"Come alongside at once. The Commodore wants to see you. Where are you from? Have you seen any of the enemy?"

"Enemy! Then they did know of the trouble at the coast. Perhaps they had already had a brush with the Ashantis."

d.i.c.k stood up in the well and waved again. Then he steered the launch towards the gangway, while Johnnie, awakening to the fact that he was about to run alongside a man-o'-war, with all its sparkle and polish, managed for a few seconds to summon sufficient energy to look to his engine. He rubbed with energy at the metal work till the launch was almost alongside.

"Stand ready," cried d.i.c.k, sleepily. "Hook on. Steady. Back her.

Stop her!"

They were hanging to the broad gangway of the war vessel, while a sea of faces looked down upon them. A British tar, bearded and full of strength, stood in his white ducks at the foot of the ladder, his bare feet splashed in the water, while he stared at the strangers in amazement. Up above d.i.c.k caught a fleeting glance of a sentry, all in white, marching to and fro under the awning, and looking as though he would have given much for the privilege of leaving his beat for one glance over the side. Then his eye focussed itself sleepily on two officers leaning over the rail, both with medal ribbons upon their white coats, while one carried his speaking trumpet.

"Where from?" he asked politely. "We've recently had a brush with the natives. Can you give us news?"

"They've been in the thick of it," suddenly exclaimed the other. "Look at the young fellow. He's covered with blood, and the boat's cut to pieces; the sides are in ribbons. Why, it must be young Stapleton, about whose safety there has been such a commotion."

"And the fellow's done, done altogether," said the other. "Who are you, sir?"

"d.i.c.k Stapleton, sir. Just got through from up country. We met a whole army, about to cross the Prahsu. We got through with some difficulty, as they were already afloat. We're dead beat, sir, but I can't sleep till my store of gold is looked to. It's worth something. Can you help?"

d.i.c.k was weary and done up. He had realised that long ago, but the need for effort had kept both pluckily at their posts. Now, however, with the all-protecting arm of the British Navy to watch over them, the desire for sleep was irresistible. Their eyes were more than half closed. And they winked suspiciously when they attempted to look at any one object for long.

"Sergeant of the guard! Put a couple of men aboard at once," came the order. "Mr Hilden, oblige by going down to the launch and making an inventory. Glad to see you, Mr Stapleton. We'll talk later.

Meanwhile come aboard and leave the gold. It shall be well taken care of. Help him up, my man, and bring him along under the awnings."

A friendly and firm arm helped d.i.c.k from the launch, while another tar took Johnnie in charge. Our hero was almost carried to the deck above and was straightway popped into a hammock. Then some one held a gla.s.s to his lips. He drank, and at once fell asleep. He had earned a rest and determined to enjoy it.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

IN HOME WATERS.

"'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 d.i.c.k, 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."

d.i.c.k 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. d.i.c.k 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 l.u.s.ty 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 d.i.c.k, 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 pa.s.s 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 d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k'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; d.i.c.k Stapleton, I think."

He said the last with a pleasant smile, while d.i.c.k bowed to those present.

"d.i.c.k 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."

d.i.c.k went as red as the c.u.mmerbund 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 d.i.c.k. "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."

d.i.c.k 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 k.u.masi 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 d.i.c.k 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.