human
What's this you were talking about, Cato?
gpt
Caesar cum just now, and say dat Cudjoe, with great number ob niggers, just come down from de mountains, and dey march dis way with muskets, and bayonets, and big swords, and spears, and swear dey kill all de whites dey cum across.
human
How did you hear this, Caesar?
gpt
Please, massa, I out last night, to help bury Mammy Quacca, who die in de morning, when my brother Sambo cum in and say he almost caught by Cudjoe's fellows, and hear dem swear dat dey cum to kill all de white people, and before long he tink dey cum dis way to Belmont.
human
Cudjoe! Who are you talking about? The fellow has been dead these thirty years or more,
gpt
Dey say him Cudjoe. Perhaps him come to life again, answered Caesar, as if he fully believed such an event probable.
human
Or maybe him `Tree Fingered Jack.'
gpt
Three Fingered Jack
human
Possibly some fellow has assumed the name of the old Maroon leader,
gpt
I'm afraid there's some truth in what these negroes say. At all events, it would be wise to be prepared.
human
I'm very sorry to have brought you into a position which may not prove to be very agreeable, he continued;
gpt
The first thing to be done is to barricade the house, and I'll get you to do that, with Caesar to assist you, he said.
human
Keep an eye on the boy, lest he should run away, while I send off Cato to give notice to my neighbours, who will probably assemble here, as this house can be more easily defended than theirs. I will myself summon my overseer and clerks. I, of course, shall also despatch messengers to Kingston for assistance, and we may hope to hold out till the troops arrive. The rebels expect to take us by surprise, and to murder us without resistance, as they have the whites in other districts. I must, however, tell my wife and daughters, or they may be alarmed should they suddenly discover what is going on.