e and his
companions were carefully and scientifically secured, Jack Tar not
deigning to hasten because the enemy happened to be near at hand. Then
one of the salts borrowed the stoking shovel from Johnnie, and in less
than a minute the native boat had disappeared beneath the water.
Meanwhile the bush on one side of the river echoed to the shouts of the
enemy, and the fire which had at first been spasmodic, now became
furious, till the surface of the river was lashed with bullets and
slugs.

"Lie down, men, and return their fire," sang out Dick. "Jack, sink into
that well, and steer us to the far side. I fancy we shall be out of
range there, and I have seen none of the enemy. We will make for the
sea now, for we have got all that we want; at least, we have obtained
nearly all. The rest I shall hope to have soon. That's the way, my
lads, pepper them well."

He took a rifle and lay down beside the men, firing at the flashes which
spurted from the bush. And thanks to their superior weapons, and the
skill of the sailors, the shots of the enemy gradually subsided,
bursting out here and there afresh as they were silenced in one
particular spot. Then Dick whistled to his men to cease fire.

"We do not wish to kill more of them," he said, "and they cannot hurt us
now. Let each of you stand beside one of the prisoners, and if you can
impress him with your fierceness without really harming him, all the
better."

There was a knowing grin on the faces of the men as they went to carry
out their leader's commands; for they were beginning to grasp his
meaning. And Dick, had he not been so serious, could have roared with
laughter at the grimaces of the sailors, for they carried out his wishes
to the letter till the captives writhed with terror. Meanwhile the
launch, ignoring the continued fire of the enemy, kept to the far side
of the river and steamed down to Elmina. Soon she passed beneath the
bridge, breasted the breakers, and was at sea again, a few gashes on her
planks, and a handkerchief or two about the arms of the sailors alone
showing that she had been in action; those, and the captives lying upon
her deck.

"Now, Jack, we will suppose that you can speak and understand the
Ashanti tongue as well as I can," said Dick, coolly, as he came aft to
the well and sat down beside his friend. "We are about to interrogate
the prisoners, and you will pass sentence upon them. At least, I shall
say that you are here for