They had still,
however, ample space for the collections they might still make.
The cases of goods and provisions were utilized for this purpose
as they were emptied.
For another two months they journeyed on, halting frequently and
adding continually to their stores. The country was fairly populated,
and there was no difficulty in buying plantains and fruit and in
obtaining fresh sets of carriers through the territories of each
petty chief. They were now approaching the Volta, when one day a
native, covered with dust and bathed in perspiration, came up to
their camp, and throwing himself on the ground before Mr. Goodenough
poured out a stream of words.
"What does he say, Ostik?"
"Me not know, sar. P'r'aps Ugly Tom know. He been down near Volta
country."
Ugly Tom was called, and after a conversation with the native,
told Mr. Goodenough that he was a messenger from Abeokuta, that the
people there were threatened by an attack by the King of Dahomey,
and that they implored the white men, who they heard were in the
neighborhood, to come to their aid.
"What do you say, Frank?" Mr. Goodenough asked.
"I don't know anything about it, sir," Frank said. "I have heard
of Dahomey, of course, and its horrible customs, but I don't know
anything about Abeokuta.
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