ly. "Tell this officer
what you told me."

Johnnie greeted the youth beside his master in similar fashion, with an
elaborate salute, and treated him to a critical survey.

"Johnnie know little ting or two," he began, with a knowing smile. "He
'tend dat he no good, like same as many at de coast. He say, `hate
white men, and wish Ashanti here.' Johnnie know dere heaps of spies at
de Castle, and he listen and open um ear. Soon fellow come and ask him
if he find out what going to happen. Me say glad, if plenty gold dust.
Den dis fellow he tell Johnnie dat de Ashanti lie in de bush along close
to de coast, ready to jump on de white man. Ask me to let um know when
time come for de rush. Dat all I know. Johnnie take de dust and
perhaps get more later."

He looked at the two sprawling on the roof of the cabin with a cunning
smile, in which they joined. For, after all, though it was not
precisely honest, this action of the stoker's, yet all was fair in love
and war, and if one of the agents of the enemy came to one of the
servants of the white men asking for information and offering money, was
it not in the nature of such a man as Johnnie to keep his information to
himself, giving tit-bits of news which were of no importance, while he
abstracted information as to the enemy's position, and a reward for
himself?

"And that is all, Johnnie?" demanded Dick.

"All same as me tell yo. Noding more."

"Then you can get back to the engine. Now, Jack," went on Dick,
"supposing it were true that the Ashantis were here, within a few miles
of Elmina, and imagined themselves hidden from the English. Wouldn't it
be an opportunity to take them by surprise and start the campaign
favourably? There are not many troops at the Coast, I know, but there
are marines and bluejackets aboard, and they should be sufficient."

"And they could be concentrated here rapidly. Yes; it would be a golden
opportunity, and I see your meaning. Then you will put in at Elmina?"

"When it is dark," said Dick. "Then we shall not be seen, perhaps.
That is why I delayed our departure. We are far enough along the coast
now, and I propose that we steam out a little and lay to."

The proposal was carried out at once, for they judged that they were now
some two hours' steaming from Elmina, and the day was still young.
Therefore, it was as well to keep as far out as possible. Accordingly,
the bows of the launch shot out over the oily sea, which was