A CRITICAL TIME. 
187 
he did not return, and when I saw him he told me that 
his people did not like him to be with us. 
Amid these many discouragements, the welfare of these 
poor people pressed heavily on my heart. One day, 
meeting several of my former scholars in the market 
place, I again invited them, and promised to give them 
oranges. They came for this, but persisted in saying they 
were afraid to come to school, although I told them they 
had the king's permission. Later in the day others 
arrived, attracted no doubt by the oranges, promising 
they would come back the following Monday. And they 
really did so (October 2.3rd), that is three of them, whom 
we begged to bring others. 
We had soon eight Ashantees, who came with our own 
boys and sat down again to learn, rejoicing greatly at the 
Christmas gifts we were preparing. But alas ! first one 
and then another was called away to follow his Adamfo 
(friend). Most of the free youths being destined to be 
followers of this or that chief, to make a parade before 
him at the ceremonies, and when grown up to follow him 
with a gun. 
On (October 22nd), we heard that a high council had 
been held in B^ntama, when the chiefs had sworn they 
would march against the Coast, to which the king re- 
plied, "If you go, I shall go with you." A few days 
later we were told that Ashantee had promised assistance 
to the prince of Kwantiabo, who had long sought its help 
against a neighbouring state. 
That something was going on, Mr. Flange had to learn 
to his bitter cost, the king declaring in an assembly of 
the council that he " interfered in the politics of the king- 
dom, and acted as if no one could read." It was evi- 
dently known that the ambassador had secretly written 
to the governor, and unscrupulously compromised the 
king by communicating the proceedings of the council — 
