Having served as a volunteer, taken part in a severe action, and having been wounded and imprisoned, you had almost a right to a commission.

After dinner, I hope that you will give us all a full account of your adventures; it was but a very slight sketch that I heard from you, this morning." The general then introduced Stanley to the other members of his staff.
"If you had seen him as I saw him, this morning," he said, with a smile, "you certainly would not recognize him now.

He was naked to the waist, and had nothing on but the usual peasant attire of a piece of black cloth, reaching to his knees.

I knew, of course, that the question of costume would soon be got over; but I own that I did not think that I should be able to employ him, for some little time.

Not only was his stain a great deal darker than it is now, but he was thickly tattooed up to the eyes, and one could hardly be sending messages by an aide-de-camp so singular in appearance; but I see that, somehow, he has entirely got rid of the tattoo marks; and his skin is now very little, if at all, darker than that of many of us, so that I shall be able to put him in harness at once." After dinner was over and cigars lighted, Stanley told his story as before, passing over lightly the manner in which he had gained the friendship of the Burman.