“You see, Mose,” explained Billy, “before that bag of salt was in the water very long it would be melted and a cinch for any diver to bring up from the bottom. I am going to try out the test for diving and we must have a white bag holding just five pounds of sand. White, so I can see it under water, you know. The sand will wash out of a loose-meshed bag like burlap, and it wouldn’t weigh more than two or three pounds by the time I had it on shore, and that wouldn’t be fair.”
“Sho, nuff! A flour bag is jus what yo’ want—an’ Ah emptied one dis mawnin’, too. Yo’ kin weigh five poun’s on dis scale, Ah reckon,” agreed Mose, handing Billy the scale and going for the bag.
“By the way, Mose, aren’t you coming down to watch the fun?” asked Paul, as they took the bag and started away.
“Ah shore am, Honey! Jes’ waitin’ t’ remove dis pan o’ biskits from d’ oven!”
“Let’s run across to the float and get another boat,” suggested Paul.
“Good idea—we’ll need an extra boat anyway,” approved Billy.
When the two boys arrived in Treasure Cove with the bag and scales, Fred carefully weighed out five pounds of sand while Billy prepared himself for the dive.
Paul stood watching Billy heft the bag of sand and became imbued with the spirit of achievement.
“Ever try it before, Billy?” asked he.
“Lots of times, but never before three witnesses who will attest the dive.”