The Portland daily press., 1870-08-13


Our noble ship lay at anchor in the bay of
Tangier, fortified city in the extreme north
west point of Africa. The day had been eX-
tremely mild, with a gentle breeze sweeping
In from the northwar1 and westward, but to-
ward the close of the afternoon the sea-DfeeZe
died away and one of those sutry, oven-llke,
atmospheric breathings came up from Inc
great sun-burnt Sahara. Half an hour be-
fore shutdown, the captain gave the cheering
order for the boatsWain to "call all hands to
go IN swimming" and in less than five min
utes the forms of our hardy tars were seen
leaping from the gangways, the ports, the
MEETINGS, the bowsprts, and some Of the more
venturesome took their plunge from the arms
of the lower yards.
One Of the studding sails had been lowered
into the water, with its corners suspended
from the main yard arm and the swinging
boom, and into this most of the swimmers
made their way. Among those who seemed
to be enjoying the sport most were two of the
boys, Tim Wallace and Fred Fairbanks, the
latter of whom was the son of our old gunner,
and in laughing mood they started out from
The studding sail on 4 race. There was a loud
ringing shout of joy upon their lips as they
put off, and they darled 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 broad A tlan-
tic.
The ship was moored with a long sweep
upon both cables, and the buoy of the star
board anchor was far away ON the starboard
quarters, where it rose and fell with the lazy
swells like a drunken man. Toward this
buoy the two lads made their way, Fred
Fairbanks taking the lead; but when they
were within about dozen fathoms of the
buoy, Tim shot ahead aud promised to win
the race. The old gunner had watched the
ut 10 Ia 4.
OF the race. The old gunner had watched
the progress of his little son with vast de-
gree of pride and when he saw him dropping
behind he leaped upon the poop, and was
just upon the point of urging him on by a
shout, when cry reached his ears that made
him start as though be had been struck by a
cannon ball.
ID shark! a shark p came from the Cap.
tain OF the t0recastle, and at the sound oil
these terrible words the men who were in the
water leaped and plunged toward the ship
Right abeam, at distance of three or -four
cables length, a sharp wake was seen in the
water, where The back fin of the monster was
visible. His course was for the BOYS! For a
moment the poor gunner stood like one be-
reft OF his sense, but at the next he shouted
at the top OF his voice for his boy to turn
but the little fellow heard him not; sontly
the two swimmers strove for the goal, all I'M
scious OF the bloody death. spirit which ov-
cred near them, Their merry laugh rang out
over the waters, and at length they both reach
ed the buoy together.
Oh what drops of agony started from the
brow Of our gunner? A boat had put off,
but Farchild knew that it could not reach
his child in season, for the shark was too neal
its intended victims; and every moment he
expected to see il sink from sight-then he
knew that all hope would be gone At thi.
moment cry reached the ship that went
through every heart like a stream of scorch
ing hie-the boys had discovered their enemy
mat cry startled old Fairbanks to hi:
senses, and quicker than thought he sprans
to the quarterback. The guns were loaded
and shortened 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 pricked the
cartridge OF one of the quarter guns then he
took from his pocket percussion water and
set 1t IN its place, and set back the hammer oil
me patent lock. With giants strength the
Old man swdyed the breech OF the heavy eur
to the bearing, and then Selling the string Of
the lock, he stood back and watched for the
next swell that should bring the shark within
range. lie had aimed the piece some dis.
lance ahead of his mark, but a single moment
would settle his hopes or fears
Every breath was hushed, and every heart
III ohe oiu sup was PAINFULLY still. The boat
was yet at some distance from the bows. while
the horrd sea monster was frightfully near
Suddenly the air was awoke with the roar of
the heavy gun, and as the ID man knew that
his shot was gone he sank back upon the
combng OF the hatch and buried his face in
his hands as if afraid to see the result of his
own effort. for if he 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 impenetrable smoke arose
the surface of the water, there was at first. a
low murmur breaking from tie Iips of the
men; that murmur grew louder and stronger.
until it swelled to a joyous, deaIening Shout.
Inc old gunner sprang to his feet and gazed
OH upon sihe water, and the first thing that
met his view was the huge carcass eff the
shark, floating with its while belly uppaImost
"a maneled, liteless mass.
In few moments the boat had reached The
daring swimmers, and half dead. from fright
they were brought on board The Old man
clasped his boy in his arms, and then, over
come by the powerful excitement, he leaned
back upon the gun for support
have seen men in all phases of excite
ment and suspense; but never have | seen
three hundred human beings more overcome
by thrilling emotion than on that startling
moment when first we knew the effect of our
gunner's shot.