects me more than it does you.”

  “And in a round about way, that again brings me to why I am here. Would you like to hear about it?”

  “Of course,” said Skeeter. “Are you saying I may have some part in the treasure ship?”

  “Only if
you stop using the word treasure,” said Max. Everybody laughed. Max conyinued, “The thing is this, if we find the galleon, the government will fund our excavation and give us police protection on the site. I can only be here for about a week. After that I will just be able to visit for perhaps a week now and then or some long weekends. We need to have somebody here we can trust to run the day-to-day operations. If you’re interested in that job, we can hire you and your boat. We’ll try to pay you as much as you would have made fishing. You and I talked about just such an opportunity the day we saved the whales, only it just came sooner than we figured. We can probably have you on the payroll within a month. Interested?”

  Relief swept over Skeeter’s face. Interested? Of course he was interested. He and his wife smiled at each other. They were a happy couple and this news made them feel great. “When do we begin diving. I can be ready in about ten minutes,” said Skeeter.

  Max was quick to add, “We don’t have a payroll to put you on just yet. We’ll search for the wreck and let you know when we’re ready for you.”

  “Now doesn’t it just make sense that I should help with the search? I am, after all, a professional diver. I don’t mean to boast, but I could double your chances of finding it,” said Skeeter.

  Jenny answered, “We don’t have a payroll yet. We can’t pay you until the government accepts my written proposal and that is only after we find the wreck.”

  “Then I suggest we go find it,” said Skeet.

  That brought a laugh from everybody. This meeting was establishing the framework that would control the operation until it was complete. It was a friendly atmosphere. Everybody was charged up for the adventure. They spent another hour discussing the various possibilities regarding how Skeeter might contribute to the project. He had a reliable boat, he knew the area around the wreckage well, he was an excellent diver, he could get unlimited numbers of locals to work on the site with him. And the project suited him perfectly for the change of careers he had been contemplating. It was like a blessing had fallen out of the sky into his lap.

  Gaffer and Matthew returned from their explorations and it was time to leave. Max gave the coordinates of the dive site to Skeeter and they agreed to meet there the following day at 9:00 AM. Max would bring Jenny, Gaffer, P.J. and Godfrey along with twelve rented scuba tanks in Bimini Twist. Skeeter would bring Matthew and six tanks of his own on board Conchy Lady. Matthew was not certified to dive yet, so he would remain topside to help around the decks. It was going to be a three tank dive day for most of the group and a four tank day for Max and Skeeter. That would be a lot of diving for a single day, but there was a very high level of motivation among the group.

  Bimini Twist returned to Boat Harbour shortly after noon. When Max returned to his motel room, Lisa was beginning to pack for the trip home. Her reservations were for the following morning on a chartered flight from Marsh Harbour to Ft. Lauderdale. Max and Jenny excitedly told her about Skeeter’s acceptance of the job and the plans they had made to begin searching for the wreckage.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay and help us find the ship?” asked Max. “There’s plenty of work for everybody until it’s found.”

  “You have six divers making three to four dives per day. I think you have all the help you can use. Besides, the work I have to do at home is starting to worry me. I have some deadlines approaching on the teen talent project and it’s work only I can do right now. You just find that galleon and come home as soon as you can. And when I’m home what’s the standing instruction?”

  “I know,” said Max. “Don’t forget to call!”

  Lisa laughed. “I have you so well trained. That’s exactly right. Don’t forget to call.”

  Ten

  In Search of San Pedro

  “What’s that all about?” asked Jenny. She was addressing Skeeter and pointing to a thirty six foot open boat loaded with tourists and dive gear. At coordinates twenty-six degrees, forty-nine minutes north by seventy-seven degrees, twenty-one minutes west, Conchy Lady was anchored up with Bimini Twist tied off its stern. They were preparing for the first exploration dive of the new venture.

  “That’s the resort dive trip out of Treasure Cay. They go out twice a day. They attack the shallow reefs with beginning divers and then head back to pick up their afternoon group.” Skeet watched the dive boat chug by and waved to the captain whom he had known for several years. Then he added, “That’s Troy Matson. He runs the dive operation out of Treasure Cay. Now that he has seen us rafted up he’ll wonder what’s going on. And since we’ll be here day after day, he’s really going to wonder.”

  “Well, that’s not good,” said Jenny. “We have curious onlookers and we haven’t made the first dive yet. What will it be like after a week of sitting on this spot? The word will be out all over the place.”

  Godfrey Frey added, “News of expeditions like this spreads fast. I’ve been on archaeological sites that were mobbed with onlookers, scholars, thieves and muggers. You’ve got to be tight lipped and very protective.”

  Just then the VHF radio on board Conchy Lady came to life. “Conchy Lady, this is Abaco Diver. What’s up, Skeet?”

  Skeeter turned to Jenny and Max both of whom looked concerned. “I’ll take care of this right now and for good. At least for the time we’re exploring and until your permit is issued. Watch this.” He then keyed the mike and called back, “Hey Troy, how you doin’?”

  “Hey, Skeet. What’s going on. Looks like a party.”

  “I’m just out here with a couple of friends. They’re helping me set out some anchor buoys for the government to establish an underwater park. We’ll be out here for a couple of weeks drilling and pouring.”

  “Excellent,” replied Troy. “If the boats can tie off stationary buoys then they won’t have to anchor up and destroy the bottom.”

  “You got it,” replied Skeet. “That’s what we’re thinking. I might have a job for you while we’re at it, if you’re interested.”

  Troy replied, “I don’t know, the resort is pretty booked. I’m jammed up for the rest of the summer. What do you need?”

  “Maybe just some gear,” replied Skeet. “When the job is done, the honchos from Nassau will want to inspect it.”

  “That’s no problem,” came Troy’s reply. “Let me know whatever you need and I’ll make sure you have it. Have a good day and I’ll catch up with you later. Abaco Diver, out.”

  “Thanks, Troy, I’ll be in touch. Conchy Lady, out.” Then to Max, Jenny and Godfrey he said, “There, done. Not only will he leave us alone for the next two weeks or so, everybody else in the area will as well. And we have a commitment of any extra gear we might need. The biggest gossip in Abaco is now one of us, only headed in the complete opposite direction. We can dive in peace.”

  Max laughed while Jenny smiled broadly. “You handled that like a pro,” she said. “I’m glad you’re one of us.”

  “Me to,” said Skeeter. “Now, let’s go over some search and recovery techniques with all the divers. We’ll be fifty percent more efficient if we do this systematically.” Skeeter assembled the group at the stern of his boat and spent twenty minutes reviewing underwater searching patterns. It was technique they would all have to know about not only now, but also later when the galleon was found. He then took ten minutes to establish diving protocol, who would be in the water, when they would be in the water, the routines for buddy diving and the use, maintenance and storage of the diving equipment. It was a half hour well spent because it would save hours, maybe days, later on. It kept everything controlled, organized and safe.

  For the next few minutes Jenny and Max schooled the group on how to find artifacts at the bottom of the sea. Look at everything, imagine it as a shape. Visualize it without all the coral encrustation. Look for something out of place. Any stick or bar or piece of rope, anything could be a clue to the find. If you can lift it, bring it to the boat so we can analyze it. If you can’t lift it, tie a buoy to it and we’ll come ba
ck to examine it where it sits. “This doesn’t mean we are going to attack the area and turn over everything in sight. We need to be very careful not to disturb the habitat of any of the little critters down there,” said Jenny. “What we’re doing here can be done without being destructive and that is our first priority.”

  Max, Skeeter, Jenny, P.J. and Gaffer all suited up for the first dive. With masks and fins in their hands, they crossed over into Bimini Twist where Matthew was standing ready to guide them to the beginning point of the dive. Godfrey stayed aboard Conchy Lady to keep an eye on things topside.

  There was a one knot current moving from south to north, so the dive started at the southeast corner of the search area. The divers instructions were to space themselves thirty feet apart and let the current take them for forty minutes. The depth of the water varied from fifty five feet to seventy. Going carefully and slowly they were to try to stay even with one another. At the far end of the search area they would take a three minute safety stop at fifteen feet to allow the out-gassing of nitrogen bubbles that had accumulated in their blood from the increased atmospheric pressure. They would then surface and wait for Matthew to pick them up.

  At least that was the plan. Had they all been professional divers, it might have worked that way. But only Skeeter was a pro, the rest were experienced, but still only sport divers. So, somehow, Gaffer who had begun the dive between Skeeter on the eastern end of the divers and Jenny who was in the middle, ended up on the other side of Max who was originally positioned as the diver on the western most end of the line of divers. P.J. did not surface with the rest of the group and could not be seen from under the water. Besides the line being broken by P.J. and Gaffer, nobody saw anything worth a second look.

  Skeeter surfaced first and Matthew had the boat immediately ready to pick him up. “I can’t find P.J. down here, Matthew. Have you seen him?”

  “About ten minutes ago I saw what looked like bubbles go by about 100 feet over that way,” replied Matthew pointing to the northwest.