170 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



most frequently happened, the track got fresher, and as 

 the sudden movement of the hidden warrior in taking 

 aim at last betrayed him, the scout threw up his rifle and 

 took a snap-shot at his adversary, the two weapons going 

 off almost simultaneously. Sometimes one was shot, and 

 sometimes the other. It was a service of the utmost 

 danger, but the scouts took the keenest delight in it, and 

 seldom failed to account for their man. I remember 

 one occasion where, after following a track for about 

 a hundred yards, the scout showed where the other had 

 sat down on the bare spur of a cotton tree ; a naked 

 savage sitting upon a wooden Windsor chair would have 

 almost left as much trace, but the tracker was satisfied 

 that the other had then ceased to be " on duty," and 

 was just resting preparatory to going home. He was 

 quite right, and within two miles the Ashanti had gone 

 into a village — presumably to breakfast, and nearly all 

 the time I could see nothing. It was too disheartening 

 that the scout could follow signs at almost a run, which 

 I had nearly to go down upon my knees to discover 

 at all. They were noble fellows, and knew not the 

 meaning of fear, and, like all savages, uncontaminated 

 by mixing with whites, had the most perfect, gentle 

 manners, until roused by excitement. 



There was one thing that struck me very much, and 

 that was the cry of a baby was scarcely ever heard 

 in the land, and even in their play the children were 

 almost quite silent. Amongst our carriers tiny babies were 

 very numerous ; we also saw numbers in the villages, 

 both of Fantees, Assins, and Ashantis, and yet it was 

 a rare thing to hear a sound amongst them. If a 

 child did make a whine it was instantly hushed by 



