“Think we can find the place in the dark, Biff?” his father asked.
“It will take a bit of doing, Dad. But we set a marking buoy over the Sea Islander, attached to one of her halyards. Good thing we did, too. We’d never be able to locate a boat on the bottom at night.”
It took more time than they had calculated to locate the marking buoy. They had to cruise the area for more than an hour before a shout from Li told them they had found it.
“Now the problem is,” Mr. Brewster said, “how are we going to hook our anchor into the sunken ship? Once we do that, there can be no doubt as to our salvage rights.”
“How about this, Dad?” Biff suggested. “Let’s drop the hook until we can feel her just touch bottom. Then we can run back and forth over the Sea Islander until we feel the anchor’s points sink into her side.”
“Good. Excellent suggestion.” Biff’s father acted at once. He brought the Easy Action about and aimed her bow directly at the marking buoy. They felt the anchor drag as it struck the submerged sloop. But on their first pass the hook didn’t catch. Mr. Brewster reversed his course. This time the hook sunk into the side of the sunken Sea Islander and held. Mr. Brewster revved up the engine, and the Easy Action tugged at her sunken sister.
“That ought to set the anchor in her side but good,” Mr. Brewster said. He cut the engine. “Try the winch, Biff. See if you can raise the anchor. I want to make sure we’re really caught onto her.”
Biff did so. He put all his strength into trying to turn the winch. The anchor was set. The Easy Action and the Sea Islander were joined by a stout, thick hawser.
It was late. Everyone, feeling happy about their success, was ready to turn in.
“Tired, Li?” Biff asked. His answer was a quick nod of his friend’s head as Li headed below for the comfort of his berth.