"

"We shall be able to deal with him," answered one of the natives. "We
can send him back to Kumasi, and there he will be slain as a sacrifice.
Yes, it will be good to appease our juju with the blood of a white man."

Dick had heard of the frightful rites perpetrated at Kumasi. He knew
that these Ashantis were a warlike race, who were forever battling with
their neighbours, and the tale had come to the coast, a tale the truth
of which had been proved time and again, of a hideous bowl, of an
executioner's heavy knife, and of the manner in which the captives were
killed. He shuddered when he imagined that he was so near to such a
fate. That within a little while he might be in the town of Kumasi, and
while thousands looked on, hooting and shouting for joy, and James
Langdon mocked at him, eagerly watching for a sign that his captive
quailed, while the executioner made ready, might be dragged to that
awful bowl, forced to his knees, and have his head struck off at a blow,
while his life's blood was caught in the receptacle. Yes, he had heard
the details. It was said that many thousand wretched captives uttered
their last sigh in this vile town of Kumasi every year, and that King
Koffee and his warriors sought constantly to increase the number. No
wonder that he shuddered, that he crouched still lower, while his hands
became clammy with fear. The thought unmanned him. These natives, with
their leader, looked like ogres waiting to take his life, and he, all
alone there, was so helpless. But a sudden movement brought the manhood
that was within him to the fore again. A native fidgeted. Then he
strolled from the band, and noticing the tree, came and sat down with
his back leaning against it. Dick could hear his breathing. His own
heart, as it thudded against his ribs, sounded even louder, and to him,
in the extremity of his danger, it seemed that discovery was an
accomplished fact. He gripped the rifle till the cords in his wrists
stood out clearly. Then he directed the muzzle at the man's neck, while
his finger went to the trigger.

"Then we will arrange our stations," cried James Langdon, suddenly,
rising to his feet. "We will surround them so thoroughly that there can
be no escape. Come, all of you, to the edge of the clearing, so that we
may discuss the situation."

The native rose to his feet at once, to Dick's huge relief, while the
whole band crept to the edge of the forest, and looked across at th