Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1852-04-21
The Old r,.nners shot.

The Old Gunners Shot.
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Our noble ship lay at anchor in
the Bay Of Tangier, fortified town
in the extreme northwest Of Africa.
The day had been extremely mild,
with gentle breeze sweeping to the
northwar and westward; but along
towards the close of the afternoon the
sea-breeze died away, and one of
those solitary, oven-like atmospheric
breathings came from the great sun
burnt Sahara. Half an hour before
sundown the captain gave the cheer
ing order for the boatswain to call
the hands to 60 in swimming, and in
less than five minutes the forms Of
tars were seen leaping from the arms
of the lower yards. rgss aol
One of the studding sails had been
lowered into the water, with the cor
ners suspended, from the main yard
arm and the swinging boom, and into
this most of the swimmers made
their way. Among those who SEEM
ed to be enjoying the sport most
heartily were two boys, Tim Wallace
and Fred Fairbanks, the latter Of
whom was the son of our old gunner,
and in laughing mood they started
out from the studding sail on a race
There was loud ringing shout ol
Joy on their lips as they put off, and
they darted thro' the water like fishes
The surface Of the sea was smooth Al
glass, though its bosom rose in long
heavy swells that set in from the At
lantic. ....s p. ....-....
The vessel was moored with long
sweep from both cables, and the buoy
Of the starboard anchor was far away
on the starboard quarter, where il
rose and fell with the swells like a
drunken man.
Towards this buoy the two lads
made their way, Fred Fairbanks TAX
ing the lead; but when they were
within about twenty or thirty fathoms
of the buoy, Tim shot ahead and
promised to win the race. The old
gunner watched the progress of his
little son with vast degree of pride,
and when he saw him drop behind,
he leaped upon the poop, and was
just about 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! n shark came forth from
the captain Of the forecastle, and at
the sound of these terrible words the
men who were in the water leaped
and planged towards the ship.
Right abeam, at the distance ot
three or four cable lengths, a shark
wake was seen in the water, where
the back of the monster was visible
His course was for the boys.
For moment the gunner stood like
one bereft ofsense, bat on the next he
shouted for the boys to return, but
they heard him not-stoutly the two
swimmers strove for the goal, all un-
conscious Of the bloody death-spiri,
that hovered near them. Their mer.
ry laugh still rang over the waters
and at length they both touched tht
buoy together.
4 Oh, what drops Of agony started
| from the brow ofour gunner! A boa
had put off, but Fairbanks knew i
would not reach the boys in season
and every moment he expected t
see the monster sink from sight--thcl
he knew that all hope was gone. A
this moment cry reached the shi[
that went through the heart like
stream of fire--the boys had discov
cred their enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks Il
his senses, and quicker than though
he sprang to the quarterback. Tn
guns were all loaded and shotted for
and aft, and none knew their tempa
better than he. With steady hant
made strong by sudden hope, th'
old gunner seized priming wire ant
picked the cartridge of one of tn,
quarter guns; then he took from hi
pocket a percussion wafer, and set i
in its place and set back the hamme
Of the patent lock. With q gian
strength the old man swayed tn
breech of the heavy gun to its bear
ing, and then seizing the string OF tn
lock, he stood back and watched 70
the next swell that would bring tn
\ shark in range. He had aimed th,
piece little ahead of his mark, bu
yet little moment would settle hi
i hopes and fears. Every breath wa
hushed, and every heart in that oil
ship beat painfully. The boat wa
yet some distance from the boy.