Part 24 (1/2)

Five hours later our hero stood hat in hand in the office at Government House, facing the chief of Sir Garnet's staff.

”This is very important news which you bring,” said the officer, seriously. ”Have you told any one what you have learned?”

He looked anxiously at d.i.c.k and waited for his reply, giving expression to an exclamation of relief when he heard the answer.

”Then you and Mr Emmett are the only two who know. Your native stoker has suspicions, but you say that he is trustworthy. I fancy we may be able to hoodwink these natives.”

An hour later, when d.i.c.k retired to Mr Pepson's house, the details of an expedition had been roughly drafted, and on the following morning orders were published. But those in authority knew that they had cunning foes to deal with, and that spies abounded even in Cape Coast Castle. And so when those who were to take part in the attack embarked, it was with the belief that they were to sail to a different part of the country altogether, and that Elmina and its neighbourhood was not even under consideration. It was with a light heart that d.i.c.k steamed back to Elmina, and took his station near the fort, prepared to operate with the expedition and attack the enemy.

”You will listen for our bugle calls, and direct your fire accordingly,”

the Chief of the Staff had warned him. ”Otherwise we may be firing into one another. Keep the men well in hand, for the bush will be dense.

But there, I am forgetting that you have had experience already. Hold our right flank and punish them severely.”

Early on the following morning, when the marines and bluejackets had disembarked at Elmina, and the native troops had joined them on the beach, d.i.c.k and his men steamed up the river, and having gained a point some miles higher up, stood in to the bank and landed, leaving two men in charge of the launch.

”Lie off at anchor, and keep a sharp watch,” he commanded. ”Now, my lads, we will hunt in couples, and remember to use your whistles, for it is easy to get lost here. Follow me and be sure you go warily.”

They turned their backs on the water, and plunged into the bush, their eyes endeavouring to pierce the dense undergrowth, while their ears were forever alert to detect the proximity of the enemy.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

BLUEJACKETS, CHARGE!

”Halt!” d.i.c.k Stapleton lifted his hand above his head, and crouched low in the jungle, while the sailors who followed him in single file, slas.h.i.+ng a path through the dense undergrowth, copied his example.

”H-h-hus.h.!.+ Did you hear? There it is again!”

d.i.c.k whispered in Jack Emmett's ear, and Jack, to whom bush work was a novelty, stared back at his friend in amazement. For he had seen nothing, and there had been no sound to arouse his suspicion. Indeed, all about the little party looked quiet and peaceful. Overhead towered enormous cotton trees, running to the height of two hundred and fifty feet, while beneath their overspreading branches were yams and plantain trees, huge ferns and every variety of forest growth, many of these latter being giants in themselves, but dwarfed by the ponderous girth and height of the cotton trees. At the feet of these wonders of the African forest cl.u.s.tered vines and trailing creepers. Orchids and lovely lichens clung to the boughs, while huge ma.s.ses of buff, violet, pink and brilliant yellow convolvuli hung suspended in festoons, brightening the gloom which pervaded this underworld of the jungle. Not a native could be seen. Indeed, the bush was so dense that d.i.c.k and his party could not see beyond a few feet, and every yard they advanced had to be won by diligent cutting with sword or cutla.s.s. Yet our hero was suspicious.

”There, listen!” he said again, in a low whisper. ”Listen to the birds.”

”I hear them. But what of that? There are heaps in these woods, no doubt,” was Jack's reply. ”That does not say that the enemy are near.

Wait, though. That was a cheer. Our men must be somewhere in the neighbourhood.”

At that moment a distant cheer had come to their ears through the barrier of boughs, and at the sound both sat up suddenly and listened.

Then d.i.c.k began to crawl forward again.

”We can go on,” he said quietly. ”The calls of the birds were not real, of that I feel sure. They were made by the enemy, purposely to let each man know that he was near his fellows. It's a good idea. Halt again!”

This time he beckoned the bluejackets to come close up to him, and for a little while they were cl.u.s.tered together at the foot of a cotton tree.

”We are getting near the enemy,” said d.i.c.k, ”and if we are rushed it will be very easy to get separated. We will keep in couples, and no man is to be more than three or four feet from his comrade. Once we are in touch with the enemy we will whistle, so as to tell each other where we are. Then there will be no getting lost, and we shall not run the danger of firing at one another. Remember, before pulling a trigger, give a whistle and wait a moment.”

Once more he turned his face to the interior of the jungle and crept on, and presently the call of birds was again heard. Then he redoubled his caution, cutting creepers from his path as silently as possible, and removing all broken twigs from the ground. Half an hour later he and his men came to a sudden halt, for the darkness which had surrounded them up to this suddenly lightened, while as if to increase their difficulties there came the sound of more cheers, the answering yell of hundreds of natives, and then a succession of sharp explosions which shook the leaves. A minute later a volley of slugs screeched overhead, stripping the boughs, and covering the little party with the debris.

”Forward!” shouted d.i.c.k, ”and let the men come up on either side of me.

We will get to this clearing and turn the enemy out.”

There was no time to be lost, for it was now evident that the approach of his party had been heard by the enemy, while the sudden lifting of the gloom showed that there was a clear s.p.a.ce in the forest some little way ahead, and from this no doubt the enemy were firing. d.i.c.k lost no time therefore in pus.h.i.+ng forward. Bent double he ran between the creepers, jumping over fallen boughs, and slas.h.i.+ng at every obstruction which threatened to arrest his progress. Very soon he came to the edge of the forest. Meanwhile the sailors were not behindhand. They gave vent to a cheer, just to show their spirit, and then, spreading by couples to either side, they scrambled forward, wriggling their way through the bush.

”Lie flat!” shouted d.i.c.k, as they got into position, and a second volley of slugs flew overhead. ”Now, you can see where they are. Pick them off, my lads. Fire about a foot below the flashes and about the same or a little less to the right. That should get them.”