The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-08-08
i Chin frnm q Snil0r'S Lnr.

1t was 4 dead Calm-nOt 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 chief mate had told the boalsWain to
keep the watch out Of The sun, but thc
watch below found it too warm 10 sleep,
and were tormented with thirst. which
they could not crafty till the water was
served out. They had drunk all the pre-
vious days allowance; and now that their
scutlie butt was dry, there was nothing
left for them bat endurance. Some Of the
seamen had cOngregated on the top gall
liant forecastle, where they gazed on The
clear blue water with longing eyes.
GLOW cool and clear it looks .sa1d a
talk powerful young seaman; Il ion't
thnh there are many sharks about; what
do you say for bath, lads?''
That for the sharks!" burst almost
simultaneously from the parchcd lips OF
tae group: ''we'll have Jolly good bath
when the second mate goes in to dinner" "
In about an hour the dinner bell rang
The boatswain look charge Of The deck;
some twenty sailors were now stripped,
except pairof ight duck trowsers; among
.he rest was a tall, powerful, coast-ol>AE
rica niger of the name Of Leigh: they
used to joke him, and call him Sambo.
"Yo on no swim TO dav, NeJ?" said he,
addressing me. Cleared of shark, heh?
Shark nebber bite me. Suppose | meet
shark in water, | swim aflcr-him run
like debbcl." | was tempted, and, like
the rest, was soon ready. In quick sue
cession we jumped off the spritsail yard,
the black leading. We had scarcely been
in the water five minutes, when some
voice on board cried out, IA shark!' in
an instant every one cf the swimmers
came iumbIing up the ships sides, half
mad with fright, the gallant black among
the rest. II was false alarm. We felt an
cry with ourselves for being frightened
thus, and furious with those who had
laughed atus. In another moment we
were all again in She water, the black and
myself swimming some distance from the
ship. For two successive voyages there
had been a sort Of rivalry between US:
each fancied that he was the best SWIM
nleT and we were now testing our speed.
"Well done, Nedr' cried some of the
sailors from the forecaste. $50 it, Sam
bol'' cried some others. We were both
straining our utmost, excited by the cheers
of our respective partisans. Suddenly the
voice of The boatswain was heard shouting
"a shark! 4 shark! Come back for Gods
sake!''
Lay aft, and lower the cutter down. -
then came family upon our. The race
instantly ceased. As yet we only halt
believed what We heard, our recent fright
being still fresh IN our memories.
"Swim for Gods sakc!' cried the cap
tam, who was now on deck; che has not
yet seen you. The boat, If possible, will
get between you and him. Strike out
lads, for Gods sakc!'' My heart stood
still. felt W eaker than child as gazed
with horror on The dorsal fin Of a large
shark on the starboard quarter. Though
in the water, the persplration dropped from
rme like rain; the black was striking out
mad for the ship,
"Swim, Ned swim!" cried several
voices; they never take black when thcv
can. get white.'' ! did swim, and that
desperately Arrasvater foamed past me. |
soon breasted the black, but could not head
him. We both strained every nerve To
be first, for we each fancied the last man
would be taken. Yetwe scarcely seemed
to move; the ship appeared as far as ever
from us We were both powerful swim
mers and both OF US swan in the French
way called Ia brdSse, or hand over hand
in English. There was something the
matter with the boats falls, and thev
could not lower her, eIIc secs YOU