ER THIRTEEN.

ON SPECIAL SERVICE.

"Here is the letter, sir, which the Commodore gave me to carry to the
Governor," said Dick, as he and Mr Pepson took up the conversation of
the previous day. "He offered me a post with the expedition which will
be sent to Kumasi, and I declined it until I had seen my employers.
What are your wishes in the matter?"

"That you should go," was the prompt reply. "My inclination at first
when I returned here was to go back to England at once, for I began to
hate this country. But I thought of you, and I stayed on the chance of
your turning up. Now I think of Meinheer. I give you full permission
to take this post, with the agreement that you still remain my agent,
and draw your salary. That will be a retaining fee, for when the war is
over I shall want you again. There, you are free to go, and I am sure
you will do much for our cause."

That afternoon Dick appeared at Government House, a familiar place to
him, and handed his letter to the Governor, who was delighted to see
him.

"Of course we shall be glad to have you," he said, "and I will send
along an official appointment this evening, stating your pay and
allowance. For the present there is nothing for you to do, save perhaps
to ascertain from the natives what is the present whereabouts of the
Ashantis. When Sir Garnet Wolseley arrives he will no doubt have work
for you. You look thin and pale. Take a rest, my boy. A white man
cannot work for so long out here in the forest without feeling the
effects of the climate."

But Dick Stapleton was young and inclined at times to be foolhardy. He
had the objection to remaining still common to every lad of his age. He
loathed molly-coddling, and though at times he felt feverish, his
stubborn nature would not let him give in, lest he should be thought to
be shamming. And so, within a few days of his arrival back at the
coast, he was exploring the mouth of the Pra once more, with Johnnie as
stoker, and a crew of ten bluejackets from the _Rattlesnake_, all intent
upon a brush with the enemy.

"Pending the arrival of Sir Garnet and the troops, you will do your
utmost to obtain tidings of the enemy," said the Commodore, as he bade
farewell to our hero. "And above all, Dick, no meetings with armies, if
you please. You have as complete a selection of stores aboard as we
could think of, and your crew are all picked men. Make the
_Rattlesnake_ your headquarters, returning here wi