Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-10-02
Selett Aeabing,
A THRILLING SCENE.

Our noble ship lay at anchor in the bay
of Tanguier, fortified town in the extreme
northwest of Africa. The day had been ex-
trcmcly mild, with gentle breeze sweep
ing to the northwari and westward, but to-
wards the close of the afternoon the sea
breeze died away, and one of those sultry,
oven like atmospheric brcathings came from
the great sun-burnt Sahara. Half an hour
before sundown the captain gave the order
to the hoatswain to call 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 nettings, bow
spirit and some of the more venturesome took
their leap from the arms of the lower yard.
One ofthc studding sails had been lowered
into the water, with its corners suspended
from the main yard arm and swinging 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 lat
ter of whom was the son of our old gunner,
and in laughing mood they started out from
the scudding sail on race. There was a
loud ringing shout of joy on their lips as they
sprang off, andthey 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 a
long sweep from both cables, and the buoy
on the starboard anchor was far away on the
starboard quarter, where it rose 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 vast deal of pride,
and when he saw him drop behind, he leap
ed upon the poop, and was on tie point Of
urging him on by shout, when t cry reach
cd him that made him start as if lie bad been
struck by cannon bali.
ga shark shark !" came from the cap
tain of the forecastle, and at the sound of
the terrible words the men who were in the
water leaped and plunged towards the ship.
Right abeam, at the distance of three or
four cables length, 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
bcrcft 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
hovered so 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. \ boat had
put off, but Fairbanks knew chat it could
not not reach them in season, aud every mo-
ment he expected to see the monsters sink from
sight, and then he knew that all hope
would be gone. At that. moment q cry
reached the ship that went through every
heart like stream of 6ve-the boys had
discovered their enemy.
The cry started old Fairbanks to his SEN
ses, and quicker than thought he sprang to
the quarter deck. The guns were all load
ed and shotted fore and aft, and none knew
their temper better than he. With steady
hand, made strong by sudden hope, the old
gunner seized printing wire and picked
the cartridge of one of the guns; then he
took from his pocket percussion wafer, and
set it in its place, and set back the hammer
of the patent lock. With steady, giant
strength the old man swayed the breach of
his heavy gun to its bearing, and then seiz.