Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-07-01
BATHING AnsxG rms saARxs.

BATHING kuoIG 1U1 01A8kos
Il vas q dead calm-not q breath OF
air-the sails tapped idly against the
masts; the helm had lost its power. anc
the ship turned her head how and where
she liked. The heat was intense, so
much 50 that the chief mate had told
the boatsgain the watch out OF the sun;
bat the watch below found it too warm
to sleep and were tormented with thirst,
which they could not crafty till the
water vas served 0nt. They had drank
all the Previous days allowances, and
now that thar scottle-butt vas dry
there was nothing lAft Tor them bat en-
durauca. Some Of the seAmen had con
greRated on the topeallans forecastie,
where they Razed on the clear bloc
water With longing eyss-
How cool and clear It looka," said
q tall, powerful young seaman; II
don't think there are many sharks
about. What do you say for Q bath,
lad!r
THAT for the shArks!' burst almost
simultaneously from the group; well
have q Jolly good bath when the second
mate goes In to dinner"
In about half an hour the dinner bell
rang, and the boatsvain took charge OF
the deck. Some twenty sailors we're
now stripped, except pair Of light duck
trousers. Amsng the rest vas tall
powerful ooast-of- Africa negro, of the
name of Leigh. They used TO joke and
cali him Sambo.
"You no swim today. Ned?" said he.
addressing ms. ''Fear'd of sharks, Ell
n. - I rraAf
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 of the spritsail yard, the black
leading. We had scarcely been in the
water five minutes, when some voice OF
board cried out, "a shark. a shark.
In an instant every one Of the swimmer
came tumbling up the ships side, hall
mad with fright, the gallant blach
among the rest. II was false alarm
We felt angry with ourselves for beine
frightened. angry with those who hac
frightened Us, and furious with thoss
who had laughed at US. In another mo
ment We were all again in the water
the black and myself swimming soms
distance from the ship. For two sue
cessive voyages there had been \ sort o
rivalry between Us; each fancied he wa
the best swimmer, and We were nov
testing our speed.
"Weii done, Nedr' cried some of tn
sailors from the forecastle. "Go II
Sambow cried some others.
| We we're both straining our utmost
excited by the cheers of our RESPECTIVE
partisans. Suddenly the voice Of tn
boatswain was heard shouting:
"a shark! a shark! Come back, TO
Gods sake!"
Lay aft and lower the cutter down,
then came family ON our ear.
The race instantly ceased. As yet "
only half believed what We heard, oo
recent fright being still fresh in ou
memories.
"Swim, for Gods sake" cried tn
captain, who was now on deck; "he ha
not ssen you. The boat, il possible
will get between You and him. Sxir
out, lads, for Gods sakew
| My heart stood still; felt weake
than child a. gazed with horror a
the dorsal I'm Of large shark on th
starboard quarter. Though In the watel
the perspiration dropped from me lik
mad for the ship.
"Swim, Ned-swim :" cried severe
voices. "They never take black who
they can get white"
| I did swim, and that desperately; th
water foamed past me. soon breaste
the black. but ronld not head him. "
both s'rziueI every nerve to be first, ia
We each f,uelra tss last man would b
taken. Yet we scarcely seemed {
move: the ship appeared as far a
ever from az. We were both pOwerfr
swimmers, and both Of rs SWAN han
over hand. There was something th
matter with the boats falls. and the
could not lower her.
"He sees you now - was shouted
"he is after you r.
Oh, the agony Of that moment!
thought of everything at the same in
slant, at least 80 10 seemed to me Their
Scenes long forgotten rushed throu2
my brain with the rapidity of lightning
yet in the midst of this / was strikin
out bravely for the ship. Each mo
nent fancied could feel tho pilot fis
touching me, and l almost screame'
with agony. We were now not tel
yards from the ship; fifty ropes yer
thrown to us; but, as IL but mutual In
instinct we SWAN for the same.
"Hurrah! they are saved they ar
alongsider was shouted by the cage
crew.
! We both Rrasped the rope at tho sam
time; a slight struggle ensued; had tn
highest hold. Regardless of everything
but my own safety. placed my feet OF
the blacks shoulders, scrambled mp tn
side and fell exhausted on the dsol
The negro followed, roaring with pail
for the shark had taken away part 0
his heel.
Since then. I have never bsthed a
sea; nor, believe, has Sambo been eve
heard again to assert that he woul'
swim after shark II he met ono In th
| water.