Anonymous

“ Captain Orford, unacquainted with fear, or the true character of our hero, frequently traversed the Blue Mountains, accompanied by his favorite negro boy Tuckey, to enjoy the breeze which lightly famed the mountains' tops. One day, thoughtless of danger, he proceeded till he came near the mouth of Jack's cave. Jack was seated upon a crag; who no sooner saw Orford than he leaped down. Tuckey gave a loud scream, and Orford preparing for the combat, drew his sword; Jack smiled upon him with contempt, and lifting op his gun by the muzzle, knocked him down with the butt-end. ”

“ Thus resolved, they separated; and now the eventful moment dawned! the heavy bell struck the midnight hour of twelve, and the expectation of the negroes, waiting the approaching insurrection, was at the pitch. At length the awful clock warned them of the time. Jack listened to the solemn toll, as from the vapoured sepulchre it struck upon his ear, and whispered the bloody design with infinite delight! his heart swelled with joy and hope of victory.
At this moment a gun was fired, and a horrid yell ensued. The slaves were in arms ”

“ Mansong had trained his heroes in the art of war, and had taught them evolutions which the king was unacquainted with, and he embraced, with all the fervour of his heart, so powerful an ally. Mansong undertook the discipline of the men of Kaarta, and he was unanimously chosen Commander-in-Chief.
Daisy now defied the malice of the powerful king of Bambarra, placing confidence in the valour of those few troops that were scarcely one-fourth the number of his foes, who now appeared before the town of Kemmoo. Mansong led his men to the field ”

“ At this period the island of Jamaica was greatly infested with the professors of Obi, which caused the most dangerous and fatal consequences among the negroes. The obi was a system of witchcraft religiously believed in by all the negroes. No wonder then that the heroic soul of Jack became a prey to this weakness. He confidently hoped that the possession of an obi would at once render him feared by his fellow slaves, and secure his vengeance on the Europeans. He therefore sought the most eminent professor of the art. ”

“ The youths now embraced the opportunity; and Mansong led them to join the king of Kaarta, who was then waging war with the perfidious king of Bambarra, who, prompted by ambition, had availed himself of a most frivilous pretext to declare war against Daisy, king of Kaarta.
By means of some desertions, Daisy's army was not so numerous as he expected; and when encamped at Kemmoo, the whole number of effective men did not exceed 4000; but being men of spirit and enterprise, could be depended on. Mansong with his small troop from Simbing, had joined them, and their appearance gave joy to Daisy. ”

“ All the plantations were soon aroused, and the alarm bell rung; but ere the Europeans could be aroused from their torpidity, Crawford Town was in a blaze. The smoke ascended in volumes, mingled with the devouring flames.—Screams of the defenceless, and groans of the dying, assailed their ears. ”

“ He was really a good man, and very generally beloved; the slaves readily obeyed so kind a master; and his plantation was esteemed the most thriving in the island. And we feel no hesitation in asserting, that if every planter in Jamaica and tho West Indies were to follow his humane example, it would not only tend to the increase of their own private wealth, but the good of this country at large; and it is indisputably as easy for a master to gain the love of his slaves, as their hatred. ”

“ Chapman, Captain Orford and his boy Tuckey, with several planters and their servants, proceeded along the banks of the river Morant. Near the bay the game was pretty fair; Captain Orford, being too eager after the game he and his boy were unfortunately separated from the rest of the company. They spring a covey of wild fowl; the Captain fired and brought down his mark; the bird falling on a rock that o'ertopped the sea, Tuckey ran up a cliff to save the game. Jack, who was out in search of prey, met and recollected him, and without further parley, threw him into the ocean. ”

“ Rosa had repeatedly heard it said, that Jack's cave was near Mount Lebanus, somewhere among the chain of the Blue Mountains. Thither she proceeded. Faint and weary she was often obliged to rest herself beneath the spreading fig tree; her tender limbs, unused to such excessive fatigue, sunk beneath her ”

“ Stunned with the blow, he lay senseless whilo they effected their escape.
Being thus fortunately freed from the horrors of their situation, they left Jack to his fate, and made all possible haste to relieve the anxious fears of Mr. Chapman; whom on their arrival they found confined to his bed. Rosa's father was overjoyed in again beholding his beloved daughter, whose courage had been the means of preserving the life of her lover, and restoring happiness to his family; he soon recovered. ”

“ Fresh obstacles again presented themselves to impede the escape of the lovers. Jack lad secured tho ladder, and he lay beneath the mouth of his cave; but this obstacle was soon obviated. They placed the table astride him as cautiously as possible, on which they also put the stool. Rosa ascended, and Orford followed. As he stepped from the stool, down fell the apparatus.—Jack started up in a fury and fixed the ladder—but Orford drew it up, and left him raging like a madman, vowing their immediate destruction. ”

“ He loved his daughter with the greatest affection, and a severe illness was the consequence of her flight.
Jaek had now been nearly two years in the Blue Mountains; he had become the terror of the whole island, and rendered himself so obnoxious by his daily depredations, that Governor Darling found it necessary to apply to his Majesty, to issue his royal proclamation, offering a reward to apprehend this daring robber. Accordingly, two proclamations were issued, dated the 12th December, 1780, and 15th January, 1781, offering a reward of two hundred pounds for killing Jack, or taking him alive. ”

“ On the eve of the last, they were all invited to the palace, and tho liquors of Bambarra wero placed upon the board, but Mansong excused himself, and requested permission to prosecute his journey to Kaarta. Lubeg, finding no other alternative, gave the signal, and a large party rushed in. "We are betrayed," exclaimed Mansong, drawing his sword, and the Kaartans, following his example, fought most furiously; but overpowered with numbers, they were obliged to submit to their perfidious foes. ”