ard and forced an entrance into it; although
the enemy resisted with more resolution than they had, for some
time, shown. 280 prisoners were taken, and the rest of the
defenders fled to the second work.

Two more guns and four mortars were landed and placed in position
and, after the stockades had been shelled for a short time, a
storming party--under Captain Rose--advanced to the assault. So
heavy a fire was opened upon them that the little column was
brought to a standstill, and forced to fall back; with the loss of
its commander, and of Captain Cannon of the 89th, while most of the
seamen with the storming party were either killed or wounded.

This want of success, against a mere outwork, showed General Cotton
that--with the small force at his disposal--it would be worse than
useless to renew the attack for, were the outwork carried, the loss
would be so great that it would be hopeless to think of attacking
Bandoola's main position. He therefore determined to abstain from
further attack, until reinforced.

"Now, Mr. Brooke," he said, as soon as the troops had been taken on
board the boats again, "I must bring your services into
requisition. This is just the contingency that we thought might
possibly occur. I cannot advance up the river until Donabew is
taken, and I cannot attack the place with the force at my command.
Therefore I will at once write a despatch to General Campbell, for
you to carry. You will be accompanied by the two men of the
bodyguard, who have come with me as orderlies. I shall have no use
for them, here; and three of you, together, need not fear any
molestation from the few people remaining in their villages, and
may be able to cut your way through any of the bands of deserters,
or beaten troops, dispersed over the country."

"Very well, General. I shall also take my Burman, on my second
charger. He may be useful in getting news as to roads from the
natives; who will, as likely as not, fly into the jungle when they
see us approaching. However, there is not much fear of our losing
our way, as it will be along the river, as far as Tharawa."

A boat was at once sent off to the craft carrying the two orderlies
and the horses of the staff. As soon as the despatch was written,
Stanley, after shaking hands with his companions, was also rowed to
the horse barge. This was, at a signal of the general, taken in tow
by the steamer, and piloted to the opposite bank. A boat, sounding
ahead, presently fou