Page:Famous Negro robber, and terror of Jamaica, or, The history and adventures of Jack Mansong.pdf/23

 name was no longer Quashee. Jack knew Reeder, and as if paralysed, he let his two guns fall to the ground, and drew his cutlass.

Reeder and Sam were at first frightened at the sight of him, they had to retreat, and considered that they were to grapple with the bravest, strongest, and most determined man in the island. But Jack was also intimidated, for he had prophesied that white obi would get the better of him; and he well knew, from experience, that the charm would lose nothing in the hands of Reeder.

Without farther parley, therefore, Jack, fearful of the event, with his cutlass in hand, threw himself down the precipice at the back of the cave.—Reeder attempted to shoot him, but his gun missed fire. Sam fired, and shot Jack in the shoulder as he fell.

Reeder, encouraged by the flight of Jack, and fearless of danger, with a cutlass in his hand, plunged headlong down after him. The descent was nearly thirty yards, and almost perpendicular. Both of them preserved their weapons in the fall.

Here was the spot on which two of the stoutest hearts that perhaps were ever hooped within ribs, began their bloody struggle. Having recovered their feet, the dreadful combat began, with all the savage fierceness of two enraged lions.

Tuckey, the little boy, who had been ordered to keep out of harm's-way, now reached the top of the precipice, and during the fight shot Jack in the belly.

Sam, who at a distance beheld the scene, coolly descended the field of action. When hohe [sic] arrived at the foot, Jack and Reeder had closed and tumbled down another precipice, in which fall they both lost their weapons.

Sam, now perceiving their situation, descended