Page:History and adventures of Jack Mansong.pdf/21

21 Orford, with the but-end of a gun, which he had taken with him, knocked him down again.— Stunned with the blow, he lay senseless while 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 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.

Soon afterwards the marriage of Captain Orford and the amiable Rosa were solemnized with great festivity : the Captain sold his commission, and purchased a large plantation near New Crawford Town, where they live loving and beloved. We shall now leave them happy in the society of each other, and return to the party who set out in pursuit of Jack.

Reeder and Sam with their party, had, been creeping about in the woods for upwards of three weeks blockading, as it were, the deepest recesses of the innaccessable parts of the island, where Jack, far remote from all human society, resided ; but their search was in vain. Reeder and Sam therefore, tired of this mode of war, resolved to proceed by themselves in search of his retreat, and take him by storming it, or perish in the attempt. The negro boy, Tuckey, being a lad of great spirit and a good shot, was, however, determined to accompany them.

These three, whom I well knew, says Dr. Mosely, left the rest of the party ; from whom they had not been long separated, before they discovered, by impressions among the weeds and