"Yes," Stanley answered for himself. "I have been more than two
years in the province of Chittagong, and learned it from one who
was in our service."

"And would many of your people risk their lives in the way you did,
for a stranger?"

"Certainly. Many men constantly run risks as great to save others."

"One life is all a man has," the Burman said. "Why should he give
it for a stranger?"

"I don't think that we stop to think of that," Stanley said. "It
seems to us natural that if we see another in danger of his life,
we should try to save it; whether it is a man or woman, whether it
be from fire or from any other fate."

"You must be a strange people," the Burman said gravely, "and I
should scarce have credited it, had I not heard that you had done
it, yourself. But it is wonderful; and you, too, a lad who has not
yet come to his full strength.

"We should be glad to have such a man for our comrade, my friends.
Whether he be Burman or English matters little. He has risked his
life for one of us; and he is our brother as long as he likes to
stay with us."

There was a warm exclamation of assent, round the circle; and
Stanley felt that he had no cause for uneasiness, as long as he
remained with them. In the evening the men sang many songs and, at
their request, Stanley sang some English ones, choosing some with
lively airs. The Burmese were much pleased and surprised at these,
and joined merrily in the chorus.

Half a dozen of them then set to work with their knives, cut down
some saplings and boughs, and constructed for Stanley an arbour
similar to the others; and he lay down well satisfied with the
results of his adventure, and feeling that he could remain with
these merry fellows, criminals though they might be, until it would
be safe to make his way down the river.

In the morning the men started early, leaving him in charge of the
fire. They went off in parties of four or five, to watch the
various roads leading to the capital; two or three of them, dressed
as peasants, going to towns where travellers would halt, so as to
gain information as to any party coming down. When they gathered
again, at dusk, one party only had had any success. They had met
six merchants coming down with horses laden with spices, indigo,
and cotton. These had offered no resistance, and they had taken as
much as they could carry, and then allowed them to go on with the
rest of their goods. There was a general feeling of regret