Accustomed as many of them were to high
lying lands free of trees, the miasma from the swamps was well nigh
as fatal to them as it would be to Europeans. Thousands died, and
many of the rest were worn by fever to mere shadows.
"Do you think," Ammon Quatia said to Frank one day, "that it is
possible to blow up a whole town with powder?"
"It would be possible if there were powder enough," Frank said,
wondering what could be the motive of the question.
"They say that the English have put powder in holes all over Cape
Coast, and my people are afraid to go. The guns of the fort could
not shoot over the whole town, and there are few white soldiers
there; but my men fear to be blown up in the air."
"Yes," Frank said gravely. "The danger might be great. It is better
that the Ashantis should keep away from the town. But if the fever
goes on as at present the army will melt away."
"Ten thousand more men are coming down when the rains are over.
The king says that something must be done. There is talk in the
English forts that more white troops are coming out from England.
If this is so I shall not attack the towns, but shall wait for them
to come into the woods for me.
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