Chapters 16, 17, and 18 Summary

Salvage continues as the weeks go by. The silver had been stored in bags, which rotted through long ago, leaving a cascade of silver pouring out of the ship. Daily diving brings up nearly all the silver. The gold had been stored in three massive chests and further demolition charges are fired to open the hull enough to bring out the first chest. More and extensive salvage is required to finally bring out the second chest, but the third chest has fallen through the entire wreck. McCullum recovers enough to begin taking an active role and determines that the entire wreck must be demolished to reach the final chest of gold. Hornblower spends the passing time drilling the men in seamanship and exercise. He spends a good amount of time congratulating himself on his successes and apparently adroit handling of the...