As soon as the despatch was written, Stanley, after shaking hands with his companions, was also rowed to the horse barge.

This was, at a signal of the general, taken in tow by the steamer, and piloted to the opposite bank.

A boat, sounding ahead, presently found a spot where there was enough water for the barge to get alongside the bank.

The horses were led ashore; and Stanley, the two troopers, and Meinik mounted.
The Burmese are poor riders but, during the wet season, Stanley had often taken Meinik, on his spare horse, when riding about in the camp; partly because he could trust him to look after the horses carefully, and in the second place to accustom him to ride on horseback so as to act, if required, as an orderly.

Meinik was quite of opinion that there would be no risk, whatever, in passing through villages; but thought it probable that they might fall in with disbanded troops, as it was known that the land column had, soon after starting, captured the fort of Mophi; and that its garrison, between two and three thousand strong, had taken to the jungle and dispersed.
"Still, master," he said, "I don't think it likely that they will attack us.