way as before.

On came the Maroons with their frantic gestures, and, to our horror, as
soon as they reached the door, they began to throw their torches in
among us. At first we tried to trample out the fire under foot, but
they soon outmastered our powers, and the furniture which composed our
barricade ignited, so did the walls of the house, and the negroes
shrieking and cheering, encouraged each other in throwing in fresh
torches to overwhelm us. Still, induced to fight on by my gallant
captain, we continued our exertions, when the attack on the back-door
was renewed. It gave way! Loud shouts burst from the Maroons. Their
revenge was about to be satiated.

"Now, my lads, follow me," shouted the captain; "we'll cut our way
through them. Stick to me, Jack, whatever you do!"

As he said this, he seized a cutlass which lay on the ground, and,
before the negroes had time to bring the torches round to that side, he
rushed through the back-door which they had just battered down. I clung
to his skirts as he told me, springing along so as not to impede him;
and so heartily did he lay about him with his weapon, cutting off by a
blow a head of one and an arm of another, that he speedily cleared
himself a wide passage. Several of our party endeavoured to follow him
with such weapons as they could seize, but, unable to make the progress
he did, they were either knocked down and captured or killed on the
spot. On we went towards the wood behind the house, but we had still
numberless enemies on every side of us,--enemies who seemed resolved not
to allow any of their intended victims to escape them. I did not think
it possible that any man could keep so many foes at bay as did the
captain. Just as I thought we should escape, his foot caught in a
snake-like creeping root which ran along the ground. Over he went
almost flat on his face; but he did not lose a grasp of his sword. He
tried to rise, and I endeavoured to pull him up. He was almost once
more on his feet, when another creeper caught his foot. Again he fell,
and this time our enemies were too quick for him. Rushing on him by
hundreds, they threw themselves on his body, almost suffocating him as
they held him down by main force. I was treated much in the same way,
when a huge negro caught me up by the back of the neck, and made as if
he was about to cut off my head. He did not do so, but held me tightly
by the collar while the rest secured the captain.

Fl