withdraw his fighters. He did not know that even then telegrams were
speeding home to England, that the situation at Elmina and at Cape Coast
Castle was serious in the extreme, and that nothing but war and rumours
of war were in the air. Little did he dream that he was still within
the nest of a hornet, almost the only man of his colour still alive so
many miles from the coast. How was he to learn that thousands of
warriors were on the march, and that the forest paths were teeming with
men of Ashanti? It was enough for him to remember the danger from which
he had escaped. The memory of it, and of the successful defence and
escape, filled him with glee, and he looked forward to the brush which
he might have on his way down the Pra with a light heart which defied
all thoughts of failure.

Two hours later the launch ran in to the bank, and was moored under the
trees. Then the books showing the amounts due to the miners were
produced, for Dick had had the care of these, and had sent them to the
launch in one of the bags. There was a pair of scales also, and very
soon the portions were separated, four ounces of gold going to swell
each little heap, as a special reward for the manner in which the men
had fought. Then each of the heaps was sewn up in a piece of canvas,
and secreted upon the person of the owner. The remainder of the dust
was stored in the cabin again, and, that done, the launch put out from
the bank, and ran to the far side of the river. Then, with many a cheer
and shout, the Ashanti gold-miners--excellent fellows all, and very
different from their warlike brethren--stepped ashore, and made off into
the bush. Dick and Johnnie felt quite lonely when they had gone. They
pushed off into the stream and steamed away.

"Better leab um boat behind," said the native, suddenly, after some
minutes' silence. "Suppose hab to run, den boat hold um back. P'raps
mean um dead."

It was an excellent idea, showing again that there is wisdom to be found
in a native, and that Johnnie, for all his quaint looks and merry ways,
was a thinker.

"We'll do so certainly," said Dick, at once adopting the advice. "Look
for a spot where we can hide her, and which we can pick out again should
we require her. It must be on this bank, too, so we will keep within
easy distance."

It was not until an hour had passed that they hit upon a suitable place.
Then, at a nod from the leader, the launch swung in closer to the bank,