you bring," said the officer,
seriously. "Have you told any one what you have learned?"

He looked anxiously at Dick and waited for his reply, giving expression
to an exclamation of relief when he heard the answer.

"Then you and Mr Emmett are the only two who know. Your native stoker
has suspicions, but you say that he is trustworthy. I fancy we may be
able to hoodwink these natives."

An hour later, when Dick retired to Mr Pepson's house, the details of
an expedition had been roughly drafted, and on the following morning
orders were published. But those in authority knew that they had
cunning foes to deal with, and that spies abounded even in Cape Coast
Castle. And so when those who were to take part in the attack embarked,
it was with the belief that they were to sail to a different part of the
country altogether, and that Elmina and its neighbourhood was not even
under consideration. It was with a light heart that Dick steamed back
to Elmina, and took his station near the fort, prepared to operate with
the expedition and attack the enemy.

"You will listen for our bugle calls, and direct your fire accordingly,"
the Chief of the Staff had warned him. "Otherwise we may be firing into
one another. Keep the men well in hand, for the bush will be dense.
But there, I am forgetting that you have had experience already. Hold
our right flank and punish them severely."

Early on the following morning, when the marines and bluejackets had
disembarked at Elmina, and the native troops had joined them on the
beach, Dick and his men steamed up the river, and having gained a point
some miles higher up, stood in to the bank and landed, leaving two men
in charge of the launch.

"Lie off at anchor, and keep a sharp watch," he commanded. "Now, my
lads, we will hunt in couples, and remember to use your whistles, for it
is easy to get lost here. Follow me and be sure you go warily."

They turned their backs on the water, and plunged into the bush, their
eyes endeavouring to pierce the dense undergrowth, while their ears were
forever alert to detect the proximity of the enemy.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

BLUEJACKETS, CHARGE!

"Halt!" Dick Stapleton lifted his hand above his head, and crouched low
in the jungle, while the sailors who followed him in single file,
slashing a path through the dense undergrowth, copied his example.
"H-h-hush! Did you hear? There it is again!"

Dick whispered in Jack Emmett's ear, and Jac