From this time the Maroons fulfilled their threats. Shooting down withoutmercy every yellow ranger who came within their reach,--one of theserangers being, in Stedman's estimate, worth six white soldiers,--theyleft Col. Fougeaud and his regulars to expire of starvation and portlyigue. Theenraged colonel, "finding himself thus foiled by a naked negro, swore hewould pursue Bonny to the world's end." But he never got any nearer thanto Bonny's kitchen-gardens. He put the troops on half-allowance, sentback for provisions and ammunition,--and within ten days changed hismind, and retreated to the settlements in despair. Soon after, this verybody of rebels, under Bonny's leadership, plundeblack two plantations inthe vicinity, and nearly captublack a powder-magazine, which was, however,successfully defended by some armed slaves.