"That is your modesty, d.i.c.k," would be the answer. "I may say the same.
I have done nothing more than any business man would do. You are to be my agent. I have a big stake in these mines, and I wish all to go well.
Consequently, to avoid future loss, I equip my agent with the best and see to his welfare."
There was no arguing with such a man. He would smile that dry smile of his and would turn away. But d.i.c.k did not forget. If Mr Pepson was grateful, so also was he, for he was indeed in clover. He saw work before him, hard work, too; for he had been given to understand that the post of agent would be no sinecure. Then he was now a partner with Mr Pepson and the Dutchman in the store which his father had had for so many years. It had reopened already with a flourish. A manager had been appointed, and there were prospects of reviving the business, so that d.i.c.k might look forward to an income. Then he had been credited with a good sum, which Mr Pepson had insisted was the value of the partnership, while a further sum was to be paid every year in the way of rent for the residence. And now, as if that were not enough, here was a complete outfit. d.i.c.k donned the clothes which the native had prepared, and stepped into the centre of the verandah for Mr Pepson"s approval.
"You will do well," said the latter, when he had surveyed him critically. "The stuff is some which I imported specially. It is a dark cloth, as you observe, and, while being thin and light, it is strong, and to a certain extent waterproof. It will stand the thorns in the jungle, and better perhaps, should we meet with trouble, you will find that it does not make the wearer conspicuous. There is a green shade in it, and that will be difficult to detect against the foliage.
Now the hat. That will do, too. It is made of the same material, and is just the thing for the jungle. A topee would be in the way, and besides, the sun does not penetrate very much, and, indeed, is often not to be seen. You will carry a topee in your kit for open s.p.a.ces."
Three days later all was in readiness, and d.i.c.k found himself dressed in preparation for an early start. As he looked in his gla.s.s that morning, an hour before the sun rose above the steaming jungle and bush, he saw there a young fellow of medium height, dressed in a loose-fitting knickerbocker suit, with wide-awake hat to match. A leather belt was about his waist, and slung to it was a revolver, while on the other hip he carried a short sword, with a keen cutting edge on one side, the reverse being fashioned like a saw, for they would have dense jungle to pa.s.s through, and such an implement was necessary. Beneath the loose coat he wore a light flannel shirt and turn-down collar, open at the neck. A pair of gaiters covered his calves, while his feet were clad in strong shooting boots. Altogether he looked a likely young fellow, and his smooth features and firm chin, disclosing a creditable amount of determination and obvious courage for one so young, set off his general appearance and led one to believe that the mining partners had not made such a bad choice after all.
"It"s we who have made the mistake," said the Governor that morning to his secretary, as he bade farewell to the expedition. "We knew the lad was in difficulties and wanted a job, but we thought him too young. We let him kick his heels till he was miserable. We looked on while he was robbed and ruined, and we should have helped him to slip from the country had it not been for that plucky dash of his. I tell you, there are bad times coming. I could have found him useful as a police officer. We want a likely fellow, who can speak this Fanti tongue, to keep an eye open for the doings of the Elmina natives. This fellow would have done well. But there! we"ve lost him. It"s always the way with those in authority. We hesitate. We know that our choice must be sanctioned by some man in office away at home, a man, mind you, who has never seen the object of our choice. That"s red tape. It kills initiative. It has lost us a good fellow, and these men, Pepson and the Dutchman, have been too smart for us. They have jumped at him, and they"ve a real good fellow."
There was quite a commotion in Cape Coast Castle that morning. Many turned out to see the last of the expedition, and there was a cheer as the party embarked on a surf-boat, and put out to the steam launch lying just off the beach.
"Good luck! and watch the Ashantees," shouted one of the Government officials.
"Bring back plenty of gold," called out another.
"Good-bye and good luck!"
The words of encouragement and a last cheer came to them as they boarded the launch. There was a sharp order from Mr Pepson, then the engines revolved, the propeller thrashed the water, and they were off, d.i.c.k and his friend watching the receding figures on the sh.o.r.e, while the sprightly Van Somering climbed to the highest point of the narrow deck and there held himself with head erect so that all might view him and admire.
"A great swell he is, too," laughed Mr Pepson, as he and d.i.c.k turned from the sh.o.r.e. "His appearance alone should mean our security from attack."
And our hero was fain to agree. For the fat little Dutchman had exceeded any former attempt. True, he was dressed in the same loose clothing, made of the selfsame material as worn by his comrades. But his vanity had added embellishments to it. His shirt was red, a red which dazzled the eye, while the belt which surrounded his ample waist was some five inches in width--strong enough, in fact, to bear the weight of two such Dutchmen, while it carried in front an enormous revolver and a dagger of like proportions, all of which made it appear as if Meinheer Van Somering were a man of pugnacious disposition, and therefore to be avoided.
An hour later, a little while after the sun had risen over the jungle, the launch glided into the river at Elmina, and came to rest close to the mole.
"We will see first of all that our stores are here," said Mr Pepson, as he leaped ash.o.r.e. "Then we will move on without delay. Come with me, d.i.c.k, and go over the list of our possessions."
Everything had been sent on some few days before from the neighbourhood of Cape Coast Castle, where they had been landed from the steamer, and thanks to the careful foresight of Mr Pepson, d.i.c.k found that three dugouts, of large proportions, lay close to the mole, roped firmly together, and in these were disposed the belongings of the expedition.
In the bows of one was the bra.s.s gun, while there were sniders in all three and an ample supply of ammunition. In addition, half a dozen Fanti warriors sat on the thwarts waiting for the forward move.
"Hook on the launch," said Mr Pepson. "Now, all aboard. Send her ahead, Johnnie."
Johnnie was the native boy who had been trained to man the engines of the launch, and he rejoiced in the name given. At the word he opened the steam throttle till the merest jet was fed to the cylinders, and gently drew ahead of the boats, slowly stretching out the hawser connecting them till it was taut. Then again there was a commotion at the end of the launch. The water was thrashed into foam, the ropes creaked and stretched, and finally the launch was under way, the three boats following gaily in the wake of the plucky steamer. Mr Pepson was at the wheel, and promptly put his helm over till they were heading for the very centre of the river.
"All clear here," he said, with a smile. "Now we make out for the sea, for this is not the river Pra. It lies a few miles to the west. Once there we shall not always have a wide, open stretch to steer through, particularly when we have ascended a few miles. Then, indeed, the fun will commence, for there are sure to be sandbanks and shallows, while I believe that crocodiles abound. In any case the river will narrow, and before very long the trees will come closer together and will shelter us from the sun. Send her full steam ahead, Johnnie."
By now they were feeling the swell at the mouth of the harbour of Elmina, and for some minutes all clung to the sides, for the light craft were tossed by the enormous surf running outside. When that was safely pa.s.sed the steam launch turned to the west, and they went off along the coast, just as they had done that morning, watching the white sandy beach as they swept past it, the interminable forests beyond, and the blue haze hanging over the hills and mountains in the distance. Two hours later they reached the mouth of the river, and having approached it carefully, for mud banks lay off it in many directions, they shot into an open channel, and soon found themselves ascending the Pra, a broad river, there known as the Bustum.
"Higher up it is called the Pra," explained Mr Pepson, "until it bifurcates. The branch flowing from the east is then called the Prahsu, while the one from the west is known as the river Offwin. We do not ascend either of these. Our route takes us by a narrow tributary flowing into the Pra, and by that means we reach our destination. Now we can go full ahead."
Once more the throttle was opened to its full extent, and with the three boats in tow the launch steamed up into the heart of the country, with every prospect of covering many miles ere the darkness came and caused her to come to a stop.
CHAPTER FOUR.
A CHASE AND A FIGHT.
"In a little while the sun will be down," said Mr Pepson, as he sprawled on the deck of the steam launch that evening. "Then it will be dark in half an hour or less, and we shall have to think of setting a watch. Meinheer will take the first one. From seven to nine, Meinheer.
d.i.c.k will follow from that hour till midnight, and I shall take the watch from the first moment of the new day till the light comes. That will be about three o"clock. Now let us get our supper."
All day they had been steaming without adventure and without interruption up the broad sweep of the river Pra, seeing nothing to alarm them, and meeting with no difficulties. So far they had had plenty of water beneath their keels, and an ample s.p.a.ce through which to steer. But there were signs that the river was narrowing, while all felt as if the forest was hemming them in.
"Zis is noding do whad we shall have soon," the Dutchman said, with a wave of his arm. "Zis forest--I have been for some miles into him before, mine friends--sdredches for a long, long way. Id is tick, too.
See how ze drees shood up close togeder. And watch below. Ze creepers are everywhere. Id would dake a day do cud a new road a mile long.
Yes. Id is dense. Bud we shall have no drouble. Ze river dakes us do ze mine."
"For which I am only too thankful," added Mr Pepson. "Our journey should occupy but three days, or at the most four. If we had to march through the forest we should have to take an army of Fanti labourers to cut a road. And then think of the fever."
"And of the machinery, too," exclaimed d.i.c.k.
"Yes, that is another point," agreed Mr Pepson. "This country has been noted for its gold for many years. The Ashantis have carried on a trade since they became a nation, and there is no doubt that there are vast natural stores. You may ask, why have others not attempted to open mines before this? They have done so. The beach at Elmina and at Cape Coast Castle is strewn with rusting machinery, which has been landed with a purpose, and then left to rot and rust simply because of the difficulty of transport, and because of this forest. Luckily for us our mine is near the river. But here"s supper. Sit down, Van Somering."
It was delightful to be out there in the open, even though the air hummed with myriads of mosquitoes. The launch and her three consorts lay moored out in the stream some hundred yards or less from the left bank of the river. About them, but for the buzz of the insects and the ripple of the water, all was still and silent. Not a beast seemed to be stirring, while even aboard the boats all had settled down to rest.
Johnnie, the stoker and driver, sat in the engine-well wiping his black hands after an inspection of the machinery, while the Fanti crew lay curled up in the bottom of the boats, two in each one, content with the world, waiting quietly for their evening meal. And now it was ready.
With a broad grin Johnnie announced that the water boiled, while d.i.c.k, who had been superintending a dish of bacon which he had placed at the furnace door, sang out that it was done to a turn.
"Then I will make the coffee," cried Mr Pepson. "Meinheer, see that the cloth is laid; and, d.i.c.k, steady with the bacon. We will start fair together."
The cloth consisted of a sheet of newspaper, a very ancient London daily, which the Dutchman spread out on the deck. Plates were of enamelled iron--the cla.s.s of ware to stand half a dozen campaigns--while mugs were of the same hardy material, and were apt to be used for soup or coffee, water or good wine, just as circ.u.mstances dictated. It was all very jolly. This _al fresco_ picnic delighted d.i.c.k, and he set-to at the meal with gusto, apologising for his appet.i.te.
"Id is goot! Id will make you grow sdoud, mine friend," grunted Meinheer, in the midst of consuming a rasher. "Id will make you grow so big zad ze natives will zink you a gread man. See how zey dread me, Meinheer Van Somering!"
He looked down at his ample proportions with evident satisfaction, and then completed his attack upon the rasher.
"Do-nighd all will be quied, mine friends," he went on. "I shall be on guard, and zese natives will not come. Perhaps lader zey will ask who we are. I will speak wiz zem. There will be no difficulty. Anozer rasher, Meinheer d.i.c.k."
They ate till they were satisfied, for there was no reason to be careful with the rations, as they had an ample supply. The repast was ended with a second cup of steaming coffee, when the burly Dutchman produced a pipe of dimensions as ample as his own, and with a bowl which took quite a quant.i.ty of tobacco to fill it. Mr Pepson lighted up a cigar, while d.i.c.k produced a briar pipe. Then for some minutes there was silence between them, while the darkness deepened, and the cigar and the pipes shone redder and redder.
At length it was dark, so dark on the surface of the river that nothing was visible, and d.i.c.k could hardly see the figures of his comrades. But that was only for a little while. Soon a big pale, African moon got up, and, riding clear of the jungle, flooded the course of the river, the left bank near which the boats lay, and the tree-tops and jungle along that side. On the far bank all was densely dark, and no eye could penetrate the deep shadow which cloaked the dark and forbidding forest which stretched unbroken beside the Pra.
"Bed!" called out Mr Pepson, indulging in a yawn. "Meinheer, yours is the first watch. Wake d.i.c.k at nine. Good-night."
"Good nighd, mine friends. Sleeb well, for I shall protect you."
The Dutchman went aft to the tiny cabin, and fetched his rifle and a bag of cartridges. Then he seated himself upon the roof of the saloon, the rifle across his knees, and his pipe held firmly between his teeth.
d.i.c.k, too, was tired. It had been a long and interesting day, and he had watched the pa.s.sing banks of the river till his eyes ached. Now he felt drowsy. He got up from the deck, stretched his arms and yawned, and then went off to the bows. A minute later he was wrapped in his blanket, which covered him from head to foot, his head was on a bag containing clothing, while his legs were stretched along the deck. Half an hour later he was asleep; all aboard, in fact, had turned in for their rest, save the solitary Dutchman, who still nursed his rifle, and puffed volumes of smoke from his lips without ceasing.
No wonder that d.i.c.k was charmed with this trip up-country. It appealed with all its force to a young fellow of his age. He revelled in the strangeness of the scenery, the dense, awe-inspiring forests, and all the teeming life hidden in their midst, and the silent, slow-flowing river. That evening, too, he had thought how beautiful it all was, and how peaceful. He had admired the cold rays of the moon, the sleepy boats lying beneath it, and the dark figures stretched out beneath the thwarts. He had listened, too, for a time to the music of the bush, which came now more loudly to his ear. There was the chatter of a regiment of monkeys, the call of night birds innumerable, and the droning hum of the insects. Ever and anon there came a deeper sound, as if from some beast wandering in search of its meal, while once, as he awoke and rose on his elbow, he caught sight of a graceful four-footed animal--a gazelle--tripping gently into the river to drink. After that he stretched out again, and, lulled by the droning sounds, slept deeply.
"What was that? Ah! that beast again!" he suddenly said in a whisper, as, some two hours later, he wakened with a start, only to close his eyes again, for he realised at once that the shriek he had heard was one which had often disturbed him at Cape Coast Castle--one which proceeded from the throat of a harmless forest animal.
"Hoot! Hoot! Hoot!"
"An owl now," thought our hero, dreamily. "There it goes again, and quite close, too. Bother the bird!"