ONCE AGAIN THE WIND WAS MODERATE AT NORTH ROCK BUT MARE’S tails and mackerel scales began to push up from the horizon. As every sailor knew, weather was coming.
Thus, there was a sense of urgency as the barge was pushed off the beach into the shallow surf, with Indigo Jones in the bow and the Bermuda Bell just behind him. He had recovered from the devastating chill of yesterday afternoon and was smiling, no doubt anticipating a good day on the bottom.
The gulls were absent today, having apparently figured out that no one was fishing from the barge and thus there was no reason to be present.
On shore, Caleb Visser, Elinore, and Ezra Somers paced the sand once again, heartened by Indigo’s find yesterday. Little Eddy was chasing shore birds, trying to stay warm. Today was not as sunny, so visibility would not be as good, but Indigo claimed to know where to go. He had brought along a large wire basket, fine meshed but strong, with a stout iron handle to which was attached a rope. He certainly seemed optimistic. From the shore Somers could see Indigo standing by the basket as the crew made the bell ready. The mast was swung into place and the rope attached to the top of it, the creaking of the block sounded clear and cold.
Once again, the bell was lowered over the side of the anchored barge and, once again, Indigo dove over the side and up into it. His basket was lowered next and he took it inside with him. A single tug on the line, and the bell sank beneath the surface.
Optimism is like the tide: it ebbs and flows. After an hour it had ebbed badly on the beach, and then after almost two hours it had gone out to sea entirely. The little group on shore busied themselves building a fire, trying to keep their spirits up, for if Indigo found nothing today it was unclear when he could try again. Already it was becoming cloudier, and the mares’ tails seemed to be fairly galloping across the sky.
At last, a yell from the barge, which meant two tugs on the rope. Slowly the bell was retrieved from the bottom, coming up hand over fist, until the top broke the surface and Indigo swam out from inside. He had to be pulled out of the water and stood shivering uncontrollably as the bell was raised higher and finally swung over to be settled on the deck of the barge.
Those on shore could feel the bottom drop out of their hope, for there was no sign of any discovery aboard the barge. The boom was untied from the bell and there was some little effort to run the wire basket’s rope through the block, and then the crew began heaving the rope down through the block with grunts aplenty.
Slowly the wire basket rose from the water and swung onto the barge, water running through the wires and onto the deck. Inside the basket were hundreds of what appeared to be bright gold oysters.
A great shout went up from the crew and was taken up by those on shore. As quickly as possible the barge weighed and one crewman used the skull to maneuver the unhandy craft to the beach, running it ashore on a breaking wave. Indigo was led off the barge onto the sand shivering in spastic movements. Elinore immediately wrapped him in a towel and began rubbing his back and shoulders.
Next, two men carried the basket laden with gold coins off the barge to where the group was standing at the water’s edge. The basket was dropped onto the sand at Caleb Visser’s feet, and at first he simply stared at it in disbelief, seeming not to comprehend the sight before his eyes. And then tears leapt from those eyes. There was the gold, a mound of it, as bright as the day he’d packed the chest. Little Eddy fell to his knees and dug his hands into the coins in amazement.
Elinore put her arm around Visser’s shoulders, for the retrieval of the gold meant his dream was still alive. She only hoped his father was. Soon enough the moment was past and Caleb shook Somers’ hand and pounded Indigo Jones’ back and went to each of the crew and thanked them, as well. His eyes were dry and bright blue again.
The crew left to return the barge to Tucker’s Town, for the wind was getting up as the weather moved in and would just serve to take them around the island. Meanwhile, Ezra, Elinore, Caleb, and Indigo loaded the basket full of coins into the back of their carriage and, with Little Eddy sitting next to the gold as guard, made off for St. George Town. To a person they were astonished by their good fortune, none more than Caleb Visser, of course.
Once back at Somers’ office the gold was counted and the total was just shy of $11,500. It was remarkable, really, for almost all the treasure had been recovered and whatever was left, well, the sea could have.
Except that Indigo Jones stood by patiently, smiling. A really big, wide smile.