Supposing that the two figures approaching were Burmese deserters, they did not fire; and Stanley and his companion were soon among them.
They were soldiers of one of the Bengal regiments; and Stanley, to their surprise, addressed them in their own language.
"I am an Englishman," he said.

"I am one of the prisoners whom they took, at Ramoo, and have escaped from their hands.

Are there any of your officers in the village ?" "I will take you to them," a native sub-officer said; and Stanley, in a minute or two, entered a cottage in which four English officers were just taking their early breakfast, preparatory to turning out on duty.
"Whom have you got here, jemadar ?" one of them asked, in Bengalee.
Stanley answered for himself.
"I am an Englishman, sir, and have just escaped from Ava." The officer uttered an exclamation of surprise.
"Well, sir," the senior of them said, as he held out his hand to Stanley, "I congratulate you on having got away, whoever you are; but I am bound to say that, if it were not for your speech, I should not have believed you; for I have never seen anyone look less like an Englishman than you do." "My name is Stanley Brooke, sir.

I am the son of the late Captain Brooke, of the 15th Native Regiment." "Then I should know you," one of the other officers said, "for I knew your father; and I remember seeing your name in the list of officers killed, at Ramoo, and wondered if it could be the lad I knew five or six years ago." "I recollect you, Captain Cooke," Stanley said.

"Your regiment was at Agra, when we were there." "Right you are; and I am heartily glad that the news of your death was false," and he shook hands cordially with Stanley.
"And who is your companion ?" the major asked.