"'A very good plan, but not quite identical with that of the white chief. There is only one plan in his mind, and that is to go forward, and this plan must be carried out by all. He has in his hand a repeating rifle which fires fourteen shots. When the regiment begins its retirement, he will go to the head of it and will shoot at each man as he comes by. Fourteen corpses will suffice to block up the path. And now any who like to go back on these conditions can do so; the gun is already loaded. Those who like to go forward to get their chop at the next halting-place can move on. Those who like to sit where they are can do so till it is their turn to be tied to a tree, to get a dozen lashes, commencing with this gentleman.' Loads are taken up, and in a moment the whole force goes laughing and singing on the forward path. [Illustration: Portrait of King Prempeh.] "On through the deep, dark aisles, still foggy with the morning mist and wet with the dripping dew. Twisting and turning, now up, now down, clambering over giant tree-roots or splashing through the sucking mud--all in moist and breathless heat, till, tired and dripping, we reach the next site for a camp. Two hours' rest for mid-day chop, and then parade. More delays, more excuses, and at last every man has his tool issued to him, and every company has its work assigned to it. No. 1 to clear the bush. No. 2 to cut stockade posts. No. 3 to cut palm-leaf wattle. No. 4 to dig stockade holes. No. 5 to mount sentries and prevent men hiding in huts; and so on, till every one is at work. We lay out the plan and trace of the fort that is to be built, and of the huts that are to form the camp. "'Hallo! where are the hole-diggers?' "'They have retired to have some chop.' "'Chop? they've only just finished two hours of chop.' "'Yes--but the white chief works them so hard that they have big appetites.' "'They--and you, their chief--will all be fined a day's pay.' "'Yes, well, the white man is powerful. Still, we prefer that to not having our chop. Many thanks.' "'Oh, but you'll have to work as well. See this little instrument? That's a hunting-crop. Come, I'll show you how it can be used. I'll begin on you, my friend!' "No need to. They all fly to their work. Then you go round. Every company in turn is found sitting down, or eye-serving. "'Down with that tree, my lad--you with the felling-axe! Not know how to use it?' "For three days I felled trees myself, till I found that I could get the tree felled equally well by merely showing the cracker of the hunting-crop. The men had loved to see me work. The crop came to be called 'Volapük,' because it was understood by every tribe. But, though often shown, it was never used. "The bush-clearing company are sitting down, not a yard of bush cut. 'Why?' "'Oh, we are fishermen by occupation, and don't know anything about bush-cutting.'