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fired a random sliot at a distant Maroon. Imme- third 
diately the whole negro camp turned out, and formed- 1 — 
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 un¬ 
certainty ; for instead of firing directly at Mr. 
Edmonstone, he took a step sideways, and rested his 
gun against a tree ; no doubt with the intention of 
taking a surer aim. Mr. Edmonstone, on per¬ 
ceiving this, immediately cocked his gun, and fired 
it off, still holding it in the position in which he had 
received it from Coffee. 
The whole of the contents entered the negro’s 
body, and he dropped dead on his face. 
The negroes, who had formed in a crescent, now 
in their turn fired a volley, which brought Mr. 
Edmonstone and his two Indian chiefs to the ground. 
The Maroons did not stand to reload, but on Mr. 
