17
commenced, and while this party are on their pursuit we shall return to Rosa, who had left her father's house, in search of her lover.
The night was extremely dark when she took the resolution of descending from her chamber, to go in search of her beloved Orford. She dressed herself as a sailor-boy, to secure her from violence; and thus equipped, she defied the inclemency of the weather. The passion which preyed on her heart dispelled her fear; and unintimidated she proceeded to the woods.
Rosa had repeatedly heard it said, that Jack's cave was near Mount Lebanus, somewhere among the chain of the Blue Mountains. Thither she proceeded. Faint and weary she was often obliged to rest herself beneath the spreading fig tree; her tender limbs, unused to such excessive fatigue, sunk beneath her; her lips were parched with fever; but still the lively colour revelled unfaded on her lovely cheek. The hope of recovering her beloved Orford, in whose absence life was insupportable, and the happy presages of her soul making that wished-for event as certain, supported her resolution, and made her persevere with a courage rarely to be met with in her sex, more especially when the peculiar delicacy of her constitution is considered.
By violent exertion she climbed the craggy steep that overlooked Old Crawford Town, where still were visible the ravages of the fire. The evening fast approached, and the dread thunder was heard to reverberate at a short distance. The dazzling lightning played around, and the rain fell in torrents down the mountain's side. Rosa saw a narrow dismal path, leading to a more dismal cave; and she entered the gloomy abode, where none but the robber or wretched in heart could dwell. The arched
