Litchfield enquirer., 1852-01-15

gunner. and in a laughing mood they
started out from the studding sail on a
race. ...s ...t-..- aa.
There was loud ringing shout Of JOY
upon their lips as they put of, 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. H.... a,.t.l.t ...s .fs...
The ship was moored with q long
sweep on both cables, and the buoy Of
the starboard anchor was far away on
the starboard quarter, where it rose and
fell with the lazy swells like a drunken
man. Towards this buoy the two lads
made their way, Fred Fairbanks taking
the lead {; but when they were within a
dozen fathoms of the buoy. Tom shot
ahead and promised to win the race.
The old gunner had watched the pro-
gress of his little SON with vast degree
Of pride, and when he saw him droop'
ing behind, he Ieaped upon hepoop and
was just urging him on by shout,
when cry reached his ears that made
him start as though he had been struck
! by a cannon ball. ~ .......
"A shark! shark ! came from the
captain of the forecastlc, and at the
sound of the 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, shark wake was
seen in the water where the back fin oil
the monster was visible. His course was
Tor the boys For moment the poor
gunner stood like one bereft of sense ;
but on the next he shouted at the top
of his voice Tor his boy to turn, but the
little fellow heard him not stoutly the
two swimmers st'oye for the goal all I'M
conscious Of the bloody death spirit that
lowered so near them Their merry
laugh still rang out over the waters,
and at length they both touched the
buoy together. ........ "a .a
| Oh what drops of agony started from
the brow of the gunner !! A boat had
put of, but Fairbanks knew that il could
not reach his child in season. for the
shark was to nearits intended victim !;
and every moment he expected to see
the monster sink from sight-then be
knew that all hope would be gone AT
this moment a cry had reached the ship
that went through every heart like a
stream Of scorching fire, the boy had dis
GOV cred her enemy ...
That startled old Fairbank 10 his son
ses, and quicker than thought lie sprang
to the quarter deck. The guns were
loaded aud shotted fore an aft, and none
knew their TENDER better than be. With
a. steady hand made strong by sudden
hope, the old gunner seized printing
wire picked tie cartridge Of one Of the
quarter guns then be took from his
pocket percussion wafer and set it in
its place. and set back the hammer Of the
patent lock. With giants strength
the old man swayed the breach OF the
heavy gun 10 its bearing, and then seiz'
ing the string Of the lock. he stood back
and watched for the next swell that
should bring the shark within range
He had aimed the piece some distance
ahead Of his mark, but yeta single mo-
ment would settle his hopes or fears
Every breath was hushed, and every
heart in that old ship was painful.
still. &c.,. ....
The boat was at some distance from
F., the boys, while the horrible sea monste
was frightfully near Suddenly the al
was awoke by the sound of the heav
gun, and as the old man knew that hi
shot was gone he sank back upon th
combings Of the hatch and buried hi
face in his hands. as il afraid to see tn
result of bis own effort, for il he had fail
ed he knew that his boy was lost
For a moment after the report Of th
gun had died away upon the air. ther
was dead silence tut as the dens
smoke rose from the surface of the waite
there was at first low breaking from tn
lips Of the msn-that murmur gre,
louder and stronger until it swellcd to
joyous dcafening shout a.
The old gunner sprang to his feet an
gazed off upon the water and the frs
thing that met his view was the hug
carcass of the shark floating with hi
white belly uppe'most: a mangled lifeles
mass
In a moment the boat reached tn
. daring swimmers. and half dead iron
fright they were brought on board
The old man cIasped the boy in his arm
and then overcome BY the powerful ex
element, be leaned back upon a GU
for support. f
have seen men in all the phases q
excitement and suspense--but never hay
seen three hundred beings more over
come by thrilling emotion. than on tina
;. stratl;ng moment when first we kne'
tie effects Of our GUNNER's SHor.
>~~~~~~- - .+ .
e SINKING OF A TENNESSEE MoUErAIN.-
; 1t is stated that few days ago porto
: of Walden's Ridge sunk, with noise re
e semb!ing deep-toned thunder. leaving