"
"That is fair enough," Frank said, pleased that the matter had passed
off so well, "only another time do not stick me upright against a
tree where I may be killed by English bullets. I had a narrow escape
of it this time, you see," and he pointed to the hole in the trunk
of the tree.
"I am sorry," the Ashanti general said, with an air of real concern.
"I did not think of your being in danger, I only wished you to have
a good sight of the battle; next time I will put you in a safer
place."
They then returned to the camp.
The next day a distant cannonade was heard, and at nightfall the
news came that the English fleet had bombarded and burnt several
Elmina villages at the mouth of the Prah.
"Ah," the general said, "the English have great ships and great
guns. They can fight on the seaside and round their forts, but they
cannot drag their guns through the forests and swamps."
"No," Frank agreed. "It would not be possible to drag heavy
artillery."
"No," Ammon Quatia repeated exultingly. "When they are beyond the
shelter of their ships they are no good whatever. We will kill them
all."
The wet season had now set in, in earnest, and the suffering of the
Ashantis were very great.
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