SEEMIBG LIBERTY, 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
SEEMING LIBERTY. 
" When the Lord turned again the captivity of His 
people, we were like unto them that dream," so sang the 
captive Israelites in Babylon, and so were we now inclined 
to sing in Coomassie. Yet our hopes on former occasions 
had been so often dashed that they were even now 
mingled with many misgivings, which subsequent events, 
alas ! justified. 
On the 8th, the king, with his assembled chiefs, gave 
audience to Mr. Plange and ourselves, under one of the 
spacious galleries, when it was stated by Osee, the 
attendant, that £1000 was the ultimatum of the sum 
offered by the governor for our release. Some of the 
chiefs rose on hearing this, and rudely demanded £2000, 
declaring that Adu Bofo had expended thus much, where- 
upon the king affirmed that the outlay had been Ms, and 
he would accept the £1000 ; then addressing himself to 
us, he added, " you will leave to-morrow for Fomana, I 
will prepare everything to-day ; from there," said he to 
Plange, "you will write to Ansa, and when the money 
reaches the Prah, you can cross." 
The thankful joy with which we heard these words, 
and the throbbing of our hearts as we thought of reunion 
with our loved ones, cannot be described. We at once 
approached, took the jewelled hand of the monarch in 
ours, and expressed our gratitude, while Plange thanked 
him on his knees. Our words would have been warmer 
but for sad remembrances too vivibly impressed on our 
