"Of course, after once having wandered about in the forest, painted up like a nigger, you feel cheerful under almost any circumstances; but for us who have been cooped up, doing nothing, in this beastly place, it is impossible to look at things cheerfully." "Have you heard that the enemy are going to attack, on Tuesday or Wednesday night ?" "No!" the other exclaimed, with a sudden animation.

"The general only came in a quarter of an hour ago and, as he had the two bigwigs with him, of course I did not speak to him.

Is it certain?
How did you hear it ?" "It is quite certain--that is, unless the Burmese change their mind, which is not likely.

The princes want to celebrate the great annual festival at the pagoda, on Friday; and so the Invulnerables are going, as they think, to capture it either on Tuesday or Wednesday night.

I have just been up there to tell the colonel.
"As to your other question--how did I learn it--I got it, or rather my Burman did, from that prisoner we were questioning this morning.
He would not say anything then; but my man got round him and, believing that he was a spy, or something of that kind, the prisoner told him all about it." "Are they only going to attack at the pagoda ?" "That I cannot say; that is the only point that the man mentioned.
I should say that it would only be there." "Why should it only be there ?" "Because I should imagine that even the Burmese must be beginning to doubt whether they could defeat our whole force and, as they particularly wish to occupy the pagoda on Friday, they would hardly risk an attack on other points, which might end in disaster while, what with the propitious nature of the day, and the fact that the Invulnerables have undertaken to capture the pagoda, no doubt they look upon that as certain." "I suppose that you are right, Brooke.