War 155 



until he had reached the " truck " on the top of the main- 

 mast, on which he settled himself comfortably, while three 

 sailors started after him to tie him up. Noel never took 

 the slightest notice until the first man was " swarming " 

 up close to him, and then getting off the truck he let 

 himself slide down right upon the shoulders of the sailor 

 below. The latter saw him coming, and had to hug the 

 mast with all his strength to prevent being knocked off, 

 and calmly clambering over his back, Noel got below him 

 and proceeded on his downward journey. The other two 

 sailors were waiting at the cross-trees to catch him when 

 he reached them, but Noel was not going to be so easily 

 caught. He had espied a loose rope, and catching it as 

 the roll of the ship brought it within his reach, he swung 

 out far over the sea with the return roll, and, sliding down 

 well below the would-be captors, got into the rigging, when 

 the ship swung back again. He had thus beaten all three 

 sailors, but a fourth sailor, seeing that his manoeuvre was 

 likely to succeed, started from the deck and caught him 

 just as he landed safe into the rigging. This was scarcely 

 fair play, and the honours undoubtedly remained with the 

 plucky subaltern. 



After we had landed we marched up the country for 

 100 miles to Prahsue, situated on the river Prah, the 

 boundary of Ashanti land. Every store-box had to be 

 carried here on the heads of native carriers, and for this 

 purpose each box was made to weigh just 56 lb. when 

 full. The best carriers, as a rule, were the women, who 

 were always willing and cheerful, often with a baby slung 

 behind their back, in addition to their load. After an 

 eighteen mile march, as soon as they arrived in camp, the 

 women would set to work, make fires, and cook their 



