Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-03-25

; reached his ear that made him start al le had
been 1dck with a cannon ball.
"a Shark! shark p" came forth finn the
} tapt9h of the forecastle, and at the sOnd of
thea terrible words the men who we're ia the
water leaped and plunged toward the ship
I Right abeam, at the distance Of three ca
bles lengths, shark wake was seen IN The wa
ter, where the back of the monster was visible.
Ills course was for the boys.
For moment the gunner stood like one be-
reft of sense, but on the next he shouted at the
top of his voice for the boys to turnr Put the lit
tie fellows heard him not -stOuty the twOswim-
mers stroye for the goal, all unconscious of the
bloody death spirit that lowered so near them.-
Their merry laugh still rang over the waters,
and' at siRlh, they both tOuched1he buoy to-
y, gs4sss ofegony started fr5m the brow
Of our gunner : "a boat had been put of, but
talFOanl1gslssw that 1t could not reach the boys
~ pAeasoh, aud every moment he 4 Nd to see
the monster sink from sights.-tIss@ 4 knew all
hope was gone. gar this moments y y reached
the ship, that went through every heart like
stream of fre--the boys had discovered their
enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks to his senses,
and quicker thought he sprang TO the quarter
deck. The guns were all loaded and shotted
fore and aft, and none knew their temper better
than he. With steady hand made strong by a
sudden hope, the old gunner seized printing
wire and picked the cartridge of one of the quar-
te guns; then he took from his pocket percus-
sion wafer, and set it in its place, and set back
the hammer of the patent lock, With 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 Of his mark, but yet little moment would
settle his 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
fearfully near. Suddenly the air was awoke by
the roar of his heavy gun, and as the old man
knew his shot was gone, he sank back upon the
combing of the hatch, and covered his face with
his hands, as if 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 fromthe surface of
the water, there was at first a low mrrmur
breaking from the lips Of the men; that murmur
grew louder and stronger, till it sweled to joy
GUS deafening shout. The old gunner sprang
to his feet and gazed off on the wkter, and the
first thing that met his view was lae huge car
cass of the shark, floating with hid white belly
upwards, q mangled, lifeless masa
In few moments the boat reach, d the daring
ssSlmmefs, ana naIt dcad WHnff
brought on board. The old m ciasped his
Doy IN Iiis aru,, -.sl si---ageS W. nasarfiI
excitement, he leaned upon a support
have seen men in all the PI OF excite
ment and suspense, but never hFa seen three
human beings more overcome by Flilng emo
tons, than on that startling momtNt when they
first knew the effect of our gunner's shot