d be enough to give a fine
profit, and such encouragement that when things had quieted down and
James Langdon's account had been settled, the mine would be worked
again, and he, Dick Stapleton, would have certain employment.

"De beggar follow. Dey runnin' down in de trees. Berry well! We stop
dat. Yo boys, back dere. Get um guns ready."

"Tell your men to load and fire into the trees when my comrade gives the
command," said Dick, in the Fanti tongue, which all the Ashantis
understand. "Now, Johnnie, tell me what you want, and I'll pass on the
order. You will command till we reach the river."

"Tank you, massa," was the answer, as the little fellow swung round for
a moment, showing a smiling mouth and two rows of gleaming teeth. "You
watch, and see me gib dem pepper. Me gib dem fellows beans."

He cut the steam off just a little till the launch slowed down, and till
the Ashantis on the bank began to overhaul her. Meanwhile all aboard
the launch maintained silence. Then again the native stoker shouted a
command, and a hot musketry fire was poured into the forest. At the
same instant the launch started forward as if she had been hit, and with
the boat in tow went racing down the tributary. Nothing could stop her
now. Bullets and slugs whizzed overhead, and a few struck the deck and
the sides of the towing boat. But they could not arrest the flight,
while the pursuers might shout and bawl as they liked. The launch sped
on her way, causing the water to flood the muddy banks on either side,
and disturbing more than one of the loathsome monsters reclining there.
They came to a bend suddenly. She swung round it, dashed for an open
reach, and shot out into the stream.

"Well done!" cried Dick, rising to his feet, and taking his post as
leader again. "Very well done, Johnnie. You are a born commander.
Now, put out into midstream and send her ahead. How's steam, my lad?"

"'Nough to bust um, massa. Plenty steam and heap coal."

"Then keep her going while I talk to the chief."

He went right aft, to where the leader of the miners sat beside his
comrade, staring to either hand and discussing the flight with his
friend. Within six feet of them, at the end of the towing rope, lay the
boat, with ten men aboard her, all with rifles in their hands, eagerly
scanning the bank from which the last shots had come. Overhead the sky
was already distinctly lighter. The forest on either hand had receded
all of a s