The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-03
A Chip from q Sailors Log.

A Chip from Sailors Logs
II was @ dead calu,--not breath pf
air-the sails tapped idly against the
masts; the helm had lost It's 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 cut or
the sun; but the watch below found l.
too warm to sleep, and were tor,nentcd
with thirst, whica they could not CRAFTY
till the water was served out. They had
drunk all the previous days allowance:
and now their scuttlo-butt was dry, there
was nothing but endurance. Some OF
the sealnen had congregated on the top
gallant forecastle. where they gazed on
the clear blue water with longing eyes.
"How COO! and clear it looks, said II
tall, powerful young seameni"l don't
think there are many sharks about; what
do you say for bath. lids." 'a'
THAT for the sharks!" burst almost
simulta ne ously from the parched lips Of
the group; ell have jolly good bath
when the second mate goes in to din
ner" 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
trowsers; among the rest was tQll
powerful, coast-oi-Afica Niger OF the
maine Of Leigh: they used to joke HIN,
and call him Sambo.
You no swim to-day, Ned," said he.
addressing me. "Feard OF sharks. heh!
Shark nebber bite me. Supp sci meet
run like debil." | was tempted, and,
I like the rest, was soon ready. In quick
succession we jumped off the spIitsail
yard, the black leading. We had scarce
| iy been iD,he water i've minutes, when
some voice ip-bonld cried cut, "a
shark! shark" In an instant every
one of the swimmers came tumbing up
the ships ides, half had with fright, tho
gallant black among the rest. II was a
fj.lse alarm. We felt angry with our
selves for being frightened, arery with
those who had ehtened US, and iuri-
Gus with those who had laughed u. us.
In an, ii CT nt n Cit all wt.e he,jf In
tie water, the b; elk and myself s~ im-
ming some distance from the ship. For
TWO successive voyages there had been
a SOFT Of rivalry b. tween rs: each fan
ccd that he was the best ~ iin,ner, and
we were now testing our speed.
"Well done, Ned!" cried some one
of the sailors from the forecas,le. go
it, Sambo' cried some others We
were both strainIDg our utmost, excited
by the cheers Of our respective purti-
zans. Suddenly the voice of the boat
swain was e;rd shouting. "A shark!
ID shark. Come back, for Gods sake"
Lay aft, and ,wer the cutter down"
then came family on our ears. Tho
race instantly ceased. As Yet, we only
h believed what we heard, our recent
fright being still fresh in our memories.
Swim, for G"d's sake!' cried tho
captain, who was now on deck; he has
n t yet seen you. The boat, it possible,
will get between you and him. Strike
out lads, for Gods sake" My hear,
stood still; felt weaker than child
as | gazed with horror at the dorsal fin
ola large shark on the starboard quar-
ter. Though in tie water, the perspira-
ton dropped from me like rain: tho
black was striking cut like mad for tho
ship.
"Swim, Ned--swiml" cried several
voices; they never take black when
they can get white"
did swim, and that desperately; the
water ioalned past me. j soon breasted
the black, bat could MT heud him. We
! both strained every nerve to be first, for
We each ianci.d tic last man would be
taken. Yet we scarcely seemed t. move:
the ship appearud as iaf as ever from us.
We were both powerful swimmers, and
both Of as swan in the French way called
Ia jrnsse, or hand over hand, in Eng sish.
There was something the matter with
the boats falls, and they could net lower
her. t.
He sees you now!" was shouted;
she is after youl" Oh, the agony Of
that mom,nt! thought ofevery thing
at the same instant, AT least so it seetnd
TO me then. Scenes long forgotten rush
ed through my brain with the rapidity
| Of lightning, yet iii the midst Of this was
striking out madly for the ship. Each
IA mtnt J ianced | cpuid feel the pilot
fish touching me, and almos: screamed
with agony. We are now not ten yards
from the snip: fifty ropes were thrown
t. us; but, as if by mutual instinct, we
swan for the same A}-t
"Hurrah! they are saved. they are
along-side." was shouted by the eager
crew. We both grasped the rope at the
same time: a slight struggle ensued
had the highest hold. Regardless Of eve
rything but my own safety, placed my
feet on the blacks shoulders, scrambled
up the side, and fell exhausted On the
deck. Tne negro followed, arihg with
pain, for the shark had taken away part
Of his heel. Since then | have n,ver
bathed at sea; nor, believe, has Sam
b. been ever heard again to assert that
he would swim after shark if he met
one IN the water.
L