"We will look into Elmina on the way over to the Pra," said Dick, as the
launch steamed along the coast, keeping just outside the rollers. "I
have news of something, and want to inspect. Later we can go up the Pra
and get this other information."
He was sitting on the roof of the tiny cabin, surveying the coast with a
critical eye, while every now and again he turned his gaze to his crew
with a feeling of satisfaction. For this was some reward for the
disappointment occasioned by his illness. He was again on the move,
with the very same crew, and in addition there was with him young
Emmett, a youth some few months older than himself, tall and straight,
and now entirely recovered from the sickness which had prostrated him
and sent him to the hospital ship _Simoon_.
Jack Emmett was just the sort of fellow to take our hero's fancy, for he
was a genial, high-spirited lad, fond of a joke, and still keener on
seeing some fun with the enemy. So far he had done nothing more than
inspect the Gold Coast from the sea, for he had fallen ill on the voyage
out. But he was eager to meet the enemy, and more than that, Dick found
that he took a great interest in the coming operations, intelligently
following the movements and preparations on our side. More than all, he
had a huge admiration for his young leader, who had in so few weeks
managed to meet with so much adventure.
"What is this news?" demanded Jack, for up till now Dick had kept his
counsel to himself. "It is new to hear that we are to make into Elmina.
Are there any Ashantis there?"
"You will hear," was the answer. "This I can tell you, that Sir Garnet
has had a big palaver since he reached the coast, and called in all the
kings of the tribes under British protection. Some came in all state,
with umbrellas and tom-toms, and with the accompaniment of rattling
bones and war-drums. Others stayed away, and sent defiant answers.
Those fellows live in the neighbourhood of Elmina, and it struck me,
when I heard the tale, that they would hardly have dared to act as they
have done had there not been some sort of encouragement."
"I follow the argument. Then you think--?"
"That the Ashantis are somewhere in the neighbourhood. Yes," responded
Dick. "Let's talk to Johnnie."
He sang out for the native stoker, who relinquished his firing shovel,
and came trotting along the miniature deck, still clad in his tattered
garments, and still with the clay pipe of which he was so fond, gripped
between his teeth. But there was a little difference. Johnnie had
added dignity. His was a proud mien, and whenever he stopped to speak
to a white man or even a black nowadays he always turned his right cheek
to the stranger, for there was the scar, livid and red against his dusky
skin, an honourable scar which told of fighting, of a battle in which
his master had gained a name, and he, Johnnie the stoker, a proportion
of the glory.
"Massa call," he said, raising his hand to his battered cap after the
custom of the seamen. "Johnnie here. What yo want?"
"Repeat this tale of Elmina," said Dick, quietly. "Tell this officer
what you told me."
Johnnie greeted the youth beside his master in similar fashion, with an
elaborate salute, and treated him to a critical survey.
"Johnnie know little ting or two," he began, with a knowing smile. "He
'tend dat he no good, like same as many at de coast. He say, `hate
white men, and wish Ashanti here.' Johnnie know dere heaps of spies at
de Castle, and he listen and open um ear. Soon fellow come and ask him
if he find out what going to happen. Me say glad, if plenty gold dust.
Den dis fellow he tell Johnnie dat de Ashanti lie in de bush along close
to de coast, ready to jump on de white man. Ask me to let um know when
time come for de rush. Dat all I know. Johnnie take de dust and
perhaps get more later."
He looked at the two sprawling on the roof of the cabin with a cunning
smile, in which they joined. For, after all, though it was not
precisely honest, this action of the stoker's, yet all was fair in love
and war, and if one of the agents of the enemy came to one of the
servants of the white men asking for information and offering money, was
it not in the nature of such a man as Johnnie to keep his information to
himself, giving tit-bits of news which were of no importance, while he
abstracted information as to the enemy's position, and a reward for
himself?
"And that is all, Johnnie?" demanded Dick.
"All same as me tell yo. Noding more."
"Then you can get back to the engine. Now, Jack," went on Dick,
"supposing it were true that the Ashantis were here, within a few miles
of Elmina, and imagined themselves hidden from the English. Wouldn't it
be an opportunity to take them by surprise and start the campaign
favourably? There are not many troops at the Coast, I know, but there
are marines and bluejackets aboard, and they should be sufficient."
"And they could be concentrated here rapidly. Yes; it would be a golden
opportunity, and I see your meaning. Then you will put in at Elmina?"
"When it is dark," said Dick. "Then we shall not be seen, perhaps.
That is why I delayed our departure. We are far enough along the coast
now, and I propose that we steam out a little and lay to."
The proposal was carried out at once, for they judged that they were now
some two hours' steaming from Elmina, and the day was still young.
Therefore, it was as well to keep as far out as possible. Accordingly,
the bows of the launch shot out over the oily sea, which was heaving
continuously as it does along this long unbroken African coast, and very
soon she lay to, a couple of miles or more from the beach.
"We'll have the lines out and do a little fishing," sang out Dick. "Any
one who likes may sleep, save the man on guard. Johnnie, you'll need to
bank the fires, for we shall want steam later."
A canvas awning had been rigged over the deck of the launch, for the
heat would otherwise have been almost unbearable. And beneath this the
two young officers and their crew stretched themselves at their ease,
while each dropped a line overboard, for they had been careful to bring
these in case their provisions should run short.
Some four hours later, just as the day began to draw in, they pulled up
their lines and headed for Elmina. It was dark when they arrived off
the fort, and they steamed into the river at once, passing beneath the
bridge erected by the Dutch. Not a sound was heard aboard. The engines
were working dead slow, while a screen of sacks surrounded the funnel,
hiding any sparks which might have betrayed the presence of the launch.
In the bows stood two of the bluejackets, with long poles in their
hands, and presently, as the launch passed beyond the town into the
river, they stretched these ahead as far as possible, letting the tips
trail in the water.
"Take her along dead slow," whispered Dick in Johnnie's ear. "There are
plenty of sand and mud banks, and we don't want to get stranded. Ah!
that must be one."
Without the slightest warning, the launch came sweetly to a stop,
burying her nose in a bank of mud which cropped up in the middle of the
river. Even the men who held the poles had not been able to detect the
obstruction in time, for their rods simply pierced the soft material.
And now, when they attempted to push the launch off, the same thing
happened.
"All walk aft," said Dick. "Now, Johnnie, reverse the engines, and give
her more steam. When I whistle let every man give a jump into the air."
His orders were given in the lowest tones, and were carried out without
confusion, for the British sailor hates fuss and flurry, and can be
relied on to act well and discreetly in an emergency. All gathered aft,
and as Dick whistled they jumped into the air, shaking the launch as
they came to the deck again. But still she clung to her cradle of mud.
"Then some of us must get overboard. What is the depth?" asked Dick.
In the silence he could hear the two bluejackets grope for their poles,
and plunge them into the water. Then one of them came to his side.
"About two feet of water, and three of mud," he said. "If we was to go
over the side, we couldn't swim, and the mud would hold us. What about
putting something at the end of the poles, sir? Something that wouldn't
sink so easily. How'd a couple of kegs do?"
Dick thought for a moment. Then he went to the tiny cabin, and
unmasking a lamp, peered closely at the stores. Thanks to the
generosity of those in charge of the commissariat, a liberal supply of
provisions of a mixed character had been handed over to the expedition,
and amongst these stores were some kegs of biscuits. Our hero gave vent
to a whistle.
"Bring the two poles down here," he said, as a head was thrust into the
cabin. "And let all stand round, so as to hide the light should it
show. Now, my lad, rip off the top of this keg."
One of the sailors had his cutlass out in a moment, and soon contrived
to get the lids off two of the kegs, and the contents were poured into
an empty provision box.
"Now, how are we to make them fast?" asked Dick. "You ought to know
better than I."
He looked at the sailors and waited their reply, while they stared at
the kegs, uncertain how to act, for it is no easy matter to attach an
article of this kind to the end of a pole.
"With a bit of rope and a good fire I'd do it in half an hour," said one
of the men at length. "Yer see, by rights, sir, we ought to have a step
at the bottom of the keg, and lash the end of a pole down on to it. But
yer can't do that 'cause a step needs hammerin', and that 'ud warn the
enemy if he's hereabouts. But we've a fire, and a stoking bar, and that
'ud make a fine drill. With a hole through the centre of the lid and
the bottom, we could push the pole through, and take a turn of the rope
round above and below the keg. That would keep all in place and
ship-shape."
"Then we'll get to the engine," said Dick, promptly. "Bring the kegs
and poles while I douse the light. Now, you men," he went on, as he
came out on the deck, "stand round the engine well while we finish the
job. Johnnie, get that bar heated."
Some twenty minutes later the four holes had been drilled, and the poles
pushed through, and secured with rope. Then the two sailors took their
station on the bows, while the remainder went aft. The propeller was
reversed at full speed, while the kegs were placed against the mud bank,
and the men holding the poles pushed with all their strength. Dick gave
a low whistle, the men jumped, and this time with as gentle a motion as
when she grounded, the launch left the bank and floated in the open
water. Two hours later the boat was brought to a rest some miles up the
river, and was pulled beneath an overhanging tree, where she lay till
morning dawned.
"We have a fine place from which to keep watch, and we'll see whether we
cannot make a catch," said Dick, as he and Jack Emmett sat down to
breakfast. "How do you like the work, Jack?"
"It's fine," was the answer. "This is what I have been waiting for.
And the best part of it all is that we are our own masters, and can
therefore enjoy all the more fun. Supposing an army came along, as
happened in your case?"
"We should lie hidden; if they found us we should fight. No more
running away for me, particularly when I have a crew like this. Hullo!
what's the report?"
One of the sailors had ascended the branches of the tree, from which
post he could keep a watch on the river, and at this moment he whistled.
Then they saw him come swarming down to drop from a height of fully
fifteen feet on to the deck of the launch. He alighted as easily as a
cat and came aft to his commander.
"Beg pardon, sir," he said, as he saluted, "but there's a boat full of
niggers a-coming down-stream, and they're armed."
Dick was up in a moment, and taking care to move with the utmost caution
he pushed the leaves aside and looked out. The report was accurate, for
coming down-stream was a large native boat, with some ten men aboard, on
whose shoulders muskets were slung. A glance showed him that some at
least were Ashantis, while the others he was not sure about.
"They must be captured," he said with decision. "We will wait till they
are quite close, and will rush out at them. If they fire, four of you
give them a volley. That will be sufficient, for we want to make a
capture."
It was an exciting moment for the men of the expedition. Not that they
had anything to fear from the men aboard the native boat. But they were
now well above Elmina, and who could say whether the enemy were not all
round them? In any case they must be near at hand, so that the attack
might very well be followed by a general onslaught on the part of the
Ashantis.
Dick busied himself with telling off the men to their stations, while he
bade Jack Emmett take the tiller and steer the launch. Presently the
native boat drew opposite their hiding-place, and at once the boughs
were parted and the launch shot out into the river. There was a shout
from the enemy, and half a dozen dropped their paddles and opened a hot
fire, their slugs whistling over the launch.
"That proves that they are enemies," said Dick, in tones of
satisfaction. "Give them a volley, my lads."
It was high time to return the fire, for as he spoke another burst of
flame had come from the boat, and three of the sailors were struck by
the slugs. Not that that made much difference, for the hardy fellows
did little more than grunt. There was a quick answering flash, and
instantly four of the natives threw up their arms and toppled overboard.
"Put us at her hard!" shouted Dick, waving to Jack. "Now swing her
round and bring us alongside. Keep under cover if you can, my lads, and
give them a volley over their heads."
The whole manoeuvre scarcely took five minutes. In less time than it
takes to tell, the launch had swung out into the stream, had headed for
the enemy, and finally had run alongside, a second volley from the
rifles of the seamen ripping the air over the heads of the natives. And
that was sufficient. Within a second they had thrown down their arms
and had grovelled on the floor of the boat.
"Get them all aboard here and lash their arms and legs," sang out Dick.
"That's the way. Smartly does it. Now dash a hole in their boat and
let her sink. Turn the launch's head to the sea, Jack, and let us be
going. Ah, there come the bullets."
There could be no doubt that there were more enemies at hand, and that
the firing had attracted their attention, for hardly had three of the
bluejackets tumbled aboard the native craft, while their comrades held
the two boats together, when a gun bellowed from the low-lying forest on
the opposite shore, and a bullet crashed into the stern of the launch.
"Jest look lively, me lad, will yer?" sang out one of the salts, as he
gripped the shoulder of one of the grovelling enemy. "That's the sort.
Yer don't want to look at me as if I was about to eat yer, but jest hop
aboard the launch."
He used the utmost politeness, while his grip closed about the native
like a vice, and with such force that the wretch gave vent to a cry of
terror. Then he was lifted bodily aboard the launch, where in spite of
the slugs and bullets which were now falling about her, he and his
companions were carefully and scientifically secured, Jack Tar not
deigning to hasten because the enemy happened to be near at hand. Then
one of the salts borrowed the stoking shovel from Johnnie, and in less
than a minute the native boat had disappeared beneath the water.
Meanwhile the bush on one side of the river echoed to the shouts of the
enemy, and the fire which had at first been spasmodic, now became
furious, till the surface of the river was lashed with bullets and
slugs.
"Lie down, men, and return their fire," sang out Dick. "Jack, sink into
that well, and steer us to the far side. I fancy we shall be out of
range there, and I have seen none of the enemy. We will make for the
sea now, for we have got all that we want; at least, we have obtained
nearly all. The rest I shall hope to have soon. That's the way, my
lads, pepper them well."
He took a rifle and lay down beside the men, firing at the flashes which
spurted from the bush. And thanks to their superior weapons, and the
skill of the sailors, the shots of the enemy gradually subsided,
bursting out here and there afresh as they were silenced in one
particular spot. Then Dick whistled to his men to cease fire.
"We do not wish to kill more of them," he said, "and they cannot hurt us
now. Let each of you stand beside one of the prisoners, and if you can
impress him with your fierceness without really harming him, all the
better."
There was a knowing grin on the faces of the men as they went to carry
out their leader's commands; for they were beginning to grasp his
meaning. And Dick, had he not been so serious, could have roared with
laughter at the grimaces of the sailors, for they carried out his wishes
to the letter till the captives writhed with terror. Meanwhile the
launch, ignoring the continued fire of the enemy, kept to the far side
of the river and steamed down to Elmina. Soon she passed beneath the
bridge, breasted the breakers, and was at sea again, a few gashes on her
planks, and a handkerchief or two about the arms of the sailors alone
showing that she had been in action; those, and the captives lying upon
her deck.
"Now, Jack, we will suppose that you can speak and understand the
Ashanti tongue as well as I can," said Dick, coolly, as he came aft to
the well and sat down beside his friend. "We are about to interrogate
the prisoners, and you will pass sentence upon them. At least, I shall
say that you are here for that purpose, and you must act the part by
looking very severe. We will have them up one by one, and abstract all
their information. Two of the bluejackets can stand guard over each
prisoner as he is brought, while the others will be kept out of hearing
in the bows. Now, recollect, to get information, we must terrorise
these men. I don't like to do so, but natives understand no other means
of persuasion. If you offer gold they will lie and cheat you. Now,
bring up the first of the prisoners."
It was an informal trial which was held at the stern of the launch and
would have caused the laughter of any other group of men. But Dick and
his command were bent on obtaining information, and if they could prove
the proximity of the Ashantis, they would be doing an incalculable
benefit to the commander of the British forces, for thereby he might be
enabled to make a surprise attack, and gain a victory, a matter of great
importance at this stage of the proceedings. And so, escorted by two of
the bluejackets, with their rifles loaded, one of the captives was
brought aft and halted just in front of our hero. He was a sturdy
fellow, and now that two hours had passed since his capture his fears
were beginning to subside. He looked closely at the white officers whom
he confronted, noted their youth and at once gained further confidence.
His head went up, he put on a defiant look and would have squatted there
on the deck had it not been for the sailors.
"None of yer larks, me son," said one of them, giving the man a hitch
which shot him to his feet. "Stand steady where you're put, or--"
There was a menace in the sailor's looks, and the rifle and cutlass with
which he was armed supported the threat. The native stood upright,
looking perhaps a little disconcerted.
"Tell me how long you have been near Elmina, and how many of your
comrades are there?" asked Dick, in the Ashanti tongue.
Astonishment was written on the man's face, and Dick noticed an
expression of dismay. But it disappeared at once and the answer came
glibly.
"I have been there a week. My comrades, all that remain, lie here on
this deck. We were bringing our goods to Elmina."
"That is a lie," said Dick quietly, watching the man closely as he
spoke. "You are an Ashanti. That I know for certain. Your comrades
fired at us from the shore, and you were not carrying goods. Guns and
swords formed your only cargo. Now, listen. You have news to give, and
I require it. If you give it, you will be unharmed; if you lie, you
will be killed. I will count my fingers over four times, and if at the
end you have not spoken the truth you will be shot. That is the
decision of my friend who sits beside me."
At once he began to count, while the native watched him, at first with
looks of incredulity, and then with an expression of concern. Meanwhile
there was tense silence amongst the group, save for the muttered words
coming from Dick. He was nearing the end of his count, and as if to
emphasise the fact, and at a nod from our hero, one of the sailors
pulled back the lock of his rifle with a click. It was an ugly and an
ominous sound, and in an instant it had the desired effect.
"I will speak, white chief," said the prisoner, hastily. "It is true
that my comrades are up the river. How many I do not know, but there is
an army. We have been there for weeks, and are starving. There is
nothing more to tell."
Dick nodded curtly. "Take him into the cabin and see that he does not
communicate with the others," he said. "Now, let us have another
prisoner."
One by one the Ashanti prisoners were brought to the stern of the launch
and interrogated, and the story told by all was precisely the same. The
Ashantis were in force in the jungle lying within a few miles of Elmina
and between that part and the river Pra. They had fraternised with the
Elminas and other natives, nominally under our protection, and for the
most part they were almost starving. They were awaiting the moment when
they might attack the white men. There could be no doubt about the
truth of their tale, for they had each said the same, and had had no
time to concoct a story.
"We shall be welcome home again," said Dick, with a smile, as he rose
from the well. "It is true that we have not yet gained information of
the country beyond the Prahsu, but then there is plenty of time, for the
troops who are to come out will not be here for some six weeks, and
there are insufficient here now to make the march to Kumasi. But there
may be enough men for this expedition to Elmina. That will, of course,
rest with Sir Garnet, but they say he is a dashing leader, and I fancy
he will strike a blow. Full steam, Johnnie. The sooner we are back the
better."
Five hours later our hero stood hat in hand in the office at Government
House, facing the chief of Sir Garnet's staff.
"This is very important news which you bring," said the officer,
seriously. "Have you told any one what you have learned?"
He looked anxiously at Dick and waited for his reply, giving expression
to an exclamation of relief when he heard the answer.
"Then you and Mr Emmett are the only two who know. Your native stoker
has suspicions, but you say that he is trustworthy. I fancy we may be
able to hoodwink these natives."
An hour later, when Dick retired to Mr Pepson's house, the details of
an expedition had been roughly drafted, and on the following morning
orders were published. But those in authority knew that they had
cunning foes to deal with, and that spies abounded even in Cape Coast
Castle. And so when those who were to take part in the attack embarked,
it was with the belief that they were to sail to a different part of the
country altogether, and that Elmina and its neighbourhood was not even
under consideration. It was with a light heart that Dick steamed back
to Elmina, and took his station near the fort, prepared to operate with
the expedition and attack the enemy.
"You will listen for our bugle calls, and direct your fire accordingly,"
the Chief of the Staff had warned him. "Otherwise we may be firing into
one another. Keep the men well in hand, for the bush will be dense.
But there, I am forgetting that you have had experience already. Hold
our right flank and punish them severely."
Early on the following morning, when the marines and bluejackets had
disembarked at Elmina, and the native troops had joined them on the
beach, Dick and his men steamed up the river, and having gained a point
some miles higher up, stood in to the bank and landed, leaving two men
in charge of the launch.
"Lie off at anchor, and keep a sharp watch," he commanded. "Now, my
lads, we will hunt in couples, and remember to use your whistles, for it
is easy to get lost here. Follow me and be sure you go warily."
They turned their backs on the water, and plunged into the bush, their
eyes endeavouring to pierce the dense undergrowth, while their ears were
forever alert to detect the proximity of the enemy.