Part 16 (1/2)
Every face aboard the two boats bore the same expression of contentment, of pride, at the success of their efforts. There was even a sterner look, as if many of the men would have delighted in another brush with the enemy.
”Never fear,” said d.i.c.k to the chief, ”there will be more blows to be struck yet. We have miles of river to traverse, and if the Ashantis are on the war-path, it is more than likely that we shall have to run the gauntlet of a few of them. What do you think, chief?”
”We shall meet them on the Prahsu,” was the answer. ”There will be more trouble both for us and for the English chief. As for these others who have just attacked us, they are beaten. They may cover their heads and seek women for attack after this. Men will laugh at them. The two hundred who are to follow will surely cut them to pieces if these remain to tell the tale.”
”Then we can take it easily now. We can reserve our coal, and prepare for this other meeting, chief. Why should we not run down the stream at night, or at least down that part known as the Prahsu?”
”The scheme is a good one,” was the answer, ”and for the white chief and his servant it will be as well to act as you say. For us there must be a different arrangement. Has our brother thought of the fate which will come to men of Ashanti should they land on the far bank some miles down this river? There the cowardly Fantis live, and with them we are forever at war. They would kill us most certainly.”
d.i.c.k had not thought of that before, and the news came as a shock to him. If that were the case, and these miners from Ashanti would be in danger lower down the river, where would they be safe? In Elmina?
”Then we shall have to part, I fear,” he said, after some minutes'
thought. ”The Fantis swarm lower down the stream, and though some might be friendly, others would soon make an attack upon you. Where can you go?”
”There are villages in our own country where we shall be secure, white chief. Already the fighting men will have left, so that our coming will not be noticed, and there will be none strong enough to harm us. Then, as the warriors return, we can leave. When all is quiet we will go to the mine and commence work again, for you will return?”
”I should say that we shall do that without a doubt,” answered d.i.c.k.
”The gold obtained has been abundant, and my employers will come again when the country has grown quiet. Perhaps this trouble will die down rapidly, and we shall be back in a month or two.”
”You may, and yet I doubt it, Englishman. This war has been the thought of my countrymen for many years. They long to reach the coast, to have their own town there, where they may obtain supplies and guns. Yes, we know that, for we have listened to their talk. And besides, our brothers are born to fight. In times of peace they have little to do, and so it happens that we are forever quarrelling with those who live near at hand. A few, like ourselves, are trained to mine, and the king keeps us free from interference. We are necessary, for with gold the king buys guns and powder, and in our country it is a law that every nugget found goes to him as tribute. The dust belongs to the diggers, while those who dare to conceal the nuggets, even if they be only as small as the smallest bean, are taken to k.u.masi and sacrificed. Thus, as I said, we can return to the villages, and we shall be safe so long as we can keep away from the war parties. For they will know that we come from the mine, and doubtless the king, having declared that he will fight the Fantis and the English, has given orders for all who worked there to be slain or taken captive.”
”And how do you propose to avoid these war parties?” asked d.i.c.k, anxiously.
”In this way. We will steam on till we are clear of these cravens who attacked us, and as the moon grows near we will tie up under the bank.
Then, if our white chief agrees, we will serve out the dust, each man taking what is due to him. Then we will dive into the forest, and will make for k.u.masi. Trust us to keep away from the fighters.”
”While I shall have to run down-stream alone and escape them if I can.”
”We would gladly come with you,” said the native, ”but it would mean death to us. If the white chief desires it we will come.”
”No. I will go alone. You have done splendidly,” said d.i.c.k. ”You have proved true and more than brave. I shall report that to our employers.
We will steam on for a little while, and then we will serve out the wages. Later we shall hope to meet again at the mine.”
Little did d.i.c.k guess that this river would be dyed in many places with the blood of men ere the country was quiet again, and that the forests and woods would echo to the cheers of British soldiers ere King Koffee, the arrogant and bloodthirsty potentate of k.u.masi, would consent to 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 d.i.c.k 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 ash.o.r.e, and made off into the bush. d.i.c.k 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 d.i.c.k, 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 pa.s.sed that they hit upon a suitable place.
Then, at a nod from the leader, the launch swung in closer to the bank, while Johnnie ran to the stern and drew in the painter. He ran the native craft up alongside the launch, and hopped lightly into her.
Then, as d.i.c.k put the propeller astern--for the stream ran fairly strong here--the native pushed off, and guided the boat into the shallows.
There was a ma.s.sive tree there--a species of fern, growing to the height of thirty or forty feet perhaps, and dropping its abundant spreading foliage like an umbrella all round till the tips trailed in the water.
Johnnie pushed boldly in, and d.i.c.k could see the big fronds shaking.