lds of Ashanti; and that, together with the increased
comfort given by the winding gear, all of which was now in place, had so
heartened the miners that he was more than popular amongst them. But he
was still haunted with the fear of attack.

"There must be people who know that we are here, practically with no
means of defence," he had said over and over again to himself. "And no
doubt the news of a rich find will in time be circulated. What is to
prevent a ruffian like James Langdon making a raid upon us? I am here,
in charge, and I must take steps."

That same evening he went to the miners when they had come up from the
shafts, and told them the news.

"Our brothers are at war. There is nothing in this camp to alarm us or
you," said their leader, when Dick had made himself understood, a
somewhat difficult matter, considering his small knowledge of the
language. "The Ashantis will not touch us. The Fantis would if they
could, for we are weak, and should fall an easy prey to them. But these
were Ashantis."

"And to-morrow a force of Fantis might come, too," added Dick. "Then
what could we do?"

"We should be killed, the gold would be taken, and there would be an end
of the matter."

"Then as I have no wish to be killed, I suggest that we take steps to
protect ourselves," said Dick. "I have rifles at the stockade for all,
and will arrange a signal. You say that you can all shoot. That makes
matters better. We will practise to-night. There is a tomtom at the
stockade, left there by one of yourselves perhaps. I will beat that as
the signal, and all will at once rush to the place, bringing their store
of gold with them."

The miners looked at one another when they heard his words, and then
commenced to discuss the matter together; for it was difficult for them
to understand the need for such precautions. They had been at this mine
for some months now, and they had never been disturbed. At the same
time rumour had reached them that their countrymen were at war with the
Fantis, and that being the case, the latter would treat them as enemies.
There was a big store of gold, the result of the last month's labour,
and that would certainly go. They would be killed, too, and even if
they were not, they would lose their wages, now owing for some months.

"We will do as you ask," said their chief, half an hour later. "There
may be need for these precautions, and in that case we may have cause to
be glad.