ods of proceeding," was the
genial answer. "They tell me that you have patrolled the river before,
so you must know what is wanted. Come and report here just before you
leave. And, er--Mr Stapleton, there will be a handsome reward for this
information."

Dick was glad that he had heard that after he had accepted the task.

"After all," he thought, as he left the office, "I would rather work for
the fun of the thing and for the good of old England than for money.
If, however, there is a reward and I win it, why, all the better. It
will be like winning a prize. And now for the preparations. I shall
want to think it out."

He bade farewell to the staff officer who had brought him from the ship
and went to see Mr Pepson. A week later he set off on his hazardous
journey to Kumasi, to the headquarters of the most ferocious monarch
known to Englishmen, to the spot where everything was fetish, where
thousands of slaves were butchered in the year, and where the sight of a
white man was sufficient to rouse all the inhabitants to a condition
bordering on insanity.

"Recollect, my dear lad," said Mr Pepson, as he bade his young friend
good-bye, "that King Koffee is a wild beast, and that it would be better
for you and your men to die fighting, or to shoot one another, rather
than fall into his hands. Good-bye, and good luck."

He turned away to hide a tear, this strong man who so seldom showed his
feelings. But he was deeply attached to Dick, and would gladly have
kept him. However, this was duty, duty to his country, and he was
forced to let him go. Then he turned and watched as the surf-boat took
our hero out to his launch. There was the scream of a whistle, the
waving of many hands, and Dick was off--perhaps never to return again.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

A BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY.

"We will look into Elmina on the way over to the Pra," said Dick, as the
launch steamed along the coast, keeping just outside the rollers. "I
have news of something, and want to inspect. Later we can go up the Pra
and get this other information."

He was sitting on the roof of the tiny cabin, surveying the coast with a
critical eye, while every now and again he turned his gaze to his crew
with a feeling of satisfaction. For this was some reward for the
disappointment occasioned by his illness. He was again on the move,
with the very same crew, and in addition there was with him young
Emmett, a youth some few months older than h