WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 207 



poisonous snakes, which can scarcely be dis- 

 tinguished from the fallen leaves. 



At last he reached a wooded sand-hill, where 

 the Maroons had intrenched themselves in great 

 force. Not expecting to come so soon upon them, 

 Mr. Edmonstone, his faithful man Coffee, and two 

 Indian chiefs, found themselves considerably- 

 ahead of their own party. As yet, they were un- 

 perceived by the enemy, but, unfortunately, one 

 of the Indian chiefs fired a random shot at a dis- 

 tant Maroon. Immediately the whole negro 

 camp turned out, and formed themselves in a 

 crescent, in front of Mr. Edmonstone. Their 

 chief was an uncommonly fine negro, about six 

 feet in height ; and his head-dress was that of an 

 African warrior, ornamented with a profusion of 

 small shells. He advanced undauntedly with his 

 gun in his hand, and, in insulting language, called 

 out to Mr. Edmonstone to come on and fight him. 



Mr. Edmonstone approached him slowly, in 

 order to give his own men time to come up; but 

 they were yet too far off for him to profit by this 

 manoeuvre. Coffee, who carried his master's 

 gun, now stepped up behind him, and put the gun 

 into his hand, which Mr. Edmonstone received, 

 without advancing it to his shoulder. 



He was now within a few yards of the Maroon 

 chief, who seemed to betray some symptoms of 

 uncertainty; for instead of firing directly at Mr. 

 Edmonstone, he took a step sideways, and rested 

 his gun against a tree; no doubt with the inten- 

 tion of taking a surer aim, Mr. Edmonstone, on 

 perceiving this, immediately cocked his gun, and 



