The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-04-01
rhrin.ng Incident of ocean 1,fo.

-shrEIl:nss Incident OF Ocean Life.
Our noble ship lay at anchor in the Bay Of
| Tanss7r, q fortified town in the extreme north
west OF Africa. The day had been extremely
mild, with gentle breeze sweeping TO the north
ward ard westward, but along toward the close
Of the afternoon, the sea breeze died away, and
one Of those sultry, even-lihe atmospheric
breathings, came from the great sun burnt Saba
Ia. Half an hour before sundown the captain
gave the cheering order to the boatswain to
call the hands to go in swimming, and in less
than Ave minutes, the forms OF our tGrs were
seen leapiEg from the arms Of the lower yards.
One Of the studding sails had been lowered
into the water, with It's corners suspended from
the main yard arm and the swinging boom, and
into these the swimmers made their way. A
mong those who seemed TO be enjoying the
sport most heartily, we're two boys-Tim Wal
lace and Fred EairbQnk5-the latter Of whom,
was the son Of our old gunner and. in a laugh
ing mood, they started cut from studdipg sail
on race.
There was loud ringing shout Of joy OF their
lips as they putof, and they darted thro' the wa
ter like fishes. The surface Of the sea Was as
heavy svells that set in from the Atlantic.
The vessel was moored with q long sweep
from both cables, and the buoy of the starboard
quarter, where it rose and fell with TIE lGzy
swells like drunken man
Towards this buoy the two lads msde their
way, Fred Fairbanks taking the lead, but when
they were IN about twenty or thirty fathoms Of
~ h. sod 70 win
the race The old gunner watched the progress
Of his son with vast degree Of pride, and as
he saw him drop behind, he leaped upon the
poop, and was just upon the point Of urging
him on by shout, when d cry reached his ear
that made Aim start as IL he had been struck
by d cannon bal.
\ shark "a shark came from the captain oT
the foreoastle, and, at the sound Of these terri
BITE words the men who were il the water leaped
and plunged towards the ship.
Right abeam, at u distance OF three or four
cables length, sharp wake was seen in the
water, where the back Of the monster was visi
bic. His course was for the boys.
For vmoment the gunner stood like one bereft
os sense, but or the next he shouted at the top
of his voice fer the boys TO turn, but the little
fellows heard him not-stoutly the swimmers
strove for the goal, al unconscious of the bloody
death spirit that lowered SO near them. Their
merry laugh still rang over the water, and at
length they both touched the buoys together.
Oh, what drops of agony started from the
brow of our gunner. boat had put of, but
Fairbanks knew that it could not reach the boys
in season, and every moment he expected to
the monster sink from sight, then he knew that
reached the ship that went through every heart
like stream Of fre-the boys had discovered
their enemy.
That cry started old Fairbanks to his senses,
and quicker than thought he sprang to the quar-
ter-deck. The guns were all loaded and shot
ted fore and aft, and none knew their temper
better than he. With steady hand made strong
by sudden hope, the old gunner seized prim-
ing wire, and pricked the cartridge of one of the
quarter guns he took from hispoeket a percus-
sion wafer and set in its place, and set back the
hammer of the patent lock. With a giant
strength the old man swayed the breech of the
heavy gun to its bearing and then seizing the
string of the lock, he stood back and watched
for the next swell that would bring the shark in
range. He had aimed the piece some distance
ahead his mark, but yet g little moment would
settle HE hopes and fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every heart in
that old ship beat painfully. The boat was yet
some distance from the boys, while the horrid
sea monster was fcarfully near. Suddenly the
air awoke by the roar of the heavy gun, and as
the old man knew his shot was gone, he sank
back upon the conlbing of the hatch and covered
his face with his hands, as L afraid to see the
result of his own efforts, for if he had failed he
knew that his boy was lost.
For moment after the report of the gun had
died away upon the air, there was dead silence
but as the dense smoke arose from the surface
Of the water, there was, at first, low murmur
breaking from the lips Of the men-that muir
mur grew louder and stronger, until it swelled
TO joyous, deafening shout. The old gunner
sprGng to his feet and gazed off on the water,
and the first thing that met his view was the
huge carcass of the shark floating with his white
belly up, manglcd, lifoless mass.
In few moments the boat reached the daring