Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-04-29
The Old Gnnner's Shot.

hCH6 LAY VI 1diiSi icl, d 1Olt ltIllCu IoNl
s in the extreme northwest Of Africa
1: The day had been extremely mild
e with gentle breeze sweeping to thu
e northward and westward; but along
IS towards the close of the afternoon the
T sea-breeze died away, and one 0.
s those sultry, oyen-like atmospheric
; breathings came from the great sun
n burnt Sahara. Half an hour before
T sundown the Captain gave the cheer
T ing order for the boatswain to call the
: hands to go in swimming, and in less
0 than five minutes the forms of our
T tars were seen leaping from the arms
, of the lower yards.
One of the studding sails had been
, lowered in the water, with the cor
| fners suspended, from the main yard
: arm and swinging boom, and into
this most Of the swimmers made
their way. Among those who seemed
to be enjoying the spirit most heart
ily were two Of the boys, Tim Wal
lace and Fred Fairbanks, the latter
Of whom was the son of our old gun
ner, and in the laughing mood they
started cut from the studding sail on
al race.
There was loud ringing shout Of.
Joy on their lips as they put oil, and
they darted through the water like
fishes The surface of the sea was
smooth as glass, though its bosom
rose In long heavy swellS that set ia
from the Atlantic. I
/ The vessel was moored with a
long sweep from both cables, aud the
buoy of the starboard anchor was far
away on the starboard quarter, where |
it rose and fell with the swells like !
drunken man.
Towards this buoy the two lads
made their way, Fred Fairbanks tax
ing the lead; but when they we're
within about twenty or thirty faith
oms Of the buoy, Tim shot ahead and
promised to win the race. The old
gunner watched the progress of his
little son with a vast degree of pride
and when he saw him drop behind, he
leaped upon the poop, and was Just
about at the point Of urging him on
by shout, when a cry reached his
ear that made him start as if he had
been struck with cannon ball. /,
"a shark! a shark !" came forth
from the Captain Of the forecastle,
and at the sound of these terrible !
words the men who were in the water
leapcd and plunged towards the ship,
Right abeam, at the distance Of
three or four cable lengths, d shark S
wake was seen in the water, where S
the back of the monster vas visible. !
His course was for the boys. ~
For a moment the gunner stood i
ike one bereft Of sense, but on theH G
next he shouted for the boys to turn I,
but they heard him not-stoutly the a
two swimmers strove for tile goal, ALL b
Of the bloody death 0
spirit that lowered near them il
Their merry laugh still rang over c
the waters, and at length they both t,
touched the buoy together b
Oh, what drd dps Of agony started '
from the brow of our gqnner a o
boat had put of, but Fairbanks knew S
it would not reach the boys in sea S,
son, and every moment be expected t
to see the monster sink from sight &c
then he knew that all hope was t
gone. At this moment a cry reached -h
The ship, that went through the heart C
ike a stream Of fre-the boys had p
discovered their enemy 70
The cry started old Fairbanks to 0.
lis senses, and quicker than thought Il
le sprang to the quarterback The Ii
guns we're all loaded and shotted fore o.
lnd aft, and none knew their temper d
better than he. With steady hand d
made strong by sudde en- hope, the old al
gunner seized priming wire and @
picked the cartridge of one of the Il
Iuarter guns; then he took from his el
pocket a percussion wafer, and set it
n its place and set back the hammer
If the patent lock. With giant d
strength the old man swayed the Il
Jreach of the heavy gun to its bear Il
ng, and then seizing the string of Il
he lock, he stood back and watched
or the next swell that would bring
he shark in range He had aimed lp
ais piece a little head Of his mark, Il
Dut yet little moment would settle Il
lis hopes and fears. Every breath Il