"'Ello! Awake, me 'earty! Blow me, but you've jest slept the clock
right round! What time o' day is it? Nine o'clock, or thereabouts.
'Taint no use a givin' it to yer in bells, 'cos you ain't no sailor.
You've slept the clock round, Mr Stapleton, and you've laid there since
yesterday mornin', a-sleepin' like a infant. 'Twasn't no use a-tryin'
to stir yer up, though the skipper--the Commodore that is--did 'ave a
try. 'E's jest jumpin' to get yer news about these darkies. But yer
wouldn't stir. Yer jest kind er growl, and then yer was off agin. Swop
me, but yer must 'ave been tired!"
"I was--dead beat," agreed Dick, looking out from the hammock, and
noticing that he was aboard the war vessel, and still lying under an
awning. Indeed, at first he could recollect nothing, not even the fight
with the Ashantis, to such a point had exhaustion carried him. And now,
when he stirred and opened his eyes, it was to see a burly sailor, a
British Jack tar, staring at him with a huge smile on his good-humoured
face.
"Thet's jest what the skipper says. He sees it ain't no use a botherin'
yer, and so 'e jest leaves yer to it. `Put a nurse on him,' he calls
out to the chief. `See as 'e's taken care of.' And so 'ere I am,
actin' kind of nurse. 'Ow do yer feel, Mr Stapleton, sir?"
"Hungry! My word, I am hungry. You say I've slept the clock round.
Then there's no wonder that I want something. How's the launch?"
"Safe and sound, sir, and the gold, too. Swop me, but where did it all
come from? You must 'ave been busy to dig all that. But you're 'ungry.
I'll send down to the gunroom. Officers is 'aving their breakfast, and
there'll be a peck for you."
He was an amusing fellow, this rough salt, and a capital nurse he had
made. He went to the rail of the upper deck, and sang out to the
sergeant of the guard, a marine, whose man paced the beat below.
"Mr Stapleton's compliments," he called out. "He's awake and feels
mighty hungry."
Dick heard the sergeant turn away, and then crawled from his hammock.
Only then did he look at his clothing and his hands, and he was
horrified, for he was still the grimy object he had been when,
twenty-four hours before, he had come aboard the vessel. He was stiff
and sore all over. He limped to the rails, and looked down on to the
lower deck. Scores of marines and sailors were tumbling up, chattering
and calling to one another, and amongst them was Johnnie, as lively as a
sand-boy, and quite at home with all the crew. Indeed, he was in a
small way a hero, and had made the most of his wakeful hours, yarning to
the tars. Dick nodded down to him, and returned the salutes of the men
as they touched their caps to him. Then he turned red under the grime,
for a lusty fellow jumped to the railings and seized his cap.
"Three cheers for Mr Stapleton, the gentleman what's jest come down the
Pra all alone," he cried. "Three of them, boys, and heartily!"
"Silence, please. Higgens, direct Mr Stapleton to the spare cabin and
see to him. Thank you, lads, we like to see a plucky act recognised."
It was an officer who spoke, and at his word the men gave another cheer
and departed, while Dick, still somewhat overcome at the honour done
him, followed the mess servant who had appeared, and went down to a
cabin. Here he stripped off his rags, and was invited to pass through a
narrow doorway to the bath. When he emerged, dripping and feeling
wonderfully fresh, there was the mess servant waiting to give him a
rub-down, and to help him to dress, for his shoulders were now
excessively stiff, while his knee was very painful. He was, in fact,
sore all over. But his joy at being amongst friends was great, and he
made light of the pain.
"Mr Hilden's compliments, sir, and he thinks these garments will be
about the size. He hopes you will make use of them."
The servant, who was one of the marines, held out a suit of white, and
Dick gladly availed himself of the clothing. There was a complete
change of linen also, and when at length he hobbled from the cabin he
was looking spruce and neat again--a clean young Englishman, modest of
manner, well grown, and with that air of quiet determination which is so
common to young men of our race, and which sat so well on him. No one
would have thought that this young fellow had been up-country in a
responsible position, and that he had so recently had such a tussle with
the natives.
"What shall I do with these?" asked the servant, politely, smothering a
smile as he pointed to Dick's discarded rags.
"Throw them overboard, or burn them, please," was the smiling answer,
"and--er--er--"
"James, sir."
"Well, James, is there anything--?"
"Breakfast waiting, sir. Yes, sir. This way. The officers are
waiting."
He led the way to the gunroom, and in another minute our hero was
limping across the polished boards to where a long table was placed
between two of the guns. There were a dozen officers there, more or
less, and they at once rose to greet him.
"Glad to see you about again, Stapleton," said one, who looked as if he
were the senior. "Let me introduce my friends. Officers of H.M.S.
_Rattlesnake_, Mr Stapleton; Dick Stapleton, I think."
He said the last with a pleasant smile, while Dick bowed to those
present.
"Dick Stapleton, I think," repeated the officer. "We all know that.
The ship rings with the name. That dark fellow of yours has been
telling some secrets. Let me congratulate you. It is seldom we hear of
such an escape, and it is fine to come across a young fellow who, alone
up-country, has been able to hold his own so handsomely. 'Pon my word,
you've done well."
Dick went as red as the cummerbund about his waist, and felt horribly
confused. Then, at the invitation of the officers, he sat down, and
forgetting all else for the moment enjoyed the good things put before
him, and the excellent company in which he found himself. For there are
none jollier than naval officers, none more hospitable. Their gallantry
has long, long ago been proved to all the world.
"As soon as you are ready we will go to the Commodore," said the officer
who had before addressed himself to Dick. "I may say that he is simply
itching to hear your news. You see, it's important. We've had a brush
with the natives, and it has been a nasty business. There's a big
disturbance going on, and the war has regularly started. We expect
Wolseley here very soon--General Sir Garnet Wolseley, you know. A fine
soldier, and just the officer for a job of this kind."
Dick opened his eyes in astonishment. He had already gathered that
there was some trouble afoot. Indeed, when he sailed up the Pra with
Mr Pepson there had been ugly rumours in the air. Some had warned the
members of the expedition that it would be folly to go just then.
Others had said that there was always trouble threatening; that it was a
condition which had become practically chronic on the Gold Coast, and
that King Koffee was always a thorn in the flesh, feared by Fantis and
white men alike, and always liable to make a raid on the coast. So it
had been for a long while, and he who hesitated to march into the forest
on that account was weak. But from his own experience he knew that they
had actually gone on the war-path, and now he heard that the Navy had
had an action with them.
"And there is to be a regular war?" he asked in amazement. "Sir Garnet
Wolseley is coming, and troops, too, I suppose?"
"Yes, there will be troops, and some are already here. It is to be a
regular invasion. This fellow, King Koffee, has become too troublesome
and too formidable. His men are here on the coast, and the
neighbourhood of Elmina is in his hands. We are in a tight corner, and
shall remain so till the reinforcements arrive. Then we shall march to
Kumasi and burn the wasp out. That's it precisely, Mr Stapleton. This
king thinks that he can dictate terms to the white men. He has a few
captives, and thinks that because he beat a white force years ago, he
can repeat the process. He wants a lesson, and we're here to give it to
him. Have you finished? Please do not let me hurry you, but if you
only knew the anxiety of our Commodore, I think you would forgive any
undue haste on our part. Our Commodore has been fretting at the
unavoidable delay. Of course you could not help that. Any one could
see that you were dog tired. Yes, this way, now up the ladder and along
the deck. Sentry, my compliments to the Commodore, and say that I have
brought Mr Stapleton."
A few seconds later the two were ushered into the wardroom of the
_Rattlesnake_, and Dick found himself bowing before the Commodore, J.E.
Commerell, V.C., C.B., who came forward to shake him by the hand. There
were two other officers present, and it was evident by the expression on
their faces that they were eagerly awaiting news from the interior.
"This is a serious business, Mr Stapleton," said the Commodore,
motioning Dick to a seat at the wardroom table. "I heard that you have
encountered an Ashanti army, and I have information that they were on
their way to attack the Assims, a tribe friendly to ourselves. Tell me
all about this meeting, please, and also what other frays you may have
had with the enemy; for I have also had mentioned to me the fact that
you have had more than one skirmish."
"I'll do my best, sir," answered Dick. "I went up-country some weeks
ago with my employers and some Fanti boatmen. Also we took a native
stoker, Johnnie, who is here now, and has proved a splendid fellow. We
were attacked by Ashanti robbers on the way up, and our Fantis were in
league with them. We beat them off and went on to the mine for which we
were making. There was a stockade there, and as soon as we had settled
matters I was left in charge of the place and of the miners. A few days
ago, I cannot exactly remember how many, for after being awake so long
and then sleeping the clock round I am rather confused--still, it is
only a few days ago that the same leader who had previously attacked our
boats, made an attempt to take the stockade, and failed owing to the
pluck of the miners and to the watchfulness of Johnnie. But they hemmed
us in, and we knew that they expected two hundred Ashantis to reinforce
them."
"You knew? Excuse me, Mr Stapleton, but how could you know that when
you were, according to your own description, hemmed in the stockade?
Did they shout the news so as to frighten your men?"
The Commodore leaned across the table, and put the question, while he
looked closely at his guest. Dick flushed again, for he felt ill at
ease in this atmosphere of the wardroom, with officers listening so
intently to his words.
"It was through an accident, you see, sir," he said. "It happened that
when the attack was made, I was out in the forest scouting for the
enemy, for we had seen a small force in our neighbourhood a little time
before."
"Then you had taken precautions against attack, I imagine?" interrupted
the Commodore. "You had set a watch, so as not to be taken unawares?"
"And yet they took me by surprise, sir. They came up from the other
side, and as I was in the forest I did not know of their presence till I
heard firing. Yes, we had taken precautions. Johnnie was on the watch
at the stockade, and the men had been warned, and had been trained as to
their action in case of attack. A tom-tom was beaten, and they simply
ran to the stockade and banged the door. Then they peppered the enemy,
with excellent results."
"Meanwhile you were in the forest, cut off from your men?"
"Yes, sir. But I managed to creep through during the night, and, thanks
to the fact that I can now understand the Ashanti tongue and speak it a
little, I learned of these reinforcements on my way through."
"And you got through without incident?"
"Hardly," admitted Dick, telling them quietly how he had been followed,
and had had to fight for his life, and how he had been rescued when on
the point of being dragged away to captivity. "After that we fooled
them," he said easily. "We sent out a party to the front, the direction
from which their attack had come, while we made preparations to slink
off in the opposite direction. The party retired over the hill with the
gold, while I went on firing for a time. We had our launch in hiding in
a creek some little distance away, and we got safely aboard her and set
off down the river, towing the men in a native boat. Later we paid off
our men and hid the boat. Then we steamed down-stream and had the bad
luck to meet with an Ashanti army. They peppered us hotly, and, in
fact, nearly cut us off. There were two big war boats which were the
greatest danger, and aboard one was a native with a big gun, firing a
heavy bullet. He shot our tiller away at a critical moment. But we
used the stoking rod, and--and here we are."
"Quite so, Mr Stapleton, here you are," said the Commodore, with a
pleasant little smile. "But you will excuse me. As a naval officer, I
would like to hear how it is that you are here at all. You had an army
to contend with. They were in boats. There were two large war craft,
and a man with an elephant gun, a small cannon in fact. Your tiller was
shot away, and I have noticed that your funnel is perforated. Your boat
is marked with slugs from bow to stern, and there are some pounds of
slugs and pebbles on the decks or embedded in the woodwork. You had one
stoker with you. Two for a crew to man the vessel and fight her. This
requires a little more explanation."
Willingly would Dick have escaped further conversation, for the reader
must recollect that he was unused to this official atmosphere, and felt
more than overawed by the presence of the officers, looking so keen and
spruce. However, there were friendly smiles to encourage him, and he
blurted out his news.
"Oh, we ran for the far side of the river, firing as we went," he said.
"Then there was a chance. A war boat left a gap behind her and we
slipped into it. But they can back their boats by simply turning on
their heels and reversing their paddles, and so she came right across
us. But we let 'em have it broadside on and crumpled 'em up. A few
clung to us or jumped aboard, but we shot one or two, and Johnnie hit
the rest over the head with his shovel. Then the fellow with the gun
got our range again, and it looked a little nasty for a while. But we
shot him, and then--well, here we are."
There was a hearty laugh at his words and at the obvious confusion under
which he laboured. But the Commodore soon straightened his features and
again asked a very pertinent question.
"If you please," he said sweetly, "who are `we'? You say `we' all the
way through. We left the stockade; we paid the men off; we fitted the
stoking bar as a tiller; we steered the launch over the war boat; and we
shot the man with the gun when things began to look nasty. Do you mean
that you and Johnnie did these things together?"
Then our hero was compelled to give the details, while the perspiration
poured from his forehead. For if he was brave, he was undoubtedly
modest.
"And now I will tell you what has happened here," said the Commodore.
"But first I must thank you for very valuable information, and at the
same time congratulate you on your very plucky conduct. 'Pon my word,
gentlemen, we should be delighted had he been one of our service. It
would have been a fine feather in our caps to be able to send such a
report home to the authorities. But now, my news. You may have seen
some of us wearing slings and bandages. We have good reason for doing
so, for three weeks ago we went up the river Pra to discuss matters with
some of these natives who seemed inclined to be turbulent. They met us
in a friendly manner, but higher up, as our boats were being towed
closer to the bank and within easy range, an ambush of some thousand
natives opened fire upon us. We were in a hopeless condition, for we
could not attack, and could hardly retire. But we managed to draw away,
and returned to the ship with many poor fellows injured. Later we
shelled the town where the ambush had been laid and smashed it to
pieces. About the same time some of our men were ill-treated by the
natives higher up the river, and I regret to say that in all we lost
four of our brave fellows, while twenty of us were wounded, including
six officers. However, we are all recovering. But the range was close,
and a blow on the ribs is no laughing matter."
The Commodore moved uneasily, and it was then that Dick noticed an
unusual bulging of his coat and shirt, for in these hot parts all wore
the lightest clothing. In fact, the Commodore had been very seriously
injured by the murderous fire of the natives.
"There has been more trouble since," went on the Commodore, "but we have
not had the worst of it. We have realised that the time for talking has
passed, and we have given these unfriendly natives a sample of our
wares. We have shelled towns and villages where the people were
hostile. But they are that everywhere. The bush swarms with enemies,
and there can be no doubt that we are face to face with a war of
moderate proportions. In that war, Mr Stapleton, you will be able to
play a prominent part, for you can speak both the Fanti and Ashanti
dialects, and you have some knowledge of the country. I shall ask you
to take a letter to the Lieutenant-Governor at Cape Coast Castle, in
which I will repeat what I have just said. But perhaps you would rather
not aid the troops; perhaps you will want to return home, in which case
Her Majesty's forces will be the losers."
"I cannot say, sir," was the answer. "Till I see my friends and
ascertain their wishes I am unable to decide. Indeed, I am not my own
master. May I press on at once, for I am anxious to get to them and
hand over the gold. Besides, when they hear of this trouble, they will
be wondering what has happened to their mine."
"And I think also to the young manager who was put in charge.
Certainly, Mr Stapleton, you are at liberty to push on any time. I
have had your launch replenished with coal, and provisions shall be
placed aboard her. You will hardly need a crew, I should say, seeing
that you have brought her all this way with one man only and have now no
enemies to fear. But let me warn you. You must on no account put into
Elmina. The neighbourhood is in the hands of the enemy. The Elminas
there have proved false, and have thrown in their lot with the enemy.
An attack in force was made on the town and beaten off, five hundred of
the enemy being killed. You would be fired on, not that that would
matter much now, for you must be used to the experience, but it might be
awkward. Push straight on for Cape Coast Castle."
He said the words with a friendly smile and a twinkle of amusement,
while he gripped Dick by the hand. There was no doubt, in fact, that he
was as impressed with the modestly described tale of Dick's adventures
as were the crew with the lurid accounts which Johnnie had given them.
And his comrades in ward and gun rooms endorsed his opinion. It was
long since they had met with such pluck and determination, or with one
who carried his honours so easily and unconsciously.
"It's what I like to see," said the Commodore, as his guest left the
cabin. "No side, like some of these civilians of youthful age. No
pomposity when speaking of the natives or of men in a lower station.
Good sense all through. Politeness and good temper, which show the
gentleman; and plenty of grit. My word, Hilden, a fellow in our service
would deserve promotion for such conduct."
Half an hour afterwards there was a commotion aboard the _Rattlesnake_
as Dick prepared to leave. A right hearty farewell was given him, and
numerous invitations to come again, such is the geniality and
hospitality of the Navy. The sailors and marines had again congregated
on the deck, for they love to see an officer who has done well, and
never spare their praise where it is merited. And down below, standing
in the launch, was Johnnie, waving to his bosom friends above, his short
clay pipe gripped between his sharp white teeth, and emitting now the
aroma of a different brand of tobacco, the powerful, far-penetrating
scent of Navy shag, the smoke which tries the stomach of the raw
recruits. Johnnie was unaltered in appearance, save that he had had a
wash. A bucket and a piece of soap had transformed him sufficiently,
and he stood there below in his old clothing, looking just as he did at
the stockade, save that the garments were now more ragged and stained,
while there was a huge rent extending up one leg to the knee. The wound
on his cheek was there, covered with a piece of strapping, which gave it
unusual and ghastly proportions. Johnnie was undoubtedly proud of that
wound, and thought no more of lost beauty. He laughed and chattered,
and seeing Dick about to descend, called out a final farewell to his
late entertainers.
"Golly! you come all to Sierra Leone and see how Johnnie do for yo!
Plenty eat, plenty drink, and all berry glad yo come. Dance and sing,
play de banjo or flute. Yes, yo come, and Massa Dick be dere to meet
yo. S'long, yo boys; glad we meet."
There was a roar from the deck above.
"So long, cocky. If yer get tired o' stokin' that 'ere kettle, jest
apply aboard this here ship. Plenty of baccy and grub, cocky, and
you'll be welcome. And, Johnnie," one of the voices suddenly broke in,
silencing the others, "when yer come again with Mr Stapleton, jest
remember that quids is scarce aboard this here ship. Jest tip 'im the
wink and bring aboard a few of them 'ere bags o' gold. We could do with
a little extry pay and allowances."
That brought forth another roar, and a cheer as Dick took his place at
the tiller, a tiller which now, thanks to the kindness of the Commodore
and the skill of the carpenter, had been refitted.
"Cast off!" cried Dick. "Ahead. Let 'er have it. Sound that whistle,
Johnnie."
They went away from the side of the _Rattlesnake_ with a rush, and were
soon steaming along the coast, increasing their distance from their late
friends rapidly. Then they set their eyes towards Elmina and Cape Coast
Castle, which they hoped to reach before night. Presently they sighted
the fort at Elmina, with the native town and the expanse of cleared
ground, precautions which the Dutch had taken against fever, but which,
in spite of the example thus set them, and the crying need, the English
had not yet attempted at Cape Coast Castle. Then they steamed on along
the coast, rising and falling with the swell, while the music of the
surf as it fell on the sandy beach came to their ears. In due course
they sighted the huge, irregular erection known as the Castle, and very
soon the launch was moored off the beach. Dick signalled for a
surf-boat and in half an hour had reached the shore, taking with him his
store of gold. There were plenty of native porters about, and he hired
six, who at once took up the bags. Then the procession set off, and
crossing the bridge which separates the native town from the European
settlements, turned its steps towards the house in which Mr Stapleton
had lived. No one was out as the party arrived, so Dick had the bags
piled on the edge of the verandah. He had a little money with him, and
therefore was able to dismiss the carriers. Then he pulled at the bell,
while he stood on the verandah keeping guard over the gold. There was a
shuffling of feet, and a few seconds later a tall, slim figure emerged
from the main room, and gave vent to a cry of amazement.
It was Mr Pepson, gaunter than ever, with signs of suffering written on
his face, which now showed the utmost astonishment and delight. Never
had Dick seen him so betray his feelings. He almost shed tears, and
gripped our hero's hand so firmly that the fingers ached. Meanwhile
Dick noticed that something had happened to his employer, for he wore
one arm in a sling, while there was a large strip of plaster at the back
of his head.
"Another wound which I owe to the Ashantis," said Mr Pepson, breaking
the silence. "We were attacked and cut up. But sit down. I'm still
very weak, and your unexpected return has staggered me. I never hoped
to see you alive again, my boy. I have blamed myself over and over
again that the desire to obtain gold from this mine should have induced
me to place you in such a dangerous position. And you are wounded, too.
Why, you are limping, and there are bandages here and there!"
Dick admitted the fact, for the surgeon aboard the _Rattlesnake_ had
insisted on dressing his wounds.
"But you, sir, and Meinheer?" he asked. "You were attacked?"
"Treacherously, and I grieve to say that the agent who was returning
with us was killed at the first discharge. It was quite near the mouth
of the Pra, and we thought that there was nothing more to fear. We made
a capital trip of it and everything looked well. Suddenly shots were
fired at us from the bush, and a boat pushed out toward us. Our agent,
as I have said, was killed at the very first discharge, while I was
struck on the head, and was almost stunned. Still I managed to seize a
paddle, and Meinheer did the same. We paddled for our lives, with the
natives in hot pursuit. I hardly know how it happened afterwards, but
think that Meinheer must have been cramped, and endeavoured to change
his position. He slipped, fell against the side of the boat, and--well,
you know his size and weight--it capsized us instantly, and we were
thrown into the river. I never saw him again. He may have clung to the
boat and been captured. On the other hand, it is more than probable
that he went straight to the bottom. As for myself, I swam for the bank
and scrambled ashore, receiving another wound as I left the water. Then
I raced on into the bush with those fiends after me, and finally fell
exhausted. But they must have given up the chase, for when I regained
consciousness there was no one about. I was desperately fagged, but I
knew that I should die like a dog if I remained there, so I plunged on
through the bush, and finally hit the river. Then I came upon some
friendly natives who brought me here. That's all, my boy, and I am more
than grieved to have to narrate it. Poor Meinheer is gone, and if you
had been killed also I should have been heart-broken; I thank Heaven
that you are safe. Now sit down and tell me how you managed to win
through."
"First of all, what shall be done with these bags?" asked Dick. "They
contain gold dust and nuggets. The mine was doing very well, and there
were rich finds, so that I have been able to bring you a good return."
Again there was amazement on Mr Pepson's face. He gazed at his young
agent as though he could not believe his eyes and ears. Then he
motioned to him to sit down.
"I care more for your story," he said. "The gold is nothing to me till
I hear that. Sit down, and let me hear all about your doings."
It was late that night when the two turned in, and on the following
morning, when the gold had been safely deposited at the bank, they
resumed the conversation, for Dick had a question to put. His heart was
in the country, and he desired above all things to see the war through.
Besides, the idea of taking part in a campaign fascinated him, and he
longed to go up-country to Kumasi with the troops.