28 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASH ANTE E, 
cautiously clung to our footing, and crept on with slow, 
painful movements; when, after three-quarters of an 
hour's sliding, straining and balancing, we again stood 
safely on even ground, though with wounded feet and 
trembling knees, we felt deeply sensible that a special 
Providence had watched over our way. 
Our inexorable guards now urged us rapidly forward 
over the beautiful plain, but no words can paint the thirst 
of that fearful mid-day heat. While we could, we kept 
wet cloths wrapped round the head of our infant, but the 
supply of water failed us at last, and then all hope seemed 
gone. Once, in a slight hollow of the road, we came upon 
a little muddy pool, and this we lapped up greedily, 
like Gideon's warriors. It was past noon when we 
reached a small cluster of trees, where a short interval of 
repose was granted, while yams and a little water were 
placed before us, being the first food that had passed our 
lips that day. Our journey then took a north-westerly 
direction in the course of the river, which we could not 
yet see. 
The shadows were lengthening before we staggered 
through the streets of a village, Asuaso (called Dschome 
on the map), and once more looked upon the broad 
waters of the fair Volta, gilded into splendour by the rays 
of a setting sun. Close beside its high bank lay our 
night quarters, where our fetters were fastened, and as 
Asuaso joined Ashantee, provisions were preremptorily 
demanded by our people, and we thus obtained the gift 
of a hen with some corn, in addition to the usual yams. 
On Sunday, the 27th of June, arrangements were made 
for our transit across the river in two canoes, so slight in 
structure that any movement endangered our safety. 
Our gallant leader, fearing to risk his own life, sent us on 
first, while he calmly stood contemplating the perilous 
undertaking, and when all the rest were safely landed, he 
