9
Europeans, and lay that fertile island in waste and ⟨ruin⟩. Jack, in imagination, already beheld the ⟨scene⟩, and smiled on its horrors.
On the tenth of February, 1780, it was resolved ⟨by⟩ this desperate band, headed by a more desperate ⟨and⟩ determined leader, to brandish around the ⟨flaming⟩ sword of vengeance. The evening before ⟨that⟩ fixed for the execution of their massacre, the ⟨chiefs⟩ of the insurrection met at the cave of ⟨Amalkir⟩; and it was agreed among them, that the signal ⟨to⟩ be given, was the firing of a gun.
Thus resolved, they separated; and now the ⟨eventful⟩ moment dawned! the heavy bell struck the ⟨midnight⟩ hour of twelve, and the expectation of the ⟨negroes⟩, waiting the approaching insurrection, was ⟨at⟩ the pitch. At length the awful clock warned ⟨them⟩ of the time. Jack listened to the solemn toll, ⟨as⟩ from the vapoured sepulchre it struck upon his ⟨ear⟩, and whispered the bloody design with infinite ⟨delight⟩! his heart swelled with joy and hope of ⟨victory⟩.
At this moment a gun was fired, and a horrid ⟨yell⟩ ensued. The slaves were in arms; they soon ⟨assembled⟩ in a line at the foot of the Blue ⟨Mountains⟩, and Jack led them to the carnage.
All the plantations were soon aroused, and the ⟨alarm⟩ bell rung; but ere the Europeans could be ⟨aroused⟩ from their torpidity, Crawford Town was ⟨in⟩ a blaze. The smoke ascended in volumes, ⟨mingled⟩ with the devouring flames.—Screams of the ⟨defenceless⟩, and groans of the dying, assailed their ⟨ears⟩.
At this juncture a troop of Maroon soldiers ⟨arrived⟩; the rebellious negroes stood their fire, and ⟨ran⟩ with fury on the guns of their assailants, who ⟨turned⟩ their backs and fled.
