Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-03-05
NO. 10.
Bathing Among sharks.

lt was dead calm-not a breath of
air-the sails tapped idly against the
masts; the helm had lost its power,
and the ship turned her head low and
where she liked. The heat was intense,
so much so that the ehief-mate had told
the boat-swain to keep the watch out
of the sun; but the watch below found
1t too warm to sleep, and were torment
ed with thirst, which they could not
crafty until the water was served out.
They had drank all the previous days
allowance; and now that their scuttle-
butt was dry there was nothing left for
them but endurance. Some of the
seamen had congregated on the topgal-
liant foreeastle, where they gazed on
the clear blue water with longing eyes
''How cool and clear it looks" said
tall, powerful young seaman; Il don't
think there are many sharks about.
What do you say for bath, lads?'
''That for the sharks :" burst almost
simultaneously from the parched lips
OF the group; ''we'll have a jolly good
bath when the second mate goes in to
dinner"
In about half an hour the dinner bell
rang. The boatswain took charge of
the deck. Some twenty sailors were
now stripped, except pair of light
duck trousers. Among the rest was
tall, powerful cOast-of-Africa negro, of
the name of Leigh. They used to joke,
and call him Sambo.
"1ou no swim to-day, Ned ?'' said
he, addressing me. Feared of shark,
hey? Shark nebber bite me. Suppose
| meet shark in water. / swim after
him-him run like debbel."
l was tempted, and, like the rest, was
soon ready. In quick succession we
jumped off the spritsail yard, the black
leading. We had scarcely been in the
water five minutes when some voice on
board cried out "a shark, a shark"
In an instant every one of the swim
mers came tumbling up the ships side,
half mad with fright, the gallant black
among the rest. 1t was a false alarm.
We felt angry with ourselves for being
frightened, angry with those who had
frightened us, and furious with those
who had laughed at us. In another
moment we were all again in the water,
the black and myself swimming some
distance from the ship. For two sue
cessiye voyages there had been sort
of rivalry between us; each fancied that
he was the better swimmer, and we
were now testing our speed.
''Well done, Ned, ;" cried some of the
sailors from the forecastle. ''Go it,
SambO." cried some others. We were
both straining our utmost, excited by
the cheers of our respective pa<risans.
Suddenly the voice of the boatswain
was heard shouting:
"a shark. shark, Come back tor
Gods sake,
Lay aft and lower the cutter down."
then came family on our ear.
The race instantly ceased. As yet
we only half believed what We heard,
our recent fright being still fresh in
our memories.
''Swim for Gods sake,'' cried the
who was now on deck; ''he
has not seen you. The boat, if possible,
will get between you and him. Strike
out, lads for Gods sake.''
My heart stood sill. / felt weaker
than child as l gazed with horror at
the dorsal fin of a large shark en- the
starboard quarter. Though in the wa
ter, the perspiration dropped from me
like rain; the black was striking out
like mad for the ship.
''Swim, Ned-swim ~ cried several
voices; ''they never take black when
they can get white
l did swim, and that desperately; the
water fOamed past me. | soon breasted
the black, but could not head him. We
both strained every nerve to be first,
for we each fanciel the last man would
be taken. Yet we scarcely seemed to
move; the ship appeared as far as ever
from us. We were both powerful
swimmers, and both of us swan i'm the
French way called Ia BrdSse, or hand
over hand in English. There was
the matter with the boats
falls, and they could not lower her.
''He sees you now.' was shouted;
''he is after yOu,'
Oh, the agony of that moment /
thought of everything at the same mo-
ment, at least so it seemed TO me then.
Scenes long forgotten rushed through
my brain with the rapidity of lightning,
yet in the midst of this | was striking
out madly for the ship. Each moment
[ fancied | could feel the pilot fish
me, and l almost screamed
with agony. We were now not ten
yards from the ship; fifty ropes were
thrown to us; bCt, as if by mutual in
stinct, we swan for the same.
''Hurra, they are saved, they are
:" was shouted by the anxious
crew. We both grasped the rope at
the same time a slight struggle ensued,
| had the highest hold. Regardless of
everything but my own safety, placed
my feet on the blacks shoulders, scram-
bled up the side, and fell exhausted on
the deck. The negro followed, roaring
with pain, for the shark had taken
away part of his heel. Since then 4
have never bathed at sea nor, | believe,
has Sambo been ever heard again TO
lssert that he would swim after a shark
4 he met one IN the water.
Quiet Secured.