in the Bay of Tangiers, a town in the
north-west part of Africa.

The day had been very mild, with a gentle breeze sweeping to the
northward and westward. Toward the close of the day the sea-breeze died
away, and hot, sultry breathings came from the great, sunburnt desert of
Sahara.

Half an hour before sundown, the captain gave the cheering order to call
the hands to "go in swimming"; and, in less than five minutes, the forms
of our sailors were seen leaping from the arms of the lower yards into
the water.

One of the sails, with its corners fastened from the main yard-arm and
the swinging boom, had been lowered into the water, and into this most
of the swimmers made their way.

Among those who seemed to be enjoying the sport most heartily were two
boys, one of whom was the son of our old gunner; and, in a laughing
mood, they started out from the sail on a race.

There was a loud ringing shout of joy on their lips as they put off;
they darted through the water like fishes. The surface of the sea was
smooth as glass, though its bosom rose in long, heavy swells that set in
from the ocean.

One of the buoys which was attached to the anchor, to show where it lay,
was far away on the starboard quarter, where it rose and fell with the
lazy swell of the waves.

Towards this buoy the two lads made their way, the old gunner's son
taking the lead; but, when they were within about sixty yards of the
buoy, the other boy shot ahead and promised to win the race.

The old gunner had watched the progress of his son with great pride; and
when he saw him drop behind, he leaped upon the quarter-deck, and was
just upon the point of urging him on by a shout, when a cry was heard
that struck him with instant horror.

"A shark! a shark!" shouted the officer of the deck; and, at the sound
of those terrible words, the men who were in the water, leaped and
plunged toward the ship.

Three or four hundred yards away, the back of a monster shark was seen
cleaving the water. Its course was for the boys.

For a moment the gunner stood like one who had lost his reason; then he
shouted at the top of his voice for the boys to turn; but they heard him
not.

Stoutly the two swimmers strove, knowing nothing of the danger from the
shark. Their merry laughter still rang over the waters, as they were
both nearing the buoy.

O, what anxiety filled the heart of the gunner! A boat had put off, but
he knew it could not reach the boys in time t