Part 21 (2/2)
Sir Garnet Wolseley, a brilliant officer, and one of our youngest generals, had been chosen to command, while a staff of officers had been appointed who would help him in the campaign and make success as sure as possible.
And now a few words more before we leave the subject of Ashanti history.
Cape Coast Castle was settled by the Portuguese, and was ceded to the Dutch in 1641. In 1655 we captured it, and it was secured to Britain by treaty. Thus, at the time of this outbreak, we had been in possession for more than two hundred years. And what had we done during that time?
The reader who is accustomed to the tale of British progress in our Colonies and India, in fact, in any part where men of our race gather, might well expect to find improvement here also. But such was not the case. Cape Coast Castle at this moment was much the same as it had been when we took it from the Dutch. No efforts had been made to clear the forest, and to provide an open s.p.a.ce. The town was as unhealthy a place as could well be found. Trade flourished to a certain extent, but might have been vastly improved. And lastly, we might have encouraged the advances of the powerful Ashantis, and thereby gained a vast trade. We might have opened up roads to the interior, and dredged the rivers, thus enabling our own manufactures to find a market, and in place of sending numerous presents to the reigning monarch of Ashanti, with a view to conciliating him, we might very well have made a treaty with him, whereby commerce might have been improved on both sides. Both those who ruled British affairs on the Gold Coast practised a short-sighted policy, with the result that we had come into conflict on at least four occasions with the Ashantis, and on nearly all these occasions the question between the two nations was one of commerce. The powerful Ashantis were impatient of the white man's interference. We blocked the way to the sea, and the people of k.u.masi desired a free opening, by means of which they might exchange home products for guns and other items much in request by them.
And now the position was precisely the same, only the purchase of Elmina had brought matters to a head. King Koffee had demanded the fort there, claiming that it was his, and had been met with curt refusal. Then, it is said, our Governor on the Gold Coast attempted to interfere with the barbarous customs of the Elminas, a mixed race inhabiting the neighbourhood of the town. This people had never encountered difficulty on the same score from the Dutch, and they naturally resented the action. More than likely also they were bribed by the Ashantis. But, as has been seen, they promptly retaliated by throwing in their lot with King Koffee, and by inviting him to invade the protectorate. And that invasion had carried the Ashantis up to the very edge of Cape Coast Castle, and had resulted in a bombardment of Elmina. Then matters had settled for a time, and little was heard of the armies of the potentate of k.u.masi, till our hero rushed down upon them on the Prahsu. But for that chance meeting and the outrageous ambush laid for the sailors, those in authority at Cape Coast Castle would have still gone on with the comfortable thought that King Koffee meant no great harm to the white men. True, he had joined with the Elminas, and there had been an incursion of his armies to that place, necessitating an attack by the guns of the fleet. But he had since disappeared, and though complaints came from the Fantis and others that they were still suffering, there was no evidence of that fact at the coast. It seemed, indeed, as if the trouble were subsiding, and as if King Koffee realised the hopelessness of the struggle. It was thought that he would treat with the Government again, and would hand over the captives; then a treaty could be made with him, and trade be revived. Meanwhile it was risky to ascend the Pra, or enter the country of Ashanti. Think, then, of the astonishment of the officials on the coast when d.i.c.k returned with his news, when, added to the treacherous attack made upon the Navy, resulting in such severe losses, came definite news of a large Ashanti army on the Prahsu.
And very soon the advance of this same army was reported by friendly natives, so that there could no longer be any doubt that serious trouble was impending. The eyes of those in authority opened very wide indeed.
Already it had been decided that troops were wanted; but now that need was undoubtedly urgent.
When a month had pa.s.sed, therefore, and d.i.c.k was again out of his hammock, the aspect at the coast had changed. Where before had been peace and repose, was now the utmost bustle. The _Rattlesnake_ had gone, and other s.h.i.+ps had taken her place. d.i.c.k himself was aboard a hospital s.h.i.+p which had been sent to the coast, while in the roads, lying a mile from the sh.o.r.e, with swarms of surf-boats manned by laughing kroomen about them, were transports discharging men and supplies.
One in particular drew the attention of all eyes, for she was the _Ambriz_, African mail steamer, and she had just brought Sir Garnet, together with his staff. d.i.c.k looked eagerly at her, wondering whether he would be given an opportunity to meet this famous General, who at this moment had the honours of the Red River Expedition fresh upon him.
He wondered, too, whether his appointment would meet with approval, and whether his duties would take him soon into the country of the enemy.
”I'm fit and well at any rate,” he said to himself, as he leaned against the rail. ”There's nothing like sea breeze to clear fever away, and though I own that I was as weak as a rat when I was transferred here, I am now, thanks to the excellent rations provided, as fit as I ever was.”
”And depend upon it, you will soon be employed,” answered a young officer, who stood beside him, and who, having volunteered for service, had come out with Sir Garnet, only to fall ill on the voyage and be sent to the hospital s.h.i.+p within a few hours of reaching the coast. ”We shall all be at it soon, and I'm glad that I've had this attack now, and not waited till later. Hullo! there comes the Governor's launch.”
They watched the tiny vessel steam away from its anchorage just beyond the surf opposite Cape Coast Castle, for, as has been explained, there was no harbour on this coast, nothing had been done to afford protection to even the smallest s.h.i.+pping. The launch stood away from the sh.o.r.e, and presently arrived at the gangway hanging to the side of the hospital s.h.i.+p. There was a staff officer aboard, and having ascended to the deck, and saluted the medical officer in charge, he descended with him to the cabin. A few minutes later he came up again, and his companion pointed to d.i.c.k.
”There he is,” he said, with a good-natured smile. ”I pa.s.s him as fit, and shall be glad to get rid of him, for, 'pon my word, the youngster has been the worry of my life. Every day he has pestered me to allow him to go ash.o.r.e. Take him and welcome.”
”Then, Mr Stapleton, the General sends his compliments and desires that you will call at Government House and see his Chief of the Staff. Will you come now?”
Would he come at once? d.i.c.k smiled at the very idea, and ran below with all the eagerness of a boy. Soon he appeared again, spruce and neat in his white clothing, and stepped into the launch.
”Remember me. d.i.c.k,” sang out the young officer, who had become friendly with him. ”If there is a boat expedition or anything going, I am a volunteer. Ask to choose your own staff, and don't forget that I shall be keen.”
Half an hour later the surf-boat had landed them, and our hero felt like a young horse which has been conveyed oversea, and has not set foot on land for many a day. It was glorious to feel the sand under his shoes, to see the people moving about, the laughing kroomen, the native carriers, the mulattoes of the coast, the white men, English for the most part, with an occasional Dutchman, all busily engaged in checking stores. There were young officers, as young or younger than himself, in their s.h.i.+rt sleeves, with pith helmets tilted to the backs of their heads, perspiring freely, while they saw that the stores were correct.
And everywhere, some under tarpaulins, some exposed to the air, were the stores, cases of biscuit, of rice, of pork, and of beef. Huge ovens for field camps, kettles of the standard army pattern, known throughout the service as ”d.i.c.kies.” Bales of clothing for native levies, cases of the same for European troops, sh.e.l.ls of regulation construction, swords which were sharp on one side and had a saw edge on the reverse, star sh.e.l.ls meant to be fired high into the air and light up the surroundings, hand grenades and rockets. d.i.c.k even noted some barrels labelled ”beads,” a curious thing to find in such a place.
”For the n.i.g.g.e.rs and their wives,” said the staff officer, with a laugh.
”That is the way in which we shall pay our way in some parts, though I fancy it will hardly take us to k.u.masi.”
There was a grim smile on his face as he said the words, and he looked closely at d.i.c.k.
”What is your opinion?” he asked.
”All depends on the force we have, and on the methods we employ, and the strategy adopted by the enemy,” answered d.i.c.k. ”If King Koffee leads his troops against us and shows up in the open, he will be smashed to pieces. Our rifles would beat down his gun fire, while our sh.e.l.ls and gatlings would send his men running. But it will be different.”
”You have seen for yourself? You have been up-country, they tell me.”
”A little. The forest extends for something like two hundred miles, and we shall have no choice but to fight through it. Whether we go by river or road to Prahsu, there we shall have to take to the bush, and it will be difficult work. A man can creep close to one and stab, while rifles are almost useless. Then there's the climate. But we ought to get to k.u.masi if we have the troops.”
”What I think and hope. But come along. Here's the office.”
A few moments later d.i.c.k was ushered into the large, airy room in which the Staff held their meetings, and at once stood at attention, his hat in his hand. By now he had become used to official matters and people, and therefore he felt no nervousness when he discovered that there were four officers present, all of senior rank, while two at least were high up in the service. Instantly d.i.c.k's eye was riveted on the figure of one of these officers, moderately tall and exceedingly soldierly in appearance.
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