By tying a piece of iron to a rope and letting it down into the sea, they discovered that they lay upon a ridge, and that there were but four feet of water beneath their bow, and, having learned this, determined to wade to the beach.

First, however, they went back to the cabin and filled a leather bag they found with food and wine.

Then, by an afterthought, they searched for the place where d'Aguilar slept, and discovered it between decks; also a strong-box which they made shift to break open with an iron bar.
In it was a great store of gold, placed there, no doubt, for the payment of the crew, and with it some jewels.

The jewels they left, but the money they divided and stowed it about them to serve their needs should they come safe ashore.

Then they washed each other's wounds and bound them up, and descending the ladder which had been thrown over the ship's side when the Spaniards escaped in the boat, let themselves down into the sea and bade farewell to the _San Antonio_.
By now the wind had fallen and the sun shone brightly, warming their chilled blood; also the water, which was quite calm, did not rise much above their middles, so that they were able--the bottom being smooth and sandy--to wade without trouble to the shore.