OBI; or, THREE-FINGER'D JACK

A SERIO-PANTOMIME, IN TWO ACTS.

ACT II.

SONG—QUASHEE'S WIFE.

My cruel love to danger go,
No think of pain he give to me—
Too soon me fear like grief to know,
Has broke the heart of Ulalee,
Poor negro woman, &c.

Poor soul, to see her hang her head
All day beneath the cypress tree—
And still she sing, my love be dead,
The husband of poor Ulalee,
Poor negro woman, &c.

My love be kill'd-how sweet he smiled—
His smile again me neber see,
Unless me see it in the child,
That he hath left poor Eulalie.
Poor negro woman, &c.

My baby to my breast I fold,
But little warmth, poor boy, have he—
His father's dead-all is so cold
About the heart of Ulalee.

SCENE II.—Same as Scene IV. Act. I. Thunder lightning, rain, etc.

Enter Sam, Quashee, Tuckey, and Rosa, R.H. who lags behind, very much fatigued. The storm increases, Quashee and Sam look carefully round. Tuckey points to the rock, informing them that was the place from whence Jack threw him, and where his master was killed. They ascend the rock. Rosa attempts to follow-finds herself unstable, and falls back. The storm increases. Rosa staggers down the stage. Tuckey returns to her assistance—she declares she can proceed no further. Tuckey discovers cave at the bottom of rock, R.H. entreats her to go in for shelter—she consents, and goes: Tuckey promises to fetch her assistance, runs up the rock after Quashee and Sam. Rosa exits into cave. Enter Jack, L.H. sees Tuckey at the top of the rock, and watches him till he disappears, then exits into cave, R.H.

SCENE III.—A Subterranean Passage in the Rocks. Dark.

Enter Rosa, R.H. exploring her way. Looks about much terrified—is about to return, when Jack enters, R.H. seeing Rosa, starts. Rosa attempts to go—Jack forces her to stay, and throws her from him. Rosa kneels. Jack levels his gun at her—it flashes in the pan. Jack, vexed, runs to her with the butt end, to knock her down—observes her youth, pauses, and her entreaties seem to make some impression on him—puts down gun, goes to her and feels her chin—is persuaded she is but a boy—asks her to serve him—she consents through fear. Jack takes gun, first binding a sash round her eyes. He then takes her by the hand, and leads her off blindfolded.

SCENE IV—Inside of Jack's Cave. A fireplace on R.H. between the first and second entrances. An entrance to the cave from top, at back.

Jack discovered conducting Rosa down a ladder into the cave. Jack brings her to the front of the stage—unties the sash—she appears dismayed at the appearance of the place. Jack sits down on a small stool at table—makes signs to her that he wants to eat. Points L.H. to get liquor: she fetches a keg of rum and a pitcher. He then gives her a tea kettle of water—orders her to light a fire and put it on: she obeys—places it on the fire, and lights it by the lamp, which is on the table: she fans the fire with her hat, and it gradually burns up. The kettle is seen to boil; she takes it off, pour hot water into jug, which he holds.Jackdrinks plentifully of rum and water—gets a little merry—takes his banjo, plays, and desires her to do the same. Rosa, terrified, sings, which lulls him to sleep.

SONG—ROSA.

A lady in fair Seville city,
Who once fell in love very deep,
On her Spanish guitar played a ditty,
That lulled her old guardian to sleep.
With a hoo lira lira li ra li ra hoo.

Her guardian not given to dozing,
Was thought the most watchful of men-
But each strain had so sleepy a closing,
That he nodded, but soon woke again,
With a hoo lira, &c.

When Rosa observes Jack asleep, she examines the cave—finds the ladder, puts her foot up it, in order to get away. Hears a groan. Jack starts. Rosa runs down, R.H. catches up the banjo, and sings the last strain of her song, which again sets Jack to sleep. She then looks very cautiously round—finding him fast asleep, attempts to make her escape up the ladder, when a deeper groan in heard: she returns, looks about—at length discovers a door, L.H. covered with a matted curtain. Hears the groaning more distinctly: she draws the curtain hastily, and finds a grated door—opens it with difficulty—discovers the Captain lying, bound—gives a shriek, runs from the door and falls on her face towards R.H. This alarms Jack, who starts up—goes to her—supposes her asleep—observes the Captain safe—sits down again to sleep, but on recollection gets up again. Goes first to her, then to the door, which he shuts and locks with a padlock, then takes out the key. Gets the ladder, sets it against R. wing, over the fireplace, and hangs the key on the tip of it: secures his gun, pistols, &c. by throwing them out at the mouth of the cave. Takes the ladder, lays it down under the mouth of the cave, places a truck—(which is at the back of the stage)—upon it, taking care to put the two front feet of the truck between the steps of the ladder. Having thus secured every thing, he goes up to Rosa, and forces her from the ground, takes a cord, which is fastened 1 E.R. near the fire, ties her hands together, forcing her at the same time into a chair near table, then takes the other end of the cord, fastens it to his own hand, and finding himself still sleepy, lays himself down and goes to sleep. Rosa, sitting in the utmost despair, at last endeavours to untie the cord with her teeth, but cannot effect it. Here the Captain groans again. Rosa, greatly agitated, and finding Jack asleep, at length gets the rope over the lamp upon the table, and burns it asunder, by which means she is liberated; she then ties the end of the cord Jack has hold of to the leg of the table—runs to the Captain—tries to open the door—finds the padlock on: she in despair—the Captain groans, and repeats the words, "Oh, Rosa! Rosa!" She is animated—runs and tries to force the door, but ineffectually—again despairing, is crossing the stage, her hands clasped together, and uplifted eyes, observes the key hanging at the top of wing, R.H. Convinced of its being the key, runs towards it—finds it impossible to reach it—steps upon the chair, and upon the table—still finds she cannot reach it—turns for the ladder, finds it secured. Here the Captain gives a deep sigh. She seems to revive, and going towards the door, sees a bundle of faggots—takes two sticks, fastens them together, and getting on the table, hooks off the key, which falling, makes Jack start, and she remains on the table, greatly alarmed. She again finds Jack asleep, descends, and finding the key, opens padlock then the door, the noise of which again makes Jack start—but finding the cord fast when he pulls it, conceiving all safe, again falls asleep. Rosa then gets the keg, gives Captain drink, which revives him: she then assists him in getting out—they come forward—Captain much recovered. They concert means for their escape, appearing much distressed at finding everything secured to prevent it. At last a thought strikes Rosa, who brings the Captain down to the table—each take hold of an end of it. They place it very cautiously on the sides of the truck over Jack, then get the chair, and place it on the table. Captain helps Rosa up, then follows her, and just as he gets his foot upon the step of the entrance beats down the chair, the noise of which awakens Jack, who starts up, throws down the whole apparatus, and finding them gone, he places the ladder to follow them—the Captain instantly seizes the ladder, and draws it up through the entrance. Jack, enraged a his disappointments, attempts to climb up the rock to follow them—the Captain knocks him down with the ladder, which he draws up. Captain and Rosa disappear. Scene closes.

SCENE V—Subterraneous Passage, as before.

Rosa enters, R.H. followed by Captain—they support each other, and go off, L.H.

SCENE VI—Mountains.

Enter Jack from the top of a high mountain, L.H. He gets from a branch of a tree to a lower one, R. comes down upon it to R.H. rock, from thence, upon the stage. Looks carefully about, then retires up the same way he came, carefully drawing the branch of the tree after him. Smoke is seen at times at top of rock. Enter Quashee, Sam, and Tuckey, R.H. in search of Jack. They look carefully about—at last discover the marks of Jack's footsteps, and trace them. They go up the hill different ways. Sam gets on top of wing, L.H. Quashee goes up the rock, R.H. Tuckey climbs up a backward hill, R.H. with his gun. Jack starts up, behind some bushes at top of rock, L.H. Quashee crosses his forehead, and tells him that he has been christened. Jack is daunted, and lets his gun fall—Tuckey draws his cutlass. Quashee presents his gun—it misses fire. Jack jumps down on the opposite side, and is seen to run across from L. to R. followed by Quashee. Jack ascends the platform in front of the rocks, and is going up L.H. Quashee following—he returns.

A DESPERATE COMBAT.

By the time Tuckey has ascended a hill at the back, R.H. fires at Jack—wounds him. He drops his sword, and comes forward, L.H. Quashee drops his sword, and follows him. They stand for a moment, looking—then fly at each other with all their might. Jack at length gets Quashee by the throat—throws him down. R.H. and is in the act of strangling him, when Quashee raises his arm, and with a dagger stabs him in the breast. By this time Tuckey and Sam have arrived to his assistance, and Jack fainting with loss of blood, falls. As they raise their swords to decapitate Jack, the Scene closes.

SCENE VII.-Mouth of Obi Woman's Cave.

Enter Two Negro Robbers much alarmed, R.H. run to the cave, bring out Obi Woman, and inform her of Jack's being killed. Hearing a noise, R., all retire into cave. Tuckey comes on, and discovers them retreating. He beckons off R.H. to the Captain. The Captain enters, R. calls on Quashee and Sam—they all go into cave in pursuit of Obi Woman and Robbers. Captain, Quashee, Sam, and Tuckey re-enter from cave, L.H. bringing out Obi Woman and two Robbers, and exeunt guarding them, R.H.

SCENE VIII.—Tent, and open Country.

Grand March and Process enter L.H. through Tent, in the following order:—

Eight Boys, in pairs, with Triangles.
Serjeant.
Six Soldiers, in pairs.
Four Boys of Chorus, in pairs, with Triangles.
Four Men of Chorus, in pairs, with Streamers.
The Ladies of Chorus, with Green Leaves.
Four Men of Chorus, in pairs, with Illuminated Lanterns on
Poles.
Six Dancing Negresses, with Bells.
Two Slaves, bearing Jack's Head and Hand.
Two Slaves.
Eight Boys, with Lanterns, viz.-Four on each side of the
Two men bearing Head and Hand.
The Planter.
The Captain.
Rosa.
Two Female Slaves.
Four Slaves in Livery.
Obi Woman.
Quashee, Tuckey, and Sam, borne by Four Slaves, on truck,
with Three Dancing Negresses, with Bells, on each side.
The Overseer.
Quashee's Wife and Child.
Sam's Wife and Child. Four Slaves, in pairs, with Lanterns.
Six Soldiers, in pairs.

As the Procession comes down in the centre of the Stage, they divide in the front; and march up R. and L. wings, range themselves up the sides in the order they came on, so as to admit of the truck on which Tuckey, Quashee, and Sam are brought on to be placed in the centre of the Stage—in front of which is placed Jack's head and hand. The truck is surrounded by the Boys with lanterns, and Dancing Negroes with bells.

FINALE

SOLO.

Wander now, to and fro,
'Cross the wide Savannah—
Now no fright negro know,
Beat big drum, wave fine flag,
Bring good news to Kingston town, O.
O no fear Jack's Obi bag,
Quashee's knock him down, O.

CHORUS.

Wander now, to and fro, &c.

SOLO.

Tang a rang tang tang taro—
O through dale, and over hill
The negro now may go—
For charm he broke, and Jack he kill—
'Twas Quashee give the blow.

CHORUS.

Wander now, to and fro, &c.

OVERSEER.

Here we see villainy brought by law to short duration-
And may all traitors fall by British proclamation.

CHORUS.

Then let us sing God save the King!
Wander now, to and fro, &c.

CURTAIN