138 The Story of the New England Whalers 



windows. Though it was perfectly dark in the 

 cabin, Clough found two cutlasses and two muskets, 

 which he loaded, and leaned against the bulk- 

 head beside the stairway leading up to the deck. 

 Then a shot-gun was found, and Clough was 

 loading it when he heard a native coming down 

 the steps. Running to the foot of the steps, Clough 

 picked up a cutlass and plunged it into the body 

 of the native; but as he drew it forth to give another 

 lunge the native grabbed it. A struggle ensued 

 in which the active youth managed to gouge out 

 one of the native's eyes, but the native in the mean- 

 time got a hold on the sword and cut Clough's 

 right hand so severely as to disable it. Then 

 the native fell exhausted. 



Two of the savages were yet to be dealt with, 

 however, and one of them soon came to the head 

 of the stairs leading down into the cabin. Look- 

 ing up Clough could see dimly that the native 

 had a cutting spade poised. Hastily picking up a 

 musket from the floor, Clough with his left hand 

 and right forearm got it pointed up the stairs 

 and pulled the trigger. The native fell, dead, 

 down the stairs, but the spade came with him, 



