for the order which will bring you here again for execution. That
is your answer."

He scowled at the prisoner and then went off, giving an order as he left
the arena. At once the guards closed round the prisoners, and all were
marched away, Dick being taken back and flung into his hut. He sat down
at once with his back to the wall, and his eyes fixed on the door, and
for an hour he hardly stirred a finger. Now and again his eyes moved a
little, as the light which streamed beneath the door altered, and the
shadow of a passing man crossed it. Otherwise he allowed nothing to
disturb his thoughts.

"I will do it," he said at last, rising to his feet and pacing up and
down. "I am strong now, and once away I can live in the forest with
ease, for there are plantains everywhere. I will make an attempt this
very night, and if I fail, well it will only hasten my death by a very
few hours."

"Food and water. Take it!"

The door was thrown open by the man appointed to feed the captive, and a
bundle of plantains tossed into the hut. An earthen pot containing
water was set down just inside the hut, and then the door was slammed,
for the man was in a hurry. Like all the inhabitants of Kumasi, he was
eager to go into the forest to watch the poor wretches tied up there,
and to listen to news of the invaders. The guards also, two of whom
were set to watch the hut, had their attention distracted on this day,
for as Dick peered through the crevices in the door he could see them
gossiping with the passers-by, and straying far from the hut. When
darkness fell the town was still in a state of agitation, for further
news had come of a British victory, and the watch on the hut was even
more careless. But the Ashantis had not entirely forgotten their
prisoner, as Dick soon discovered. For as he looked out into the wide
street, watching the numerous almost nude figures seated about the
fires, and the warriors passing to and fro, a gentle grating on the far
side of the door warned him that he might expect a visitor. As quick as
a flash he crossed the floor and sank to the ground on the far side,
where he feigned to be asleep. He had hardly gained this position when
the door was burst open, and two men entered, the second bearing a
torch.

"Gone! He has escaped! Those dogs have let him go! Ah, no! He is
here!"

The half-caste clenched his hands, and turned furiously upon the native
bearing the torch, for as he entered,