Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-08-13

A Chip from "a Sailors Log.


A Chip from "a Sailors Log.
IL was n dead cam-not breath Of air
The sails tapped idly against the mass; the
helm had lost its powei, and the ship turned
her head how and where she liked. The
heat was intense, so much so, that The chief
mate had told the boatswain To keep the
watch out Of the sun; but The watch below
inund 1t tO warm 10 sleep, and were tormen-
led with thirst, which they could no, satisfy
un'i' the water was served Out. They had
drank all the previous days allowance, and
nov their scultle butt was dry. there was
nothing left for them but endurance. Some
OF the sesmen mad congregated on the top
gallant roIecssIle, where they gazed on the
clear blue water with longing eyes.
How cool and ciear il looks. said tall,
powerful young seainan. j don't ihiuk there
are many sharks ABOUT; Whist do you say Tor
. bath, ladsl'
That for sharks burst almost simullsae.
Ousls from The patched lips of the group;
'we'I have jolly good bath ~hen the second
mate goes ia to dioner.' ln shout bali un
hour The dinner bell rang The boatswsiu
took charge OF the deck; some twenty sailors
were nov stripped. except pair Of hght
duck ,rowsers; among the rest WAS tall,
powerful. csst.cff African negro of the came
Os Leigh; they used 10 joke h,m and call
hin Sam5n.
You no swm to day, Nedl SAID he. adj
dressing me. 'Fead of shstk hehl' Shark
nebber bie me. Suppose meet shark 10
water, swim after hiu--hIm run like deb
be.' | was tempted, aud like the te,i, was
soon 'eady. In quick succession. We jumped
Oft the spriisail ysid, tbe bIsck leading. We
asi scarcely been N the water five minutes.
shark a shark" II an instant every ose of
tile swimmers came tumblng up the ships
sides, halt mad wiih flight, The gallaut black
among he rest. Il was false alarm. We
felt angry with ourselves foI being ighiened.
angry with those who had frightened us ln
another moment we were alt again IN the wa
ter, the black and myself swimming some
distance from the ship. For two successive
VOYAGES there had been sort Of rivalry be-
tween TVS; each fanced that he was the best
swimmer, aud We were nov testing our
speed
We'll done Ned!' cried some Of the sail
ots from the ioTccaSle. 'Go II, Sainbn"
cried s0.ne others We were bath stsining
our urmots. excited by the respective par,I
sans. Suddenly The voice uf boalswain was
heard shouting, "a shark. a shark. Come
back for Gods sake!
Lay aft. ard lower the cutter down then
came fainly on our ear. We stopped in
SANITY. As yet. we only half believed what
we heard, our recent fight being still fresh
In our memories.
Swim for Gud's sake, cried The captain.
who was now on deek; me has not yet seen
you.' The hoal, if possible, will get between
yOu and hun. Strike out lads, for Gods sake!'
Ny heat stood sull. | felI weaker than
chllI as gazed win horror NJ tho dorssl fin
Of a large sliatk ou The star board quarier--
Though 10 the water, the Precipitation drop
ped from me like rain; the black wassliikibg
out like mad man for be ship.
Swim, Ned-swim!' cried several voices;
They never l8ke black wlieu they eau get
W hite.'
Il did swim. aud that desperately; the wa
Ter fOamed past me. | soon breasted tie
black hat could not head him. We both !
strained every nerve To be first. for each fan
cied the last man would be taken. Yet we
scarcely seemed to move. the ship appeared
as lar as ever from us. We were both pow
erful swimmers. aud both OF us swan in the
French way, called Ia brasie, or hand over |
hand IN English. There was something the |
matter with the boats falls, and they could |
not lower her.
He sees you nov" Was shouted; he is after
you" Oh the agony of that moment!
Ihought Of everything that at the same in
stant. at least So il seemed 10 me then. Scenes
long forgotten rushed through my brain wuh
he rapldny Of lightning, ye, 10 the midst ul
his was striking out nady for the ship
Each moment | fancied j could fsel the p-
OF fish touching NE. snJ almost screamed
with agony. We were now not ten yards
rom the ship; fifty ropes were thrown TO us;
Dui, as ifby mutual instinct, we swan for the
same.
'Huuah! they are seved!-they are along
'ide" was shouted by the eager crew. We
both grssped the rope al one time; slight
'tTuggle eusued; / had the highest hold -
Regardless Of everything but my own safety,
placed my foot on the blacks shoulder,
scrambled up the side. and tell exhausted on
lie deck. The negro followed roaring with
'siu, for the shark had taken away part OF his
reel. Since then, never have batbed st
ca; 1Or, believe. has San,bo been ever heard
gaio to assert that no would swim after \
hsrk ifhe met one IN the ~sies.--L Cham :,
ers Journal.