Page:History and adventures of Jack Mansong.pdf/6

6 man, who loved the welfare of his people, immediately sent Mansong, accompanied by a small detachment of officers, to adjust the preliminaries. The Bambarrans who were as eager as the Kaarsans to have peace restored, loudly huzzaed as Mansong, with his small troop, entered Sigo, tho town where the king waited to receive them. Lubeg, the king of Bambarra, saw with a joyful eye the leader of the Kaartans before him ; and instantly devised a hellish scheme to ruin his foe, and terminate the military glory of the great and warlike Mansong.

Peace being now agreed upon, joyful festivity reigned throughout Bambarra and the ambassadors were requested to stay three days at Sigo. Mansong, although he wished to convey the news so eagerly sought for by his royal master readily acquiesced ; and Lubeg furnished them for three days with sumptuous entertainment. On the eve of the last, they were all invited to the palace, and the liquors of Bambarra were 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. Mansong, with a gleaming sabre like a tiger in the toils, darting on the foremost, cleft him to the ground. The sabres of his adversaries clashed over his head, but he heeded not death, and struggled hard to break the chains that encircled him. He still fought, and his blood streamed around, till at length overcome, he fell covered with wounds, and four of his adversaries lay dead beside him ; the others