As soon
as the line was formed the English opened fire, and the Ashantis
were perfectly astonished at the incessant rattle of musketry from
so small a body of men. But it was not all noise, for the Snider
bullets swept among the crowded body of blacks, mowing them down in
considerable numbers. In two minutes the Ashantis turned and ran.
The general's bearers, in spite of his shouts, hurried away with
him with the others, and Frank would have taken this opportunity to
escape had not two of his guards seized him by the arms and hauled
him along, while the other two kept close behind.
As soon as they had passed over the crest of the rise, and the
British fire had ceased, Ammon Quatia leaped from his chair and
threw himself among his flying troops, striking them right and left
with his staff, and hurling imprecations upon them.
"If you do not stop and return against the whites," he said, "I
will send every one of you back to Coomassie, and there you will
be put to death as cowards."
The threat sufficed. The fugitives rallied, and in a few minutes
were ready to march back again. It was the surprise created by the
wonderful sustained fire of the breech loaders, rather than the
actual loss they inflicted, which caused the panic.
Pages:
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318