Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-09-15
THE OLD GuNNER,s SHOT.

Dur noble ship lay at anchor in the bay
Of Tangier. fortified city fn the extreme
northwest point Of Africa. The dsy kaa
been extremely mild. with . esntle bessss
sweeping in from the urtiwar1 and wcs-
ward, but toward the close Of the aftcrnoon
the SEA s-breeze died away. ma Que ofthose
suiWy. oven-hke atmospheric breathing
came up from the great sanbxrnA Sahars.
Halt aa hour before sundown the captain
gave the cheering order to the boatswain
70 'scali al the hands to go in SWIM
ming" and in less than ivc minutes the
forms Of our hardy tars were seen leap
ing from the gangsays. the ports. the net
tings, the bowsprits, and SOME of the more
venturesome took their plunge from the
arms or the lower yards.
One Of the stndding sails had been low
cred into the water, with its corners srs-
pended from the main yard arm and the
swinging boom. aud 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 a laugh
ing mood they started out from the stud-
ding-sail on n race. There was a loud,
ringing shout of joy upon their lips as they
put of and they darted through the wa
ter like fishes. The surface of the sea
was as smooth as glass, though its bosom
rose in long heavy sweels that set in from
the broad Atlantic.
The ship was moored with long sweep
upon both cables, and the buoy of the
starboard anchor was far away on the star
board quarter where II rose and fell with
n lazy swell like drunken man. To-
wards this buoy the two lads made their
way, Fred Fairbanks taking the lead but
when they were within dozen fathoms of
the buoy, Tim shot ahead and promised
to win the race. The old gunner had
watched the progress of his little son with
n vast degree of pride, and when he saw
him dropping behind he leapcd upon the
poop, and was just upon the point urging
him on by shout, when a cry reached
him that made him start rs though he had
been struck by cannon ball
"A shark. A shark came from the
the capt7;n Of the forcastle, and at these
terrible words the men who were in the
water leaped and plunged toward the ship.
Right abean, at distance of three or
four cables length, sharp wake was seen
in the water, where the black fin of the
monster was visible His course was for
the boys! For moment the poor gun
ner stood like one bereft of sense. but the
next he shouted at the top Of his voice for
his boy To turn, the little fellow heard him
not; stoutly the two swimmers strove for
goal. all unconscious Of the bloody death
spirit which hovered so near them. The
merry laugh still rang out over the waters,
and at length they both reached the buoy
together.
oh, wha. drops Of agony started from
the brow Of our gunner! A boat had put
of, but Fairbanks knew that it could not
reach his child in season. for the shark
was too near his intended victims; and
every moment he expected to see il sink
from sight-then he knew that all hope
would be gone. At this moment a cry
reached the ship which went through eve
~ heart, like stream Of scorching fire
the boys had discovered their enemy.
That cry startled old Fairbanks TO his
senses. and quicker than thought he
sprang to the quarterback. The guns
were loaded and shotted fore and aft, and
none knew their temper better than he -
With steady hand. made strong by a
sudden hope, the old gnnner seized a pri-
ming-wiro and pricked the cartridge Of
one Of the quarter guns; then he took
from his pocket a percussion wafer and
set it in its place. and set back the ham,
mer of the patent lock. With giant 5
strength the old man swayed the breech
Of the heavy gun to its bearing, and then.
seizing the string Of the lock, he stood
back and watched for the next swell that
should bring the shark within range. He
had aimed the piece some distance ahead
Of his mark. but single moment would
settle his hopes or fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every
heart in that old ship was painfully still.
The boat was yet some distance from the
boys, while the horrible sea monster
was frightfully near. Suddenly the air
was awoke BY the roar of the heavy gun,
and as the old man knew that his shot
had gone, he sunk back upon the CON-
biugs of the hatch. and buried his face in
his hands, rs if afraid to see the result Of
his own effort. for ifhe had 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 from the surface of the wa
ter, there was low murmnr breaking
from the lips Of the men; that murmul
grew louder and stronger. until il swell
led to n joyous deafeaing shout. The old
gunner sprang 70 his feet. and ga.ed Of
upon the water; and the hrst thing tina
met his view was the huge carcass Of th'
shark. foatins with It's white belly upper.
4 MOST mangied. lifeless mass
In few moments the boat had reach
ed the daring swimmers, and halfdea'
from fright they were brought on board
! The old man clasped his boy in his arms
and then overcome by the powerful ex
teitement, he lssned back upon hin gun 70
support. 4.
fhave seen men in all phrases Of ez
eitcment snd suspense; but never had
seen three hundred human beings msr
overcome by thrilling emotion than In th'
startling moment when frst We knew Oh
effect nj our runner's shot