Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1857-07-23
laeaoinD.
A THRILLING SCENE.

west 0t Afrca. The day had been extremely
mild, with gentle breeze sweeping to the north
ward and westward, but toward the close of the
afternoon The sea breeze died away, and one of
those sultry, Oven.lke atmospheric breathings
came from the great sunburnt Sahara. Half an
hour before sundOwn the captain gave the order
tO-the boatswain to call the hands to go in swim.
ming, aud in less than FIVE minutes the forms Of
cur tara were seen leapng from the gangways, The
Prts, the nettings, bOwsprit and some of the
more venture:Ome took their lepp from the arms
q the lower yard. One of the studding sails
b been lowered into the water, with its corners
sR.lended from the main yard and swinging
BON, and into this the swimmers made their
WY.
Among those who seemed to be enjoying
th,spOrt most heartily, were two boys Tim
VILLAGE and Fred Fairbanks, the latter Of whom
wa the sou of our old gunner, and in laughing
mod they started out from the studding sail on
nee. There wasa loud ringing shout Joy on
thar lips as they put off, and they started
though the water like fishes. The surface Of
th, sea was as smooth as glass though its bosom
roe in long and heavy waves, that SGT in from the
Atlantic. The vessel was moored with long
sweep from both cables, and buoy on the starboard
anchor was far away on the starboard quarter
where it rose and fell with the swells like drunk
en- man.
Towards 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, aud promised TO win the race
The old gunner watched the progress of his sou
with vast deal of pride, and when he saw him
drop behind ha 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" came from the captain
at the forecaste, aud at the sound of the terrible
w,rds the men who were in the water leaped
and plugged toward the ship.
Right abeam, at the distance of three or four
cables length, a sharks wake was seen in the
water, where the back of the monster was visi-
BILE. His course was for the boys. For mo-
meut the gunner stood like one bereft of sense
but ou the next he shouted at the top of bis
voice for the boys to turn, but the little fellows
heard him not. Stoutly the two swimmers strove
for the goal, all unconciouS of the fearful 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
Oh! what drops of agony started from the
brow ofour old gunner. A boat had put of, but
Fairbanks knew that it could not reach them in
season, and expected every moment to see the
monster sink from sight, and then he knew that
all hopes would be gone. AT that moment a
cry reached the ship that went through every
heart like a stream of fre-the boys had discov.
cred their enemy.
The cry startled old Fairbanks 10 his senses, and
quicker than thought he sprang to the quarter
deck. 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
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 ham
mer of the patent lock, With steady, giant
strength, the old man swayed the breech of his
heavy gun to its bearing, and then seizing the
spring lock he stood back and watched for the
next swell that would bring the shark in range.
He had aimed the piece some distance ahead Of
its mark, but yet some moments would settle bis
hopes and fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every bealt in
that old ship beat painfully. The boat was yet
acme distance from the boys, while the horrible
sos monster was fearfulIy near Suddenly the ali
was awoke by heavy gun, and as the old man
knew bis shot was gone he sank back upon the
combing of the hatch, and covered his face with
bis hands, as if afraid to see the result of his e
forts forif he had failed he knew his boy was
lost.
For 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 wa
Ger there was at first a low murmur breaking from
the lips of men that murmur grew louder and
stronger, until it is sweed to ajoyous deatening
shout The old gunner sprang to his feet ard
oazed out upon the water. and the first thing
tbat met his view was the huge carcass of the
shark, floating with its belly up, a mangled car
cass.
Ina few moments the boat reached the daring
swimmers and half dead with fright, they were
brought on board. The old man cIasPed hi'
boy in bis arms, and then overcome oy the pow
orful excitement he leaned on the gun for sup
yort have seen men 10 all the phases of ex
r;tament and suspense, but never have l seer
tbrae hundred human beings more overcome BY
thrilling emotions than on that eventful mOmen
.bor t5ev first knew the effect Of the gunner