s
predecessor. True, the site of the stockade was excellent in nearly
every respect, for it commanded a wide, open space on every side, and
could not be fired into from the crest above. It boasted a moderate
amount of shade, for there was a small group of trees within the
compound, and in addition, it enjoyed a delightful breeze, which kept it
cool, and drove the fever away. It had its failings, however. It could
not stand a siege, for the simple reason that it was perched well up
above the stream in which the gold was washed, and there was no well. A
store of water was carried up every day, and that store had disappeared
with rapidity since the miners had taken post at the stockade.

"I ought to have thought of that before. We should have had a tank or
something of the sort," cried Dick, with vexation, quite forgetful of
the fact that the nearest point at which such a thing could be obtained
was Elmina.

"Yo's dink him up and smack de lip," said Johnnie. "No use make fuss
now dat dere no water left. Hab to leave den, dat's all. Get way into
de forest."

"And meet these two hundred Ashanti warriors. No, thank you, Johnnie.
Come, tell me how all this has happened. I was away in the forest, and
thought I heard the alarm sounded. Then there were shots, and when I
came to the clearing and could see, there were bodies lying around, and
you were holding the enemy in check. I heard then that two hundred more
are expected, and waited till a double ring was thrown round us. Then I
came on. And that reminds me. It was a plucky rush you made, and just
saved me. Thanks, very much."

"Noding, massa. We wait and we expect yo come. We guess you not seen
by de rascal enemy, and we know yo not rush here when it light. De moon
coming up. See um. Den we guess you come jest after it get dark. We
get ready, and den rush. Simple as eatin'."

"And about the alarm?"

"Not so simple," was the candid answer. "Johnnie seem to tink dere
trouble coming. Eber since he meet de Ashanti war men he say, `dere
ruction ahead, dere goin' ter be smash up of de mine.' Johnnie look out
from de hill when massa gone, every single day, and sit dere waitin' wid
de tom-tom. Lucky, too, massa, for we not hab velly much time. Me see
black chap come out of de tree, and den dat half-white man who fight us
before. Johnnie beat de tom-tom till all de miners hear. Den he run to
the stockade and pick up de rifle. He see first one and