COVE

Page 2 of Richard Barrett's manuscript.
Accession #: n.d./137

Transcription: and plantain walks, till at length, as of by universal consent, he was per-
mitted to take without question whatever he had a fancy to. One day he
made his appearance in the plantain walk of the estate to which Austin
was attached, & told the watchman Davy, that the plantains that his
plantains were fit to gather, & that he would sup with him at night
when the moon was up. Davy knew very well that to invite himself
to supper, was Copperbottom's challenge to protect his master's property if
he dared, & not feeling at all disposed to engage hand to hand with so
desperate a villain, he made all possible haste to Austin. Having heard
his story, Austin was not long in taking his resolution: he determined to
watch the province ground himself. He might have informed the superin-
tendant of Copperbottom’s threat, but he feared that means of prevention might
be too publicly adopted, & that the marauder, having timely notice, would
relinquish his design for the present. This would give the jealous overseer an
opportunity of finding fault with, & perhaps of punishing him, as a false
alarmist. Besides—Austin may have felt some little ambition to have
the honor of contending with & defeating this terror of the country with
by his single arm. He kept Davy in his hut the whole day to prevent
the news being spread abroad, & when the moon rose, they sallied forth to the
scene of action. Austin did not carry with him his reluctant companion
from any expectation or even ask of his assistance in the approaching