, 1889-01-22
MY LAST SWIM AT SEA.

l~cannot recollect over learning TO swim.
] swan naturally. and In boyhood was
almost as much Mt home In us out of the
water. Diving, an art in general only
acquired by long practice, was to me
easy from the beginning. My skill In
aquatic sports passed into n proverb, and
now that years have passed and / have
reached middle life the renown of my
boyhood's fcats clings to me yet in my
native place.
But am n swimmer no more: tho love
that was so strong has given place to
such n loathing hate and horror of the
water that when ! think of it q cold
shuddcr comes over me until the tide of
thought IL turned. An adventure In
tropical waters was the cause of this.
Happened thus: ] was on my second
voyage. The ship lay becalmcd amid
tho Molucca Islands, on the passage for
China. 1t was near midday In the fore
noon watch. The suns hottest rays were
pouring down upon the deck with scorch-
ing violence, and vninly did | seek for
some cool spot where momentary com
fort, at least, could DO found. The pant
ing, half nude forms OF tho crew were
spread out beneath the shade of n canvas
drawn over the forecastle capstan, which
they tried to persuade themselves yielded
some shelter from tho heat.
Above, not n loud could be seen In
the broad blue cXpanse of tho sky, which
seemed a heated caldron turned above
US. Against 1t the stately spars and
heavy white sails swaycd with the roll
of the ship in royal idlencss and majesty.
Too hot to work or to read, uneasy.
praying for n breeze which II seemed
would never come, l lounged about tho
deck vninly seeking relief from my dis
comfort.
Gazing over the side down into the
deep blue waste beneath. my eve sought
some object by which to note tho vessels
progress, however slow it might be, but
nothing could l see save water, dark and
unfathumable. The polished coppcred
side Of the ship shono brightly out upon
the surface for n few feet, and as /
ghzed upon its quivering beauty, and re-
marked how very still we lay the thought
struck me, "What a chance for n swimv'
What q relief from all this broiling,
sweltering, ven like heat.
To think was to act. i turned 10 tho
boys.
Here Johni Bilyl Jimmyl Let's
go in swimming. Never was such n
chanceL" cried /, springing down from
the rail. Lets sling the ladder over
from the fore chains 80 wo can get up
the side easily, and we'll have n good
time; sho isn't moving n bit; come, bear
o hand, and let's see who'll be overheard
first"
The ships officers made no objection.
and / was quickly joined by Jour or five
OF my shipmates, eachtas anxious us my
self for something toTary the monotony.
The fore hatch ladder was quickly slung
and dashed to the side, and we stripped
10 90 in.
The rest of the crew had gathered upon
the top gallant forecastle to watch our
aRtics. Only one old fellow, an inveter-
are GROWER known rs ''Briton," eau
toned us as he took his seat near the
rail:
You young rascals had better keen
out of the water, or the sharks II COB
bic up some of you. There's plenty of
EN- round for all you don't see EN-"
"Oh, you're always croaking, you web
footed old barnacle backl" cried Billy
Option, mounting the rail and posing
himself for n plunge. eve never can do
anything but you III throw cold water
on it."
"Oh, go aheadl go aheadi Idon't care
hat you do; you're not Obliged to take
my advice, but if you were a son OF
mine you'd not go overheard In these
waters" growled Briton.
well, as I'm not your son, and as you
don't care what l do, here goesr' said
Billy, and suiting the action to the word,
he sprang lightly to the rail, glanced in
mid air for an instant and the next was
buried fathoms deep in the liquid blue,
Rising quickly to the surface with O
shake of his curly head to clear his sight
of the water, which drippe6 from hi.
hair, he gave ar encouraging cheer tc
the rest and struck boldly out from tn,
vessels side.
Emboldened nv his eavar,'
more began taking off their clothes I.
join the merry band who were soor