I served in the Mug levy, and was appointed for my knowledge of their tongue." "How is it that you come to speak our language ?" Bandoola asked, in surprise.
"I am a trader, your lordship, but when our trade was put an end to, by the outbreak of the war, I entered the army to serve until peace was made.

I learned the language from a servant in the service of my uncle, whose assistant I was." The Burmese general was capable of acts of great cruelty, when he considered it necessary; but at other times was kindly and good natured.
"He is but a lad," he said to one of his officers, "and he seems a bold young fellow.

He would be useful as an interpreter to me, for we shall want to question his countrymen when we make them all prisoners.

However, we must send him with the others to Ava, as he is the only officer that we have taken; but I will send a message to some of my friends, at the court, asking them to represent that I consider he will be useful to me; and praying that he may be kept for a time and treated well, and may be forwarded to me, again, when I make my next move against the English." The following day the prisoners started under the escort of twenty soldiers, commanded by an officer of some rank, who was specially charged to take them safely to Ava.

It was a fortnight's march to the Irrawaddy.