"They are not satisfied yet," Mr. Goodenough exclaimed, hurrying
to the wall. In the night the Dahomans had either with sacks or
earth raised their cannon some six feet, so that they were able
to fire over the mound caused by the fallen wall at the stockade
behind it, at which they were now directing their fire.
"Now for the sacks," Mr. Goodenough said. Running down, he directed
the sacks laden with earth, to whose necks ropes had been attached,
to be brought up. Five hundred willing hands seized them, and they
were lowered in front of the center of the stockade, which was
alone exposed to the enemy's fire, until they hung two deep over
the whole face. As fast as one bag was injured by a shot it was
drawn up and another lowered to its place. In the meantime the rifles
from the walls had again opened fire, and as the gunners were now
more exposed their shots did considerable execution. Seeing the
uselessness of their efforts the Dahomans gradually slackened their
fire.
When night came Mr. Goodenough gathered two hundred of the best
troops of Abeokuta. He caused plugs to be made corresponding to
the size of the various cannonballs which were picked up within
the stockade, which varied from six to eighteen pounders.
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