Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-09-25


Nature and Art is-JENNY LIND!
A CHIP FROM A SAILORS LOG.
1t was a de ad caIm-not breath of air
the sails tapped idly against the masts; the
helm had lost its power, and the ship turn
ed 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 found it too warm to sleep, and were
tormen,ed with thirst, which they could not
ga,lfy till the water was served out. They
had drunk all The previous days allowance;
and now that their scul,e- butt was dry,
there was nothing left for them but endur-
ance. Some Of the seamen had cougregated
on the top gallant forecaslle, where they
gazcd on the clear blue water 18th longing
eyes.
"How cool and clear il looks" said tall,
powerful young seaman; IL don't think
there are many sharks about; what do you
say for bath, lads -
That for the sharks !" burst almost ST.
mul'aneously from the parched lips of the
group "we'll have a jolly good bath when
the second mate goes in to dinner" In "a
bout half all hour the dinner bell rang. The
boatswan took charge Of the deck some
twenty sailors were now stripped, except
pair of light duck trowsers; among the rest
was tall, powerful, coast Of Africa niger
of The name of Leigh they used to joke
him, and call him Sambo.
''You no swim to-day. Ned - said he,
,IJ I.Eo Of cb,rI. bob
Shark nebber bite me. Suppose | meet
shark in water, swim after hm-him run
like debil.o was tempted, and, like the
rest, was soon ready. In quick succession
we Jumped of. the sprilsail yard. the black
leading. We had scarcely been in the Wa
ter five minutes, when some voice in-board
cried out, "a shark ! shark - In an in
slant every one of the swimmers came tum-
bling up The ships sides half mad with
fright, the gallant black among the rest. Ii
was false alarm. We Gel. angry with our
selves for being frightened, angry with those
who had frightened us and furious with
those who had laughed a, US. ln another
moment we were all again in the wafer, the
black and myself swimming some distance
from the ship. For two successive voya-
ges there had been sor. of rivalry between
us each fancied ,ha, he was the best swim
mer, and we were now testing our speed.
"Well done, Ned !" cried some of the
sailors from the forecaslle. "Go it, SAM
bop cried some others. We were both
straning our utmost, excited by the cheers
of our respective parlisans. Suddenly the
voice of the boatswan was heard shouting,
"a shark shark Come back, for Gods
sake ~
Lay aft, and lower the cutter down."
then came family on our ears. The race
instantly ceased. As yet, we only half be-
iieved what we heard, our recent fr ighl be-
ins still fresh in our memories.
"Swim, for Gods sake!' cried the cap
tain, who was now on deck; he has not
yet seen you. The boat, if possible, will
get between you and him. Strike ou! lads,
for Gods sake - My heart stood still !;
felt weaker than child as gazed with
horror at The dorsal fin of large shark on
the s,arboard quarter. Though IN the wa
Ter, the perspira,ion dropped from ME like
rain; The black was striking out like mad
for the ship.
Swim, Ned-swim !" cried several voic-
es ''.hey never take black when they can
get white"
! did swim, and that desperately: the
water foamed past me. soon breasted the
black, but could not head him. We both
strained every nerve to be first, for each fan
ced the last man would be taken. Yet we
scarcely seemed TO move; the ship appear
ed as far off as ever from us. We were
both powerful swimmers, and both swan
in the French way called la brasse, or hand
over hand, in English. There was some
thing the matter with the boats falls and
they could not lower her.
ole sees you now % was shouted she
is after youn 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
my brain with the rapidity of lightning, yet
in the midst of this was striking out mad
ly for the ship. Each moment ] fancied !
could feel the plot-Gsh touching me, and |
almost screamed with agony. We were
now not ten yards from the ship: fifty
ropes were thrown to US, but as if by mu-
tual instinct, we swan for the same
"Hurra they are saved they arc along
side - was shouted by the eager crew