Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-03-25
MISCELLANEOUS,
Thrilling Incide mt Of ocean Life.


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 a gentle breeze
sweeping to the northward and westward;
but along towards the close Of the after
noon the sea breeze died away. and one
of those sultry. evenlikc atmospheric
breathings came from the great burnt Sa.
hara. Half an hour before sundown the
captain gave the cheering order for the
boatswain to call the hands to 60 in swim
ming. and in less than FIVE minutes the
forms Of our tars were seen leaping from
the arms of the lower yards.
One of the studding sails had been low
cred into the water, with its corners sus-
pended from the main yard arm and the
swimming boom, and into these most OF
tbeswimmers made their way. Among those
who seemed to be enjoying the sport most
heartily were two Of the boys, Tim Wal
lace and Fred Fairbanks, the latter of
whom was the son ofour old gunner, and
in laughing mood they started out from
a studding sail on race.
There was loud ringing shout of Joy
on their lips as they put off and they dart
ed 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 from the Atlantic
The vessel was moored with long
sweep from both cables, and the buoy Of
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 in about twenty or
thirty fathoms of the buoy, Tim shot head
and promised to win the race. The old
gunner watched the progress of his son
with vast degree of pride, and when he
saw him drop behind he leaped upon the
poop. and was just upon the point of urg-
ing 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 leaped and plunged towards
the ship.
Right abeam, at a distance ofthree or four
cables length, a sharp 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 of sense, but on the next he shout
ed at the top of his voice for the boys to
turn, but the little fellows heard him not
-stoutly the swimmers strove for the goal,
all unconscious of the bloody death spirit
that hovered so near them. Their merry
laugh still rang over the water, and at
length they touched the buoy together.
Oh. what drops of agony started from
the brow Of our gunner. A boat had put
of, but Fairbanks knew that it could not
reach the boysin season, and every moment
he expected to see the monster sink from
sight; then he knew that all hope would be
gone. AT this moment cry reached the
ship that went through every heart like a
stream Of 6re-the boys had discovered
their enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks to his
senses. and quicker than thought he sprang
to the quarterback. The guns were all
loaded and shotted fore and aft, and none
knew their temper better than he. With a
steady hand, made strong by a sudden
hope, the old gunner seized printing
wire, and pricked the cartridge of one Of
the quarter guns; he took from his pocket
percussion wafer and set it inits place,
and set the hammer of the patent lock-
With giants strength the old man sway
ed the breech of the heavy gun to its bear
ing. 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 dis.
tance ahead Of his mark. but yet little
moment would settle bis 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 awoke by the roar
of the heavy gun. and as the old man knew
his shot was gone. he sank back upon the
combing of the hatch and covering his face
with his hands, as if afraid to see the re-
suit 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 a.
rose from the surface of the water, there
was, at First, low murmur breaking from
the lIps Of the men-that murmur grew
louder and stronger, until il swelled to
joyous deafening shout The old gunner
sprang to his feet and gazed of on the wa
ter, and the first thing that met his view
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