Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-18
EVENING STAR.
T II z NER's SHOT
A THRILLING scrNr

~ our noble ship lay at anchor in the bay q,
Iangier, fortified town in the extreme north.
west OF Africa. The day had been extremely
| mud, with gentle breeze sweep 10 the NORTH.
| ward and westward, but towards the close .,
! the afternoon the sea breeze died away, and
one OF those sultry, Oven-like atmospheric
bresthings came from the great sun burnt Sa.
hara Half an hour tefore sundown the can.
tain gave the order to the boatswain to .sll
the hands to 60 in swimming, and in less than
five minutes the forms of our tars were seen
leaping from the gangways, the ports, the net
lngs, bowsprit, and some of the more venture
some took their leap from the arms of the
lower yard. One of the studding- sails had
been lowered into the water with its corners
suspended from the main yard arm and swing
ing boom, and into this the swimmers made
| their way.
Among those who seemed to be enjoying the
sport most heartily were two of the boys Tim
Wallace and Fred Fairbanks, the latter of
whom was the son Of our old gunner, and in a
laughing mood they started out from the scud-
ding sail on race. There was a loud ringing
shout of joy on their lips as they put off, and
they started through the water like fishes -
The surface of the sea was as smooth as glass,
though its bosom rose in long and heavy swells
that set in from the Atlantic. The vessel was
moored, with long sweep from both cables,
and the buoy on the starboard anchor was far
and fell with the swells like drunken man
Toward the buoy the lads made their way,
Fred Fairbanks taking the lead, when they
were within twenty or thirty fathoms of the
buoy, Tim shot ahead and promised to win
the race. The old gunner watched the pro-
gress of his son with a vast deal Of pride, and
when he saw him drop behind, he leaped upon
the poop, and was on the point of urging him
on by shout, when cry reached him that
made him start as if he had been struck by a
cannon ball.
"a shark a shark 20 came from the cap
tain of the forecastle, and at the sounds of the
terrible words the men who were in the water
leaped and plunged toward the ship.
Right abeam, at the distance of three or
four cables length, shark was seen in the
water, where the back of the monster was
visible. His course was for the boys. For
a moment the gunner stood like one bereft
OF sense, but on the next he shouted at the
top of his voice for the boys to turn, but the
little fellows heard him not. Stoutly the two
swimmers strove for the goal, all unconscious
of the fearful death spirit that lowered near
them. Their merry laugh still rang out over
the waters, and at length they both touched
the buoy together.
Oh what drops of agony started from the
brow Of our old gunner. A boat had put off,
but Fairbanks knew that it could not reach
them in season, and every moment he ex-
pected to see the monster sink from sight, and
then he knew that all hope would be gone
At that moment cry reached the ship that
went through every heart like a stream of
fre-the boys had discovered their enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks to his senses,
and quicker than thought he sprang to the
quarter deck. The guns were ali loaded and
shotted fore and aft, and none knew their
made strong by sudden hope, the old gunner
seized priming wire and picked the cart
ridge Of one of the guns-then he took from
his pocket percussion wafer and set 1t In its
place. and set back the hammer of the patent
lcck With a steady, giant strength, the old
man swayed the breach of the heavy gun to
its bearing, and then, seizing the string lock,
he stood back and watched for the next swell
that would bring the shark in range He had
aimed the piece some distance off of his mark,
but yet q single 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
horrible sea monster was fearfully near. Sud
denly the air was awoke by the roar Of
heavy gun, and as the old man knew that his
shot was gone he sank back on the cOmbing of
the hatch, and covered his face with his hands
as If afraid to see the result of his efforts, for
if he had failed he knew his boy was lost.
For a moment after the report Of the
gun had died away upon the air, there was a
dead silence, but as the smoke arose from the
surface Of the water there was at frSt low
murmur breaking from the lips Of the men !;
that murmur grew louder and stronger, until
it swelled to a joyous. deafening shout. The
old gunner sprang to his feet and gazed out
upon the wafer, and the first thing that met
his view was the huge carcass Of the shark,
floating with is belly up, mangled mass.
In few moments the boat reached the
daring swimmers, and half dead with fright
they were brought on board. The old man
cIasped his boy in his arms, and then, over,
come by the powerful excitement, he leaned
upon the gun for support. l have seen men
in all the phases of excitement and suspense,
but never have L seen three hundred human
beings more overcome by thrilling emotions
knew of the effect of the gunner's shot.