t,
with such a crew, further search after the treasure was useless. Phips,
therefore, sailed for Jamaica, changed the crew, and again weighed
anchor for Hispaniola. There he was lucky enough to find an old
Spaniard who told him that the wreck was somewhere about a reef a few
leagues north of Puerto de la Plata. Phips immediately went to the
spot. But his search for the wreck was long and unavailing, the season
was changing, and the "Rose Algier," now but half manned and in
unseaworthy condition, was unfit to prowl around a dangerous reef in
the hurricane season. So, without having accomplished the object of so
much exertion and anxiety, Phips was obliged to return to England, a
baffled but not a discouraged man.

Very naturally, it was impossible for our adventurer to obtain another
English ship-of-war, although he received much credit for the courage
and skill shown in controlling the mutineers, and one would conclude
that the treasure of the old Spanish galleon would after this have
remained at the bottom of the sea, the exclusive possession of the
sharks, the turtles and the barracudas. But with rare pertinacity Phips
returned to the charge, and at last persuaded the Duke of Albemarle
and several other wealthy noblemen to his views. They formed a company
and obtained a patent from King James II., giving them the sole right
to all wrecked treasure they might find during a certain number of
years. Then they fitted out a ship and tender, the latter to cruise in
coves and shoal water, and Phips invented several rude contrivances,
for dragging and diving, far inferior to the means now used for such
purposes. Thus prepared, he sailed once more for Hispaniola. There a
small, stout boat was built, and with it and a crew of Indian divers
the tender was despatched to the reef where the wreck was said to be.
The tender was anchored in good holding-ground at a safe distance from
the reef, and the men then rowed slowly in the boat around it,
carefully examining the depths below for signs of the wrecked galleon.
The waters in the West Indies are very clear, and during a calm objects
can be seen at a considerable depth. The rocks were of singular form,
rising nearly to the surface, but with sides so steep that any vessel
striking them would be liable to go down many fathoms below the reach
of the most expert diver. The only hope was that the wreck might have
lodged on some projecting ledge. But the closest observation, long
contin