"This is a serious business, Mr Stapleton," said the Commodore, motioning d.i.c.k 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 a.s.sims, 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 d.i.c.k. "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. d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k, 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 d.i.c.k 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 sh.e.l.led 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 d.i.c.k 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 pa.s.sed, and we have given these unfriendly natives a sample of our wares. We have sh.e.l.led 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 amus.e.m.e.nt, while he gripped d.i.c.k by the hand. There was no doubt, in fact, that he was as impressed with the modestly described tale of d.i.c.k'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 d.i.c.k 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 s.h.a.g, 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 d.i.c.k 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 Ma.s.sa d.i.c.k be dere to meet yo. S'long, yo boys; glad we meet."

There was a roar from the deck above.

"So long, c.o.c.ky. If yer get tired o' stokin' that 'ere kettle, jest apply aboard this here ship. Plenty of baccy and grub, c.o.c.ky, 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 d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k. "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. d.i.c.k signalled for a surf-boat and in half an hour had reached the sh.o.r.e, 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 d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k seen him so betray his feelings. He almost shed tears, and gripped our hero's hand so firmly that the fingers ached. Meanwhile d.i.c.k 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!"

d.i.c.k 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 ash.o.r.e, 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 f.a.gged, 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 d.i.c.k. "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 d.i.c.k 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 k.u.masi with the troops.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

ON SPECIAL SERVICE.

"Here is the letter, sir, which the Commodore gave me to carry to the Governor," said d.i.c.k, as he and Mr Pepson took up the conversation of the previous day. "He offered me a post with the expedition which will be sent to k.u.masi, and I declined it until I had seen my employers.

What are your wishes in the matter?"

"That you should go," was the prompt reply. "My inclination at first when I returned here was to go back to England at once, for I began to hate this country. But I thought of you, and I stayed on the chance of your turning up. Now I think of Meinheer. I give you full permission to take this post, with the agreement that you still remain my agent, and draw your salary. That will be a retaining fee, for when the war is over I shall want you again. There, you are free to go, and I am sure you will do much for our cause."