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Henty, G. A. (George Alfred), 1832-1902

"By Sheer Pluck, a Tale of the Ashanti War"

"But you have castles
in the white men's country, how do you take them?"
"We bring a great many cannon throwing balls of iron as big as my
head," Frank answered, "and so knock a great hole in the wall and
then rush in."
"But if there are no cannon?" the general urged.
"We never attack a castle without cannon," Frank said. "But if we
had no cannon we might try to starve the people out; but you cannot
do that here, because they would land food from the sea."
The general looked puzzled. "Why do the white men come here?
"They come to trade," he said presently.
"Yes, they come to trade," Frank replied.
"And they have no other reason?"
"No," Frank said. "They do not want to take land, because the white
man cannot work in so hot a climate."
"Then if he could not trade he would go away?" the general asked.
"Yes," Frank agreed, "if he could do no trade it would be no use
remaining here."
"We will let him do no trade," the general said, brightening up.
"If we cannot take the forts we will surround them closely, and
no trade can come in and out. Then the white man will have to go
away. As to the Fantis we will destroy them, and the white men will
have no one to fight for them.


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