"
"Abeokuta is a very singular town," Mr. Goodenough said. "Its people
were christianized many years ago, and have faithfully retained the
religion. The town lies not very far from Dahomey, and this power,
which has conquered and enslaved all its other neighbors, has been
unable to conquer Abeokuta, although it has several times besieged
it. The Dahomey people have every advantage, being supplied with
firearms, and even cannon, by the rascally white traders at Whydah,
the port of Dahomey. Nevertheless, the Abeokuta people have opposed
an heroic resistance, and so far successfully. Of course they know
that every soul would be put to death did they fall into the hands
of the King of Dahomey; but negroes do not always fight well, even
under such circumstances, and every credit must be given to the
people of Abeokuta. What do you say? It will be a perilous business,
mind, for if Abeokuta is taken we shall assuredly be put to death
with the rest of the defenders."
"I think we ought to help them, sir," Frank said. "They must be
a noble people, and with our guns and the four Houssas we might
really be of material assistance. Of course there is a risk in it,
but we have risked our lives from fever, and in other ways, every
day since we've been in the country.
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