The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-10-15
fFrom the Pictorial Ora wing. Room Companion.
OUR GUNNER'S SHOT.
BY SYLvANUS COBB, JR.

OuR noble ship lay at anchor in the Bay
of Tangier, a fortified city in the extreme
northwest point of Africa. The day had
been extremely mild, with a gentle breeze
sweeping in from the northward and west
ward, but towards the close Of the after
noon the sea.breeze died away, and one
Of those sultry, oven.lke atmospheric
breathings came up from the great sun.
burnt Sahara. Half an hour before sun.
down, the captain gave the cheering order
for the boatswain to "call all hands TO 60
in swimming" and in less than five min.
utes the forms Of our hardy tars were seen
leaping from the gangways. the ports, the
netiines, the bowsprit, and some Of the
more ven,uresome took their plunge from
the arms Of the lower yards
One of the studding.sails had been low
cred into the water, with its corners sus.
pended from the main yard-arm and the
swinging boom, and into this most Of the
swimmers made their way. Among those
who seemed to be enjoying the sport most
highly were two Of the boys, Tim Wallace
and Fred Fairbanks, the latter of whom
was the sun of our old gunner, and in
laughing mood they started out from the
s.udding sail on race. There was loud
ringing shout Of joy upon their lips as they
put off, and they darted through the water
like fishes. The surface Of the sea was
as smooth as glass, though its bosom rose
in long, heavy swells that set in foam the
broad Atlantic. ...
The ship was moored with long sweep
upon both cables, and the buoy of the star.
board anchor was far away on the star.
board quarter, where it rose and fell with
the lazy swells like drunken man. To-
wards this buoy the two lads made their
way, Fred Fairbanks taking the lead; but
when they were within about dozen faith
oms of the buoy, Tim shot ahead and
promised to win the race. The old gunner
had watched the progress of his little son
with vast degree Of pride, and when he
saw him dropping behind, he leaped upon
upon the poop and was just upon the point
Of urging him on by shout, when cry
reached his ears that made him start as
though he had been struck by cannon.
ball.
"A shark! a shark" came from the
captain OF the forecastle, and al the sound
OF these terrible words, the men who were
in the water leaped and plunged towards
the ship.
Right abeam, at distance Of three or
four cables length, a sharp wake was seen
in the water where the back fin of the mon
uter was visible. His course was for the
bows! For moment the poor gunner
stood like one bereit Of sense, but on the
next he shouted at the top Of his voice for
his boy to turn. but the little fellow heard
him not-stoutly the two swimmers strove
for the gaol, all unconscious Of the bloody
death.spirit that hovsred so near them!-
Their merry laugh still rang out over the
waters, and at length they both touched the
buoy together.
o, what drops Of agony started from the
brow Of our gunner! A boat had put off
but Fairbanks knew that could not reach
his child in season, for the shark was toe
near its intended victims; and every mo-
ment he expected to see the monster sinh
from sight-then he knew that all hope
would be gone! At this moment cry
reached the ship that went through every
heart like q stream Of scorching fre-tht
boys had discovered their enemy!
That cry started old Fairbanks to hi.
senses, and quicker than thought he sprane
to the quarterback. The guns were load
Cd and shotted fore and aft, and non.
know thar temper better than he. Will
& s.eady hand made strong BY sudder
hope, the old gunner seized q printing