Stanley carried a bundle with his other clothes, and several pounds of rice.
Two days' walking took them to Meinik's village.

Once out of the forest they travelled at night, and reached the village just as the people were astir.

The place consisted of ten or twelve huts, and Meinik created quite an excitement among the few people who inhabited it.

These consisted of two or three old men, some women, and children.
"Where have you been for the last year and half, Meinik, if I may ask ?" "Working near Ava," he said; "but as I should have to go to war if I had remained there, I thought that I would come back, and see how you all were.

I have saved a little money, and may settle down; but whether here or elsewhere I have not yet made up my mind." "You will have to go to the war," one of the old men said.