280 MISSIONARY LIFE IN ASEANTEE. 
carry us from Coomassieto some hiding place in the interior. 
Certainly we hardly looked like people who had just ob- 
tained their sentence of hberty, and yet such was the case. 
The messengers now received their instructions. Mr. 
Dawson was commissioned to go home, and prepare a 
letter which was to be signed by the interpreter. Then 
the king asked when we thought of starting. " As soon 
as possible after you have dismissed us, in fact to-day," 
was our answer. " Very well," he said, " get ready to 
start this evening. You shall meet the general at Fo- 
mana." We could scarcely believe the words ; full many 
a misgiving cooled our little gleam of hope. 
When we told the news on our arrival at home, my 
wife could not believe the truth of it. Still we 
began to pack. We had been ready to do so a week 
before, for we did not know where we might be dragged 
at any moment, and even now we were left to conjecture 
whither we might be conveyed. The Fantees, Akras, 
and Akwapems were much depressed, feeling that they 
would henceforth be bereft of the slight protection our 
presence afforded, though of course we promised that if 
ever we did see the general, we should plead their cause. 
Hope and fear alternated while the time passed, we 
packed, planning meanwhile, and weighing the possi- 
bilities which lay before us. Our comfort was in the 
nearness of the Lord. Led by Him, we felt that we could 
go through anything. 
About four o'clock a report reached us that Owusu 
Kokoo was approaching with the presents, and people 
entered our yard, bearing the king's parting salutation. 
For Mr. B. and myself there were valuable native cos- 
tumes, and thirty dollars. A silk dress for my wife, with 
eighteen dollars, and nine dollars for Kosie. We not 
only regarded it a pleasure to receive remembrances from 
Coomassie, but these tokens also reassured us to the 
