, and
I require it. If you give it, you will be unharmed; if you lie, you
will be killed. I will count my fingers over four times, and if at the
end you have not spoken the truth you will be shot. That is the
decision of my friend who sits beside me."

At once he began to count, while the native watched him, at first with
looks of incredulity, and then with an expression of concern. Meanwhile
there was tense silence amongst the group, save for the muttered words
coming from Dick. He was nearing the end of his count, and as if to
emphasise the fact, and at a nod from our hero, one of the sailors
pulled back the lock of his rifle with a click. It was an ugly and an
ominous sound, and in an instant it had the desired effect.

"I will speak, white chief," said the prisoner, hastily. "It is true
that my comrades are up the river. How many I do not know, but there is
an army. We have been there for weeks, and are starving. There is
nothing more to tell."

Dick nodded curtly. "Take him into the cabin and see that he does not
communicate with the others," he said. "Now, let us have another
prisoner."

One by one the Ashanti prisoners were brought to the stern of the launch
and interrogated, and the story told by all was precisely the same. The
Ashantis were in force in the jungle lying within a few miles of Elmina
and between that part and the river Pra. They had fraternised with the
Elminas and other natives, nominally under our protection, and for the
most part they were almost starving. They were awaiting the moment when
they might attack the white men. There could be no doubt about the
truth of their tale, for they had each said the same, and had had no
time to concoct a story.

"We shall be welcome home again," said Dick, with a smile, as he rose
from the well. "It is true that we have not yet gained information of
the country beyond the Prahsu, but then there is plenty of time, for the
troops who are to come out will not be here for some six weeks, and
there are insufficient here now to make the march to Kumasi. But there
may be enough men for this expedition to Elmina. That will, of course,
rest with Sir Garnet, but they say he is a dashing leader, and I fancy
he will strike a blow. Full steam, Johnnie. The sooner we are back the
better."

Five hours later our hero stood hat in hand in the office at Government
House, facing the chief of Sir Garnet's staff.

"This is very important news which