A Narrow Escape 
was really a part of Abeokuta, many people 
having homes in both places, living in either as 
their business required. About four o’clock one 
afternoon, while sitting in the back piazza of the 
mission house, I noticed great masses of black 
smoke boiling up from beneath the western 
horizon. Soon I heard something which seemed 
to be a prolonged moan coming from the Es- 
hagga gate of the city about four miles away. 
This sound increased in volume and pitch, like 
the roaring of a mighty wind, until it spread left 
and right all over the city and all around me, 
and I found that it was a wail of loud lamenta¬ 
tion coming from the women and children. 
Then one of the female converts rushed into the 
house screaming, “ Dahomee! Dahomee!” Her 
countenance was distorted and her eyes were 
literally protruding with terror. Rushing out 
and calling upon all the women and children to 
stay where they were until I returned, 1 ran to 
the great rock in the centre of the town and took 
a view of the situation. 
The whole city was in a tremendous stir and 
uproar. Thousands were rushing to the walls 
and thousands of resolute men already lined the 
walls on the Eshagga side for many miles and 
the line was made bright by the glitter of 
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