1 88 The Home of the Wolverene and Beaver. 



precipitated him headlong down the hatchway. 

 The supercargo, whose Hfe it is beHeved the Indians 

 wished to spare, for he was a great favourite, fell 

 next, knocked over the tafifrail by a club, and 

 despatched while in the water by the squaws v. ho 

 were left in the canoes. 



On all sides the captain found himself assailed, 

 and great as were his faults, his lion-like courage 

 was even greater. He was a man of a powerful 

 muscular frame, and from always having despised 

 the Indians was never in the habit of carrying 

 arms, so on this occasion he was without any 

 weapon, except a clasp knife which he snatched 

 from the merchandise exposed for barter. But 

 even v/ith this miserable instrument he proved a 

 formidable antagonist. At the first outbreak, 

 Shewish, old Wicananish's son, had marked the 

 captain for his prey, and rushed furiously upon him, 

 only to reel back lifeless, stabbed to the heart. 

 The followers of the young chief now assailed him, 

 but the number of dead and wounded bodies with 

 which the deck was strewn, testified to the vigour 

 of his resistance. Though bleeding from many 

 wounds the gallant man — one feels inclined to 

 forgive him all on reading of his heroism — strove 

 to reach his cabin, in which stood the loaded fire- 

 arms, and he had nearly succeeded in fighting his 



