We were just rolling up our mats after morning prayers on the following day when an unmelodious jabber from the woods announced the approach of travellers, and shortly afterwards my late companions appeared round the bend of the road headed by David Annan. The latter paused to exchange greetings, which were cool enough on the part of the Hausas, and I noticed my big friend scanning the row of carriers with a frown of curiosity. “Where is the Anazára (Nazarene) who was with thee yesterday?” he asked, looking Annan full in the face. “The way was too rough for him,” replied the latter with some confusion, “so he turned back towards the sea.” “Alone?” inquired Dan-jiwa. “He went alone. It is not far to Pra-su,” said Annan. “I see that he has left with thee the box that he carried,” remarked Musa suspiciously. “And thou hast burst open the lock,” added Dam-Bornu; for my trunk, which the wounded carrier had resumed, was now closed with a band of tie-tie. “He burst it himself. He had lost the key, and so broke open the box that he might take his goods with him.” Then noting the undisguised incredulity on the faces of his hearers Annan added excitedly, “I swear it by my busum, by the great Busum-Pra. Look in my face and see if I speak not the truth,” and he stared insolently at Abduláhi. “We like better to look at thy back, friend,” replied Musa drily, and turned away to tie up his mat, while the discomfitted Annan resumed his journey. We travelled on that day, with few halts, until sunset, and passed through three villages, all of which were deserted, and one partially burned; but at each of them we managed to collect a few plantains from the grove outside the clearing, as well as some papaws, the sickly-sweet flavour of which seemed to be much appreciated by my comrades. We also passed two groups of decapitated corpses, the heads of which had been carried off to decorate the war drums of the victors, and as we camped at night not far from one of these melancholy relics, we were greatly disturbed by the hyænas, whose mournful howls, mingled with imbecile laughter, made it seem as though the forest was tenanted by devils. Early on the following morning we turned off the main road and took a by-path that led north of Kókofu through Juábin, some distance to the east of Kumasi; for Musa considered it highly unsafe to venture into the vicinity of either Bekwe or Kumasi in the present state of the country. We thus gradually drew away from the active centres of warfare, and on the third day passed through a village on the borders of Juábin, where we were greeted by the welcome sight of a woman pounding fufu in a wooden mortar. We were not yet free, however, from war’s alarms, for, later in the day, a body of some twenty or thirty warriors filed swiftly and silently past us, and not long after, a tremendous fusillade in the bush, accompanied by a Babel of shouts and yells, told us that they had met their foe.