Daily globe., 1879-04-06
OUR GUNNER's sROT.
An Old Sailors Yarn.

OOA AWOAC OIL. lay dI duCuOI III luc
bay of Tangier, fortified town in the
extreme northwest of Africa. The day
had been extremely mild, with gentle
breeze sweeping to the northward and
westward, put long before the close of
the afternoon the sea a-breeze died away,
and one OF those suLrry, oven-like atmos-
pherlc breathings came from the great
sunburnr Sahara.
Half an hour before sundown the cap
tain gave orders to the boatswain to call
the hands to go in swimming; and in
less than five minutes the forms of our
tars were seen leaping from the gang
ways, the ports, the nettings, bowsprits,
ana some, more venturesome, took their
leap from the arms of the lower ward.
One Of the studding sails had been
lowered into the water, with its corners
suspended from the mainyard- arm ana
the swinging boom, and into this
some of the swimmers made their way.
Among those who seemed to be enjoy
ing the sport most heartily were two of
the boys, Thomas Wallace and Frederick
Fairbanks, the latter of whom was the son
OF our old gunner; and in laughing
mood they started out from the studding-
sail on race. There was loud, ringing
shout OF JOY on their lips as they put OF,
and they started throug gh the water like
fishes. The surface of the sea was as
smooth as glass, though its bosom rose in
long and heavy sweils that set in from
the Atlantic.
The vessel was moored, with long
sweep from both cables, and the buoy OF
the starboard anchor was far away on the
starboard quarter, where it rose and fell
with the lazy swells like drunken man.
Toward this buoy the two lads made
their way, Fairbanks taking the lead; but
when they were within about twenty or
thirty fathons of the buoy, Wallace 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
lie saw him drop little behind, he leap
ed upon the poop, and was on the point
OF urging him on by shout, when a
cry reached him that made him start as
1t he had been struck by a cannon ball.
"A shark! shark!'' came from the
captain of the forecastle, snd at the sound
of these terrible words the men who were
in the water leaped and plunged toward
the ship.
Right abeam, at the distance of three
or four cables length, shark-wake was
seen in the water, where the back OF the
monster was visible. His course was for
the boys.
For moment the gunneE stood like
one berett of sense; but on the next he
shouted at the top Of his voice for the
boys to turn. But the little fellows heard
him not; stoutly the new swimmers strove
tor the goal, all unconscious of the bloody
death-spirit that hovered so near them
Their merry laugh still rang out over the
waters, and at length they both touched
the buoy together.
0, what drops of agony started from
the brow of our old gunner. A boat had
put of, but Fairbanks knew that it could
not reach them in time, and every mo-
mcnt he expected to see tie 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 stream of 1ire-the
boys had discovered their enemy!
The cry startled old Fairbanks to his
senses, and quicker than thought he
sprang to the quarterback. The guns
were all 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 gunner seized a
priming wire and picked the cartrid ge
OF one of the quarter guns; then he took
from his pocket percussion wafer, put
it in his place, and set back the hammer
of the patent lock. With steady giant
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 the next swell
that would bring the shark in range.
He had aimed the piece some distance
ahead Of his mark, but yet single mo-
ment would settle his hopes and fears.
Every breath was hushed, and every
heart in that old ship beat painfully
The boat was yet some distance from the
bows, while the horrible sea-monster was
fearfully near. Sudden the sea air was
awoke by the roar of a heavy gun, and
as the old man knew his shot was gone,
he sank back upon the combing of the
hatch and covered his face with his