Evidently news had been sent round, and the inhabitants of many villages now poured in, to share in the attack upon the white men.
"It is useless for us to think of going farther, at present," Lisle said.

"They will be mustering thickly all round our force, and I expect we shall have some stiff fighting to do, before we get back to camp--I mean the column, of course; as for ourselves, the matter is quite uncertain.

We may be sure, however, that they won't be making any search in the bush and, as even in the Ashanti country you cannot go through the bush, unless you cut a path, it will be sheer accident if they come across us.

At any rate, we may as well move slowly on, doing a little cutting only when the path seems deserted.

If we keep some forty or fifty yards from it, so as to be able to hear any parties going along, and to make sure that they are moving in our direction, that is all we can do.
"Of course, everything will depend upon the result of the fight with the column.