There was no time to be lost. They were in a treacherous¹ part of the ocean, and strong currents might at any time further break up the wreck², so that they could not come at the gold. It was decided³, by means of motions, to at once transfer the treasure to the submarine. As the boxes were too heavy to carry easily, especially as two men, who were required to lift one, could not walk together in the uncertain footing afforded by the wreck, another plan was adopted. The boxes were opened and the bars, a few at a time, were dropped on a firm, sandy place at the side of the wreck. Tom and Captain Weston did this work, while Mr. Sharp and Mr. Damon carried the bullion⁴ to the diving chamber⁵ of the Advance. They put the yellow bars inside, and when quite a number had been thus shifted, Mr. Swift, closing the chamber, pumped the water out and removed the gold. Then he opened the chamber to the divers⁶ again, and the process was repeated, until all the bullion had been secured.