whom he had rescued
from Kumasi, at once took to the forest again, and carefully crept
through it on hands and knees. No one ventured to speak a syllable, and
whenever it was necessary to issue an order our hero raised his hand,
gathered the men close to him, and signalled. And in this way, passing
between vast bodies of fleeing Ashantis, who were so intent on procuring
their own safety, that they failed to detect the presence of the
British, the party came at length to the verge of the pestilential swamp
which borders the town on one side. Not till then, perhaps, did the
bluejackets fully comprehend the force of the tale which Dick had told
them. It was only when they came actually to this spot and saw the
awful results of the frequent executions which took place at this
loathsome town, that they realised the agony suffered there, and the
need there was to put a summary end to it all. Their teeth closed
tight, and they gripped their rifles nervously.

"If they'd only stand, the cruel-hearted brutes," whispered one of the
men, "we'd jest give 'em sacrifice. This here place smells of the dead.
Pah! I shall be glad when we're quit of it."

"Silence! The half-hour is up now, and in a little while we shall hear
the bugle for the advance. We will march into the town at once, and
shoot down any who oppose us. These natives know where the European
prisoners are, and will lead us to them. As each is found, bring him
along with us till we come to the last. Ah! That's the bugle."

Over the summit of the dense forest the faint notes came, sounding the
last advance movement of the troops, and the knell of the blood-stained
town of Kumasi. Dick and his men rose to their feet, skirted the marsh,
and within ten minutes were in the town. The native guides led them at
once to the quarter in which the prisoners were located. Nor were they
too soon by any means. For Kumasi was gone mad. Thousands of figures
fled through the wide streets to the forest beyond, while a party, some
two hundred strong, told off for the purpose, no doubt, by King Koffee,
were even then dragging the European captives from the prisons with the
intention of conveying them to the temple of sacrifice.

"Charge!" shouted Dick, as he came in sight of the force, and at once,
with a mighty cheer, the band of sailors and young officers broke into a
run. And as they went, at an order from their leader, they pulled their
triggers without lifting thei