tting a
breach of duty. But if so, and you feel that you cannot, under the
circumstances in which you are placed, grant leave to an officer to
be absent on private business, I inclose a formal resignation of my
commission, stating why I feel myself constrained, even in the
presence of the enemy, to endeavour to rescue my cousin from the
band that has carried him off. At any rate, it could not be said
that I resigned in order to shirk danger.

"I sent off two days ago, by one of the natives here, a report of
my proceedings up to that date; and have now the honour to inclose
the notes I took of my investigations, today, into the conduct of
the headman of Pilboora, and my reasons for depriving him of his
office. I shall leave the two troopers of my escort here, with
orders to remain until either I return, or they receive
instructions from Prome. I am taking a few of the villagers with
me. Should anything occur to me, at Toungoo, they will bring back
the news to the troopers; and I shall leave instructions with them
to carry it, at once, to you. If I find that Mr. Brooke has been
sent on to Ava I shall, of course, follow and endeavour to effect
his rescue on the road.

"As it is possible, General, that I may not have another
opportunity of thanking you for the many kindnesses that you have
shown me, allow me to do so, most heartily, now."

When Stanley had concluded the letter, and written the paper
offering his resignation, and giving his reasons for so doing, he
called Meinik to him.

"Well, Meinik, have you found men willing to go with us?"

"Yes, master, I have got five men; two of them know Toungoo well.
All are stout fellows. I offered them the terms that you
mentioned--fifty ounces of silver, to each man, if you succeeded by
their aid in rescuing the officer. They were delighted at the
offer, which would enable them to replace everything that they have
lost.

"I told them, of course, that if it were necessary to fight, they
would have to do so; and that, as many of their countrymen were
enlisted, as gun lascars and in other occupations, with the
English; and are, of course, exposed to the attacks of their
countrymen, they would only be doing what others have been willing
to do.

"They said that they were ready enough to fight. You were the
government, now; and you were a good government, and they would
fight for you and, besides, as the officer was carried off from
their village, it was their duty to help