ir, that my news is not good. Here is the
brigadier's despatch."

"This is unfortunate, indeed," the general said, when he had run
his eye over the document.

"Mr. Tollemache, please to ride along the line, and say that the
column is not to get into motion until further orders."

Colonel Adair and the other officers of the staff had been on the
point of mounting, when Stanley rode up. The general called two or
three of the senior officers to him.

"Cotton can neither take Donabew, nor get past it," he said. "Here
is his despatch. You see, he has lost several officers and a good
many men; and that in the assault on an outlying work, only. I am
afraid that there is nothing for us to do, but go back to his
assistance."

"I am afraid not, sir," Colonel Adair said. "Our supplies are
running short already and, you see, we decided upon filling up all
the carts at Tharawa, where we made sure that we should be met by
the boats. The country round here has been completely stripped, and
it would be a very serious matter to endeavour to advance to Prome,
without supplies. Moreover, we might expect a much more serious
resistance than we have bargained for. The news that Bandoola has
repulsed his assailants--and you may be sure that this has been
exaggerated into a great victory--will restore the spirit of the
Burmese. It is evident that we must turn back, and finish off with
Bandoola before we advance further."

Orders were accordingly sent, to the officers commanding the
various corps, that the column was to retrace its steps and, while
they passed through the village, Stanley related, in much greater
detail than had been given in the despatch, the events of the
attack, and the nature of the defences at Donabew.

The troops marched along with a cheerful mien. It was, of course,
an annoyance to have to plod back along the road they had before
traversed but, upon the other hand, there was a general
satisfaction that they were, after all, to take part in the capture
of Bandoola's last stronghold.

Colonel Adair rode on with the little troop of cavalry. He was to
push forward to Tharawa, and was to offer rewards to the natives
there for every boat brought in. There was little doubt that many
of the fishermen had hauled up their craft into clumps of bushes
and brush wood, to prevent their being requisitioned by Bandoola
and, although it was not likely that a large number would now be
obtained, yet even if but a dozen were fou