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SCENE IX.

Outside of Iron Arm's Cave.
Victoria discovered on part of a hanging rock soliciting her life from a Robber who stands over her with a pistol.—Enter Iron Arm, who comes up to the mouth of the Cave, and gives a stamp or two, when an old Negress appears, whom he directs to take care of Victoria, ordering the Robber to deliver her his pistol, which he does, and passes over the bridge—Iron Arm coming forward meets Doughtie, who informs him of his ill success in attempting to assassinate Drake—Iron Arm bids him to keep his

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dagger prepared—Drake entering, Iron Arm accosts him with every appearance of cordiality, and drawing him on one side to point out the presents he had taken from the Spaniards, Doughtie rushes forward on the point of stabbing him unperceived, when a scream is heard from the Cave, and Oxenham, darting on at a wing, wrests the dagger from Doughtie, and shoots him—Victoria is rescued from her imprisonment by Alphonso and Oxenham, both joining in thanks to heaven for her deliverance —Iron Arm, in the mean time, steals into the Cavern, snatches a pistol from the old Negress, and firing at Oxenham, (who is huzzaing and capering at having preserved Drake's life) kills him, and immediately escapes unseen—the whole party struck with consternation and grief!—Drake calls his people round him, all swear to revenge the death of the expiring Oxenham, whom they bear off with due solemnity—the drum beats to arms, and parties on each side are perceived skirmishing and in preparation for battle; the scene closes.