Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-11-07
OUR GUNNER'S SHOT.

Iangier, fortified town in the extrem,
northwest Of Africa. The day had been ex
tremely mild, with a gentle breeze sweeping
to the northward and westward but tow
ards the close of the afternoon the sra breez
died away, and one of those sultry. oven-Iik,
atmospheric breathings came from the grea
sun-burnt Sahara
! Half an hour before sundown the captair
gave the order to the boatswain to cali the
hands to 60 in swimming, and in less thar
| five minutes the forms of onr tars were see,
leapin@ from the eangways, the ports, tn,
MEETINGS, bnwsrrit. and some of the mere ven
turesJme took their leap from the arms Of I'll,
lower y.t.d.
One Of the studding-saila had been lowered
into the water, with its corners SUSPENDED
from the mainyard arm and the swinging
boom, and into these some of the swimmers
made their way.
Among those who seemed to be cniovinc
the sport most heartily, We're two of the boys
Tim Wallace and Fred Fairbanks--t!le lat
ter of whom was the son Of our old gunner.
and, in a laughing mood they started out
| from the studding-sail on a race
There was load ringing shout Of ov on
their lips. as they put off. and hey started
through the water like fishes. Tao surface
Of the sea was us smooth as glass. though it's
bosom rose in long and heavy swells that It
in from tie Atlantic
The vessel was moored, with long sweep
from both cables and the BUOY of the star
board anchor was far away on the starbuard
quarter. where it rose and fell with the
swells like drunken man
Towards the buoy the two lads made their
way Fred Fairbanks taking the Lead but
when they We're within ahont twenty or thir-
ty iathoms Of the buoy. Tim shot ahead and
promised TO win the race. The old gunner
watched the progress of his son with a vast
deal Of pride, and when he saw him drop be-
hind he leapcd upon the poop. and was on
the point of urging him on by a shout. when
cryraached him that made him start as if
he had been struck hy Il cannon ball.
{" \ shark Il shark - came from the cap
tain Of the forecastle, and at the sound of the
terrible words the men who were in the wat
cr leapcd and plunged towards tic ship.
Right abeam. at the distance of three or
four cables length. a shark-wakc was saen
i'll the water, where the back of the monster
was visible His coursa Was for the boys.
For moment the gunner stood like one
bnreit Of sense, but on the next he shouted
at the top of his voice for the boys tu turn,
bat the little fellows heard him not Stout
ly the two swimmers stroye for the goal, all
unconscious of the fearful death-spirit that
hoycreI 50 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 fr1m the
brow Of oar old gunner. \ boat had put off
bat Fairbanks knew that it could not reach
them in saasen, and every moment he expect
cd to sae the monster sink from sight, and
then he knew that all hop would ii, gone.
At that momont cry reached the ship that
went through every heart like a stream of
fire. The boys had discovered their enemy
The cry started old Fairbanks 70 his sensas,
and quicker than thought he sprang to the
quarterback. The guns We're all loadrd and
shotted fore and aft. ana none knew their
temper better than lie. With STEADY hand,
made strong by a sudden hope, the old gun
ner seized Il prinnins wire and picked the car
tridgo OF one ot the quarter guns; then he
took from his pocket percussion wa!tr and
set it in its place, and set back the hammer
OF the patent lock. With a steady giant
the old man swqycd the breeeh Of
the heavy gun to its bearing. and then. saiz-
ing the string lock, he stood back and watch
e for the next swell that would bring the
shark IN range, lie had aimed the piece
some distance ahcado! his mark, but yet a
single moment would settle his hopes and
tears.
Every breath was hushed, and every heart
IN that Old snip beat painfully Tne boat
was yet some distance from the boys, while
the horrible SEA monster was feariullv near
Suddenly the air was awake by the roar of !;
belyv o,ln. and as the old man Lnnv I,;e s,nt
was gone. he sank back on tho combine of
the hatch, and covered lis face with his hands,
as If afraid 70 See he result ofhis efforts, for
II ne haa lail'd he knew that the boy was
'o1s' r. o
had died away n,,an tbs ar ti,ar, VI ."e u',
silence. hit * rte smokenr,sn from, +iasmr'
face of the water. there was at first a low
murmur breaking from the lips of the mon;
that mnrmnr grew louder and stronger until
1t sweiied to Joyous deaienins shout The
o,a s.ilner inner. slr'hs 70 hls iect ana gazea out
','i t, 't''' Wv .lsa '''s .'at III
floating with its h.l1v IN monalad I n,sS 49,
In few moments tie Loat Tnarhcd tho
daring swimmers, and. half dead with fright
they were brought on board The Old man
e'asped his N, boy IN ms arms, and then, over,
rons nn ~ 'ne @ pSMer,"i excitement he leaned