Thinking I had not killed him, I struck him again with the axe as he lay upon the deck.
His fall and the sound of the axe made some noise, which, added to that caused by my running across the deck, attracted the attention of the captain, who came up the companionway, and putting out his head, asked what was the matter?
I replied, “nothing,” and then asked him, as I had the younger Watts, “Is that Barnegat light.”
Captain Burr replied, “No, you will not see it for two hours;” and as he spoke he turned his head from me.
The axe swung in the air, and, guided by my sinewy and murderous arm, came down.
The edge crunched through his neck, nearly severing his head from his body, and killing him instantly.
The body fell down the companionway.
As I turned to leap after it, and dispatch my remaining victim, I looked forward, and—Oh, God, how I shudder to think of it now!—he whom I thought I had already killed had risen and was coming aft, his hand outstretched toward me, and the blood running in two dark streams over his pale face, from two ghastly wounds on his head.
For a moment I stood undecided, but as he still came on, I ran toward him, but ere I reached him he fell about midships, and rushing on him, I struck once! twice! thrice! with the axe, and finished him.
Running aft, I jumped down the companionway with the bloody axe in my hand.