16
island—to try if he will give me him on whom my soul doats. Do not be uneasy on my account. If I find him not, I shall return and die in the arms of the best of fathers. I can with safety seek the cave of this robber, as I have been informed, by those who speak from experience, that he never will molest a female. Adieu, my dear father.
This imprudent step of Rosa's had nearly proved fatal to her father. 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.
The House of Assembly of the island of Jamaica also came to the resolution of giving their freedom to any slave, for whom they were to indemnify his owner, and also freedom and pardon to any of his accomplices, who should kill and bring in the head and three-fingered hand of Jack, which was issued immediately after the first proclamation.
In consequence of these offers, two resolute and bold negroes, named Quashec and Sam, both of Scots-Hall, Maroon Town, with a party of their townsmen, resolved to go search of Jack. Quashee before he set out, was christened, and his name changed to James Reeder. The expedition
