blish myself,
for a time, at Martaban; and open a trade in Tenasserim. If I
decide on that, I shall only get on shore a portion of my goods,
and take the rest on with me there.

"Now, what are you going to do, Stanley?"

"Just what you think best, uncle. I should have thought that, as I
speak the language, it would be better for me to go on to Martaban;
and for you to work Chittagong, and the district up to Assam."

"Then you are going to stay with me, lad!" his uncle exclaimed, in
a tone of much satisfaction. "I was afraid that you would have got
so fond of soldiering that you would have thrown this over,
altogether."

"Not a bit of it, uncle. I am on three months' leave at present
and, at the end of that time, I shall resign. You know I am a
captain, now--that is to say, that I have got my rank by death
vacancies, though until the Gazette comes out from England, I can
hardly be said to be a pucka captain; and, what is more, the
general himself assured me that, after being mentioned in
despatches two or three times, and at his strong commendation of my
services, I was sure of the brevet rank of major."

His uncle took off his hat, gravely.

"I must apologize to you," he said, "for addressing you as 'lad.' I
had no idea that you were a full-grown captain, still less that you
might soon be a major."

"I don't care a snap for the title, uncle," Stanley said, laughing,
"except that it may be an advantage to me, in places where there
are garrisons; and indeed, generally where there are white
officials."

"A very great advantage, Stanley.

"Well, lad, I have been coining money, since I saw you at Rangoon.
I have been sending a consignment of bullocks down there, every
week; and have done almost as much with the Manipur force. I have
also got the contract regularly, now, for the supply of the troops
at Calcutta. Other trade has, of course, been at a standstill. Now
that everything has quieted down, there will be a perfect rush; and
I have been sorely troubled, in my mind, whether it would be best
to stay up here and take advantage of it, or to be one of the first
to open trade at these new ports. Of course, if you are ready to
take Martaban, that will decide me; and I shall take passage in the
first ship going up to Chittagong. My own boat and the dhow are
both there, and I shall at once work up all the rivers, and set
things going again.

"I have a capital fellow, a native, who is carrying on the cattle
busin