The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-07-29
Misfellaneons.
a Chip from a sailor,s Log.

+ II was dead calm--nota O breath OF air
the sails tapped idly against the masts; the
helm had lost its power, and the ship turned
her head how and where she liked. The
heat was intense, so much so, that the chiei
mate had told the boatswain to keep the
watch out of the sun; but the watch below
found it too warm to sleep, and were tor
mented with thirst, which they could not
crafty till the water was served out They
had drunk all of the previous days allow
ance; and now that their scuttle butt was
diy, there was nothing left for them but en-
durance. Some of the seamen had congre-
gated on the top gallant forecastle, where
they gazed on the clear blue water with
longing eyes. :.
"How cool and clear it looks" said tall,
powerful young seamen; 81 don't think
there are many sharks about: what do you
say for bath, lads u"
"That for the sharks" burst almost stimuli
taneously from the parched lips of the group:
"we'll have jolly good bath when the
second mate goes into dinner" In about
half an hour the dinner bell rang. The
boatswain took charge Of the deck; some
twenty sailors were now stripped, except a
pair Of light duck trowsers; among the rest
was tall, powerful, coast-ot-Africa niger
of'the name Of Leigh: they used to joke him,
and call him Sambo.
"You no swim to-day, Nedq said he, ad-
dressing me. Cleared of shark, heh? Shark
nebber bite me. Suppose meet shark in
water, swim after him-him run like deb
bel." l was tempted, and, like the rest,
was soon ready. In quick succession we
jumped off the spiritsail yard, the black
leading. We had scarcely been in the water
five minutes. when some voice in-board
cried out, GA shark shark" In an in
slant every one of the swimmers came tumb-
ling up the ships sides, half mad with fright,
the gallant black among the rest. 1t was a
false alarm. We felt angry with ourselves
for being frightened, angry with those who
had frightened us, and furious with those
who had laughed at us. In another moment
we were all again in the water, the black
and myself swimming some distance from
the ship. For two successive voyages there
had been sort Of rivalry between us each
fancied that he was the best swimmer, and
we were now testing our speed.
"Well done, Nedw cried some of the
sailors from the forecastle. $50 it, Sambo! y
cried some others. We were both strain
ing our utmost, excited by the cheers Of ouI
respective partisans. Suddenly the voice ol
the boatswain was heard shouting, "a
shark! shark! Come back for Gods sake !!
"Lay aft, and lower the cutter down.
then came family on our ear. The race in
stantly ceased. AS yet, we only half be-
lieved what we heard, our recent Fright be-
ing still fresh in our memories.
"Swim for Gods sake p cried the captain
who was now on deck; :" he has not yet seer
you. The boat, if possible, will get be
tween you and him. Strike out lads, TO
Gods sakew My heart stood still fel
weaker than child as l gazed with horror a
the dorsal fin of a large shark on the star
board quarter. Though in the water, tht
perspiration dropped from me like rain: thu
black was striking out like mad for the ship
"Swim, Ned-swimp cried severa
voices "they never take black when the,
can get white"
did swim, and that desperately; th'
water foamed past me. soon breasted the
black, but could not head him. We boil
strained every nerve to be first, for we each
fancied the last man would be taken. Ye
we scarcely seemed to move; the ship ap
peared as far as ever from us. We were boil
powerful swimmers, and both of us swan
in the French way called Ia brassc, or hant
over hand in English. There was somethin,
the matter with the boats falls, and thel
could not lower her.
"He sees you now |" was shouted; "ht
4 is after you!' Oh the agony Of that mo
ment! thought Of every thing at the same
instant, at least so it seemed to me then
Scenes long forgotten rushed through M
brain with the rapidity of lightning, yet ii
the midst Of this | was striking out madl!
for the ship. Each moment fancied / coull
feel the pilot-fish touching me, and almos
screamed with agony. We were now no
ten yards from the ship; fifty ropes wer,
thrown to us; but, as if by mutual instinct
we swan for the same.
"Hurra! they are saved they are along
side p' was shouted by the eager crew. w
both grasped the rope at the same time:
slight struggle ensued: had the highest hold
Regardless Of everything but my own safety
placed my feet on the blacks shoulders
scrambled up the side, and fell exhausted OF
the deck. The negro followed roaring wit
pain, for the shark had taken away part Q
his heel. Since thea, have never bathe
at sea; nor, believe. has Sambo been eve
heard again toassert that he would swim al
ter shark if be met one in the water.-
lCharnbers's Journal.