262 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASRANTME. 
officer on the Prah, who announced that one of the two 
Ashantee messengers had shot himself. 
This officer had shown both prisoners the bridge he 
had built over the Prah with casks, &ic., had made them 
observe the cannon and arms, and had added that when 
this bridge was ready an officer would be sent to the 
king with an ultimatum. One of them replied that the 
king would certainly kill such an ambassador, after 
which he became alarmed at the idea of having spoken 
injudiciously, and fearing he might be sent back to Coo- 
massie, shot himself. When the king heard this, he 
remarked, " It would not occur to me to kill such a 
fellow." He then put off further business till the next 
day. 
On the 9th we visited Bosommuru, and enquired if we 
were to be put in irons. He appeared astonished, and 
asked from whom we had heard this, adding that he 
would speak to the king about it. We begged him in any 
case to come and tell us himself, as we were accustomed 
to him. On the previous evening, the old Asare had 
ordered two Elminians to be bound, but they had been 
again set free, their landlord declaring that the king had 
given no such order. Everything was fluctuating and 
uncertain, and we clung yet more closely to our Eock of 
defence to save us. 
