93 



After this Plato no longer dared to approach 

 Montego town ; but still spirits must be had : — how 

 was he to obtain them ? There was an old watch- 

 man on the outskirts of the estate of Canaan, with 

 whom he had contracted an acquaintance, and fre- 

 quently had passed the night in his hut ; the old 

 man having been equally induced by his presents 

 and by dread of his corporeal strength and supposed 

 supernatural power, to profess the warmest attach- 

 ment to the interests of his terrible friend. To this 

 man Plato at length resolved to entrust himself: he 

 gave him money to purchase spirits, and appointed 

 a particular day when he would come to receive 

 them. The reward placed upon the robber's head 

 was more than either gratitude or terror could 

 counterbalance ; and on the same day when the 

 watchman set out to purchase the rum, he apprised 

 two of his friends at Canaan, for whose use it was 

 intended, and advised them to take the opportunity 

 of obtaining the reward. 



The two negroes posted themselves in proper 

 time near the watchman's hut. Most unwisely, 

 instead of sending down some of his gang, they 

 saw Plato, in his full confidence in the friendship 

 of his confidant, arrive himself and enter the cabin ; 

 but so great was their alarm at seeing this dreadful 

 personage, that they remained in their conceal- 

 ment, nor dared to make an attempt at seizing him. 

 The spirits were delivered to the robber : he might 

 have retired with them unmolested ; but, in his 



