From what you say, a considerable proportion of the fellows you met up there were Assamese levies, raised by the Burmese.

I grant that the Burmese, themselves, do not seem to have done much better; but they would never have conquered all the peoples they have come across, and built up a great empire, if there had not been good fighting stuff in them.

I have no doubt that we shall thrash them, but I don't think we shall do it as easily as our troops did in the north." The time now passed pleasantly with Stanley.

He had, after thinking it over, declined to accept payment for his services; for this would have hindered his freedom of action, and prevented his obeying any instructions that his uncle might send him.

He therefore joined as a volunteer interpreter, and was made a member of the officers' mess.