heard the crash. His back is broken and
also his head. He will never recover."

"Then fling him into the river and let us be going. After all, he
played for a stake, and would have had the bulk of the reward for this
fool's capture. But he bungled it. His fingers should have gripped the
neck, for then they could not have been so easily grasped. It is a
lesson to us all. Fling him in and pick up your burden."

None of the men seemed to think that there was anything remarkably
inhuman in their action, for to these Ashantis human life was very cheap
indeed, and kindness and mercy almost unknown qualities. While a man
was alive and possessed of full strength he was a comrade to be
respected, for he could take care of himself. Dead, however, or badly
injured, he was a nuisance, a positive burden, to be rid of at the first
moment; to be robbed and deserted, or to be flung into the nearest
stream like a dog. Without a thought, therefore, they picked up the man
who had played his part so well and flung him with a loud splash into
the stagnant stream. Then, without a second look at their unconscious
fellows, they turned, picked up the pole, and went off through the
forest in the wake of James Langdon.

When Dick regained his senses an hour later his first feeling was one of
extreme anguish in both hands and feet, and very soon the pain caused
his scattered wits to return, and led him to discover the cause of his
trouble. He was suffering tortures, so much so that the agony swamped
all thought of his miserable condition as a captive. He struggled, and
begged to be set down.

"Cut his legs adrift, then," said James Langdon, brutally. "Now place
him on his feet and make a creeper fast to his hands. Better still,
lash them behind his back instead of in front; then two of you can hold
the end of the creeper."

They threw their prisoner on the ground and cut both lashings. Then
they swung him over on to his face and tied his hands behind, making a
long creeper fast to the lashing. A moment later they picked him up and
placed him on his feet. He staggered and fell at once, his limbs
doubling up beneath him.

"He won't stand, then!" cried the half-caste, his cruel nature delighted
at the sight of so much suffering, and at the plight in which he saw the
son of his old employer. "Set him up again and hold him there. I will
thrash him till he changes his tune and agrees to make good use of his
legs."

There wa