, when
it came. It would be very improbable that she would see the
gazette, with the list of killed and wounded at Ramoo and, even if
she did so, she would not associate the death of Ensign Brooke in
any way with you. When we have been trading up country, there have
been, once or twice, no means of sending off a letter for a couple
of months and, therefore, she could not have begun to feel
seriously anxious about you before she received your letter from
Rangoon.

"Everyone says that you will not be able to advance until February;
so that, no doubt, this letter will reach you long before you
leave. I hear the losses have been very heavy, from fever; but I am
not anxious about you on that score, for I think that you are
thoroughly acclimatised. I am trying to get a contract for the
supply of a couple of thousand bullocks, for the use of the army;
and as I know all the country so well, from Chittagong to Sylhet,
and can buy below Indian prices, I think that I shall not only get
the contract, but make a very good thing of it, and it may lead to
other matters."

After this, Stanley was hardly surprised when, in the last week of
January, his uncle walked into his quarters. After the first
pleasure of meeting was over, Stanley said:

"I suppose you have got the contract, uncle?"

"I have, lad. I have come down from Ramgur with six dhows, packed
full. I have brought a thousand head down and, directly I land
them, am going back for the remainder; which will be ready for me
by the time I get there.

"I have got hold of an uncommonly good fellow. He was established
as a small trader at Chittagong. His business was ruined there, and
he was glad to accept my offer of a berth; and he has turned out a
very energetic and pushing fellow. He will come down with the next
consignment.

"I myself am going to work my way up along the edge of the Tipperah
forest; and shall pick up another thousand head, by the time that I
get to the Goomtee, and shall send them by water up to Sylhet; and
then go up by land, picking up more on the way. I have a contract
for five thousand to be sent in, a thousand a month, for the force
that is to move against Manipur; while Johnson is to send another
two thousand down here. So you see, for the present the store
business can wait. It is a good line that I have got into. I shall
make a big profit out of it, and have hopes that it will be, to
some extent, permanent; for I can get the cattle so cheap in