ed.

The first morning after crossing the river Frank sent Ostik into the
hut of the general with a cup of hot chocolate, with which Ammon Quatia
expressed himself so much gratified that henceforth Frank sent in a
cup every morning, having still a large supply of tins of preserved
chocolate and milk, the very best food which a traveler can take with
him. In return the Ashanti general showed Frank many little kindnesses,
sending him in birds or animals when any were shot by his men, and
keeping him as well provided with food as was possible under the
circumstances.

It was not until the 8th of April that any absolute hostilities took
place. Then the Fantis, supported by fifty Houssas under Lieutenant
Hopkins, barred the road outside the village of Dunquah. The Ashantis
attacked, but the Fantis fought bravely, having great confidence in the
Houssa contingent. The battle was one of the native fashion, neither
side attempting any vigorous action, but contenting themselves with a
heavy fire at a distance of a hundred yards. All the combatants took
shelter behind trees, and the consequence was that at the end of the day
a great quantity of powder and slugs had been fired away, and a very few
men hit on either side. At nightfall both parties drew off.

"Is that the way your English soldiers fight?" the general asked Frank
that night.

"Yes," Frank said vaguely; "they fire away at each other."

"And then I suppose," the general said, "when one party has exhausted
its ammunition it retires."

"Certainly it would retire," Frank said. "It could not resist without
ammunition you know."

Frank carefully abstained from mentioning that one side or the other
would advance even before the ammunition of its opponents was expended,
for he did not wish the Ashantis to adopt tactics which, from their
greatly superior numbers, must at once give them a victory. The Ashantis
were not dissatisfied with the day's work, as they considered that they
had proved themselves equal to the English troops.

CHAPTER XVIII: THE ATTACK ON ELMINA

On the 14th the Fantis took the initiative, and attacked the Ashantis.
The fight was a mere repetition of that of a week before, and about
midday the Fantis, having used up all their ammunition, fell back again
to Cape Coast.

"Now," the general said to Frank, "that we have beaten the Fantis we
shall march down to Elmina."

Leaving the main road at Dunquah the army moved slowly through the bush