Excitement rose high early that morning as the main body of the British
force crossed the bridge over the Prahsu and began their invasion of
Ashanti proper, for stern fighting was expected. It was known now that
the protectorate on the coast side of the river was freed of all
enemies, so effective had been the operations carried out by Sir Garnet,
and in addition, thanks to the information supplied by Dick and his two
men, and by Lord Gifford, one of the most valuable officers in this
campaign, it was ascertained for certain that the road on the Ashanti
side, as far as a range of hills known as the Adansi range, was also
entirely clear. Beyond that the enemy lurked, while there were rumours
that large bodies were operating on the flanks, prepared to close in on
us.
Not a snap of the fingers did our gallant fellows care for this news.
They itched to be at Kumasi, and in their hearts all had registered a
vow to strike hard in the interests of mercy. For even the men who had
only recently landed, and who had marched directly up-country, had seen
sufficient to convince them that it was high time that King Koffee and
his barbarians were subjugated. On every road the Ashantis had left
their sacrifices, wretched slaves done to death with horrible
mutilations, or lashed to trees and left there to die like those two
poor fellows at Kumasi. And so every man pressed forward eagerly, keen
to reach Kumasi and punish these miscreants, and then eager to return to
the coast again, for, despite quinine every morning, and the most rigid
adherence to special rules to ward off the fever, that enemy already had
a grip of the attacking force.
Dick and his little band, accompanied by Jack Emmett and Johnnie, and
with a naval officer in addition, marched in the very centre of the
road, wide awake, and keenly searching every bush and every likely bit
of cover. As they advanced and the days passed they joined with the
troops in many little skirmishes in which they drove the enemy back. At
last, at a place known as Amoaful, they gained information that the
Ashantis were in full force and sent back the news. Indeed, from
tidings which they and Lord Gifford had gathered, there were at least
twenty thousand Ashantis barring the path.
"We shall see fighting, chief," said one of the men whom Dick had
rescued. "These Ashantis have chosen well, for look at the bush. We
have been crossing land which is more or less open. But here it is very
dense, and though there are many paths through it they are hard to
follow. If we beat them now they are conquered altogether."
It was, as he had said, a most difficult piece of country, and on closer
inspection it was found that the paths to which the native had alluded
were tracks about eight feet wide, down which the rain rushed in
torrents in the wet season. As a consequence these paths had sunk
considerably, leaving a narrow channel with steep banks, and on either
side a dense and almost impenetrable barrier of forest. Yet, from
previous experience, it was known that the Ashantis could and would make
use of the forest, wriggling their way through it with great rapidity.
It was obvious to all that the critical hour had arrived, and very soon
the orders for the advance were issued.
"You will advance and get into touch directly in your front," said the
officer who came to Dick. "Fire steadily, and move on very slowly, as
otherwise you may get ahead of the other detachments and run the danger
of being cut off. Listen to the bugle calls, and never fire unless you
are sure that it is against the enemy. It is so easy to become confused
in the bush. Directly behind you will be the Highlanders, the Welsh
Fusiliers, some artillery, and a couple of small guns and
rocket-troughs. Be sure to notify your position to them. On the left
you will have the Naval Brigade, a native regiment, some engineers and
rocket-troughs. On the right there will be the remainder of the Naval
Brigade, some native levies and detachments of engineers and artillery.
There. You have the orders in full, and may advance immediately."
Dick saluted and went back to his men, and very soon they were engaged
with the enemy. As to the other columns they broke into skirmishing
order, and went forward at a run till they gained the bush. Then the
musketry duel became extremely fierce, the crackle of firearms being
incessant. There had been nothing like it in the whole campaign before,
for the enclosed woods added to the roar of the rifles. Our troops
broke into section, three in advance of each company and one in rear, as
a support, and the men soon thrust a passage for themselves through the
jungle. But, just as formerly, no enemy was visible. It was a duel of
sniders and rockets against guns firing slugs, and our soldiers and
sailors had only the smoke and the flashes at which to aim. The air
above them was torn with hundreds of pellets, and on every side the
leaves and twigs fell like rain, cut and lacerated by the missiles. Men
and officers were struck in all directions, and yet they persevered. At
first it was very slow work, for the Ashantis clung to their posts in
spite of the heavy fire. However, when some two hours had passed, and
Dick and his men, who were now joined by the Highlanders, had advanced
scarcely more than a hundred yards, a gun and the rocket-troughs came
into action, the boom of the latter shaking the forest. They were
answered by a perfect babel of shouts and the firing of thousands of
guns, showing clearly the strength of the enemy. Then, as the
Highlanders pressed forward and the enemy retired, and finally, as the
bagpipes struck up, and the gallant Scots got to their legs and charged
down the position, the Ashantis broke and ran for their lives.
Meanwhile, on the right and left flanks, our flanking parties were being
very heavily engaged at close quarters. At length that on the left
drove their enemy back, and were able to advance, while on the right the
Ashantis, probably ignorant of the fate of their comrades on the other
flank, held manfully to their position. Their fire here was terrific,
so rapid, in fact, that it was thought that they must have slaves with
them ready to hand loaded muskets and reload those discharged. However,
as soon as the guns and rockets had got to work the order was given to
advance. And now, in a few moments, the scene was changed. Hitherto
our men had been fighting more or less silently, their rifles alone
breaking the stillness, with an occasional boom of a gun or rocket, or a
bugle-call. But as the advance was sounded, and the men plunged into
the bush to hunt the enemy from his favourite lair, there was a British
cheer, and then the roar of savage natives. The dusky levies whom we
had enlisted, and who had done admirably in this action, were now the
avengers. They slung their muskets, drew their long knives and native
swords, and plunged with shrieks of delight into the forest. And
numbers of Ashantis died that day at their hands, thereby paying the
penalty of many an atrocity.
The engagement had lasted fully five hours, and during all that time
Dick and his little party had kept together, and had fired continuously.
Thanks to their previous experience, they were able to undertake this
new class of warfare with more knowledge than their comrades. They kept
in couples, and each couple retained its touch with that on either side
by means of shouting, and in this order they left the tracks, and crept
right into the woods.
"Our own side know where we are and what we are doing, so we will hold
our fire whenever I signal," said Dick. "That means advance again some
thirty yards, keep close to the ground. Then, when we are quite near
the enemy I will whistle, and we will pour in our volleys."
For an hour it had been impossible to carry out this manoeuvre, but
gradually, as the Highlanders drove the enemy farther into the woods,
Dick and his men advanced. Their method of attack proved disastrous to
the Ashantis, for on several occasions the latter were so occupied with
the fire from the Highlanders that they did not notice the silent
approach of the sailors, and these men were able to get to quite close
quarters. Then Dick's whistle sounded, a terrific volley was poured in,
and at once the whole party were on their feet, charging down upon the
enemy.
It was not a matter of surprise, after such a stern engagement, to find
that every one of this gallant band was wounded, one sailor being
entirely disabled by a slug through his thigh. The remainder had many
wounds, but none of them were very serious; and later, when the
overworked surgeons had a moment to spare, a few small dressings and
strips of plaster were sufficient.
In this battle two hundred and fifty of our force were wounded or
killed, the latter numbering, fortunately, only two. The loss of the
enemy was very great, though the actual number could not be ascertained,
owing to their custom of removing the bodies wherever possible. Still,
there were sufficient left in the forest and on the tracks to show that
their killed had been very numerous.
"And now for Kumasi," said Dick, as he and his men threw themselves on
the ground and prepared to sleep. "In four days we should be there if
the enemy do not stop us. My lads, you'd better pull your belts a
little tighter, for the baggage is not up yet, and we have no rations
left."
It was the same with the whole force who had been in the fight; and on
that night they lay down supperless, and slept just where they had
fought. Dick and his men, however, contrived to fare a little better,
for they had the wily Johnnie with them.
"Yo stay still like so," he said, as he strutted up to his leader.
"Johnnie see to food. Plenty in de forest. Soon fetch him."
He was as good as his word, for very soon he came back with a number of
plantains, and, splitting these, roasted them before the fire which had
been made at the foot of a cotton tree. The meal was a welcome one,
though not so nice as rations would have been on this night. However,
the soldier and the sailor alike have to take matters as they come when
on service, and the cheery spirits of the men of the navy were not
damped in the least.
On the following day the advance again commenced, and four days later,
having had one very serious meeting with the Ashantis, commanded by King
Koffee in person, the troops arrived within a mile of Kumasi.
"We halt here for half an hour," said an officer to Dick, as he lay in
the bush with his men. "We have had a flag in from King Koffee, and
have given him that time to surrender."
"Then I will creep forward and see that all is clear," was our hero's
answer. "I have permission to do so from the general."
"In that case you may advance. But be cautious, Stapleton. There are
thousands of the enemy everywhere, and it would be better to have the
Highlanders near at hand."
He left the little party marvelling at the dash of this civilian
soldier. But he knew what Dick's object was, and, with him, feared lest
on the arrival of the force, they should find the Europeans massacred.
Dick and his gallant little band, led by the natives whom he had rescued
from Kumasi, at once took to the forest again, and carefully crept
through it on hands and knees. No one ventured to speak a syllable, and
whenever it was necessary to issue an order our hero raised his hand,
gathered the men close to him, and signalled. And in this way, passing
between vast bodies of fleeing Ashantis, who were so intent on procuring
their own safety, that they failed to detect the presence of the
British, the party came at length to the verge of the pestilential swamp
which borders the town on one side. Not till then, perhaps, did the
bluejackets fully comprehend the force of the tale which Dick had told
them. It was only when they came actually to this spot and saw the
awful results of the frequent executions which took place at this
loathsome town, that they realised the agony suffered there, and the
need there was to put a summary end to it all. Their teeth closed
tight, and they gripped their rifles nervously.
"If they'd only stand, the cruel-hearted brutes," whispered one of the
men, "we'd jest give 'em sacrifice. This here place smells of the dead.
Pah! I shall be glad when we're quit of it."
"Silence! The half-hour is up now, and in a little while we shall hear
the bugle for the advance. We will march into the town at once, and
shoot down any who oppose us. These natives know where the European
prisoners are, and will lead us to them. As each is found, bring him
along with us till we come to the last. Ah! That's the bugle."
Over the summit of the dense forest the faint notes came, sounding the
last advance movement of the troops, and the knell of the blood-stained
town of Kumasi. Dick and his men rose to their feet, skirted the marsh,
and within ten minutes were in the town. The native guides led them at
once to the quarter in which the prisoners were located. Nor were they
too soon by any means. For Kumasi was gone mad. Thousands of figures
fled through the wide streets to the forest beyond, while a party, some
two hundred strong, told off for the purpose, no doubt, by King Koffee,
were even then dragging the European captives from the prisons with the
intention of conveying them to the temple of sacrifice.
"Charge!" shouted Dick, as he came in sight of the force, and at once,
with a mighty cheer, the band of sailors and young officers broke into a
run. And as they went, at an order from their leader, they pulled their
triggers without lifting their rifles to their shoulders, sending a
shower of bullets into the enemy. The Ashantis broke immediately and
ran for their lives. Dick and his men at once surrounded the prisoners.
"Good gracious! The last of the prisoners! How did you manage to get
away?"
Dick turned to find the very European who had spoken to him when a
prisoner in Kumasi, and at once rushed forward to shake him by the hand.
"I cut my way out," he answered, "and--well, here I am, while the troops
are just behind us. We have beaten the Ashantis handsomely, and they
are in full flight."
"While we are safe, thanks to you," replied the other, gripping Dick's
hand enthusiastically. "I heard the order given to those fellows who
have just bolted. They were to take us to the execution hut and kill
us. A pleasant prospect from which you have saved us! I thank you for
all of my comrades and for myself."
"Then there are four of you in all?" said Dick, as he counted the
prisoners off and shook each by the hand.
"Five," corrected the other. "The last is ill, poor chap. He lies over
here in a hut set by itself. I will lead the way."
Still accompanied by the sailors, the party of rescued prisoners crossed
the street to a hut close to the swamp. And there, a mere skeleton now,
after weeks of the terrible African fever, and lying on a bed of palm
leaves, was Meinheer Van Somering, hardly recognisable, too weak and ill
to speak.
There is little more to tell of Kumasi. Our troops marched in within
the hour of Dick's arrival and occupied the town. On the following day,
King Koffee still failing to send in his messengers of peace, the place
was burned to the ground, only three houses escaping.
Then the troops turned their faces to the coast and commenced their long
march back. And, as it proved, the return journey was not begun a
moment too soon, for the rains commenced in earnest, and ere the coast
was reached the men had to march along forest paths thick with mud, and
perhaps covered by three feet of water. Where before had been smooth
grass land was now a swamp, extending for considerable distances. Then,
too, at the rivers, it was found that the bridges erected by the sappers
with so much skill were already useless, or washed away. So the fine
body of men, all more or less wounded, had to wade across, carrying
their rifles above their heads. As for the sick, they were borne in
hammocks, and in this manner Meinheer Van Somering reached the coast and
was straightway put on board ship. Dick and Mr Pepson joined him
there, with Johnnie to act as servant. Of the gallant troops and
bluejackets who took part in the campaign, a large number were stricken
down with fever, and of these a large proportion died.
Never before perhaps had a campaign been conducted where such
difficulties had to be contended with; and when one comes to consider
the distance Kumasi lies from the coast, the extent and depth of the
forests, and the extraordinary nature of the fighting, one is bound to
admit that never before or since have our men showed more courage and
persistence, while our officers and their gallant leader could not have
displayed greater skill and foresight.
Dick returned no more to the white man's grave. His health had been
considerably impaired by his residence there, and, besides, he found
work awaiting him in England. For Mr Pepson was a wealthy man, and had
need of a partner in his business.
"Not a word," he exclaimed when Dick attempted to thank him. "If I
cannot do this for one who has fought my battles so well, I should
indeed be ungrateful. You deserve all that I offer, and I am sure that
you will make an excellent partner."
And this seemed to be the opinion also of Mr Pepson's niece, a very
charming girl some two years Dick's junior.
"Go to Africa again, Dick!" she exclaimed, when he broached the subject.
"That I forbid, because uncle tells me that the climate would kill you.
And he says that he needs you here in his business. Surely that is
reason enough for your remaining."
There was a pretty little smile about the corners of her mouth as she
said the words, and curiously enough, Dick, the stubborn, who had made
up his mind to a thing out in Ashanti and had carried it out, whatever
the danger and difficulty, gave way with the best of grace and with an
answering smile which spoke volumes. Need the reader feel surprise when
he hears that Dick first made his position strong in Mr Pepson's
business, proving without a doubt that he was of the greatest value, and
that then he asked his fair friend a little question?
He has been married for many years now, and rents a fine place an hour's
run from London. But once in each year our hero is wont to run up to
the capital, there to meet a select party of friends, all of whom had
been engaged in that fierce campaign in Ashanti. Familiar faces are
there, and many of the breasts which in that day boasted but a single
decoration, now gleam with miniature medals. Dick wears a single badge,
the medal presented to civilian fighters. But he and his deeds are not
forgotten. There are always the heartiest greetings awaiting him, and,
indeed, such is his popularity, and so well are his brave deeds
remembered, that when his erect and well-known figure enters the room in
which the gathering takes place, there is a general turning of heads,
eager conversations are suddenly arrested, and all advance to grip his
hand. There is no need for the butler at the door to announce him, for
to every one this tall and unassuming gentleman is known. They smile a
real welcome to him, and then the buzz of their voices breaks out again:
"It's Stapleton--gallant Dick Stapleton."
The End.