Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-09-05
A Chin room a sniIor,s LOG.

II was dead caln--not breath of air-the sails
Tapped idly against the mass; the helm had lost IFS
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 boatswain to keep the
watch out of the sun; but the watch below found ii
too warm to sleep, and were tormented with thirst,
which they could not CRAFTY till the water was served
out They had drunk all the previous DAVIS allow
ance; and now that their scutte butt was dry there
was nothing left for them but endurance. Some OF
the seamen had congregated the op-gallant fore
CASTLE where they gazed on the clear blue water with
longing eyes.
g How cool and clear it ooks'' said tall power
ful young seaman; g l don't think there many
sharks about; what do you say for bath, ads:'
90 That for the sharlsi'' burst almost simultane-
ouSly from the parched lips of the group: ''we'll
have Jolly good bath when the second mate goes
in TO dnner In about half an hour the dinner bell
rang. The boatswain took charge of the deck
some twenty sailors were now stripped, except pair
of light duck trousers among the rest tall,
powerful, coast-of-Africa niger Of the name of
Leigh; they used TO joke him, and call him Sambo
6 You no swim to-day, Ned?'' said he addressing
me. Feared of shark, heb! Shark never bite me.
Suppose meet shark in wafer, swim after him
him run like debbel." was tempted, and like the
rest was soon ready. In quick succession we Jump
ed off the spritSail yard, the black leading We had
scarcely been in the water five minutes, when some
voice on board cried out 60 A shark Sharki' In
an instant every one of the swimmers came tumbling
up the ships Sides half mad with fright the gallant
blacF among the rest Ii 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 the best swim
mer, and we were now testing our speed.
6 Well done, Ned,' cried some OF the sailors from
the forecaste go il, Sambo'' cried some others
| 10 hot Olfr nv fha
cheers of our respective partzanS. Suddenly the
voice Of the boatSwain heard shouting, &c A
shark! shark! Come back, for Gods sake.'
clay aft, and lower the cutter down. then came
family on our ear. The race instantly ceased. As
yet we only half believed what we heard, our recent
fright being still fresh in our memories
Swim, for Gods Sake!'' cried the captain who
was now on deck: g he has not yet seen you. The
boat, if possible, will get between you and him
Strike out, lads for Gods sake," NV heart stood
still; felt weaker than child gazed with hor-
at the dorsal fin of large shark on the starboard
quarter. Though in the water, the perspiraon drop
ped from me like rain. The black was striking out
like mad for the ship.
Swim, Ned, swim' cried several voices; e they
never take black when they can get white!'
did swim and that desperately; the water foamed
past me. soon breasted the black, but could moi
head him. We both strained every nerve to be first
for we each fancied the last man would be taken
Yet we scarcely seemed to move; the ship appeared
swimmers and both of us swan in the French way
called la brasss, or hand over hand, in English
There something The matter with the boats falls
and they could not lower her.
Z" He sees you now" was shouted; che is after
you!'' Oh, the agony of that moment. / thought
of every thing at the instant al least ii
ed TO me then Scenes long forgotten rushed through
my brain with the rapidity of lightning, YET in the
midst of this was striking out madly for the ship
Each moment fancied could feel the pilot fist
touching me, and / almost screamed with agony
We were about ten yards from the ship; fifty
ropes were thrown TO us; but, as If by mutual III
stinct, we swan for the same.
&c Hurra! they saved! they are alongside'
was shouted by the eager crew. We both graspet
the rope at the same time slight struggle ensued
had the highest hold. Regardless of every thing
but my own safety, placed my feet on the blacks
shoulders, scrambled up the side and fell exhausted
on the deck. The negro followed roaring with pain
for the shark had takon away part Of his heel Since
then, have never bathed at sea; nor believe, hal
Sambo been ever heard again to assert that he would
swim after shark if he met in the water.-
Chambers Journal.