Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 12, 2025
On the way, Stanley had spoken to the two guards, thanked them for their service, and assured them that they would receive the reward promised by Meinik. "I am the British officer," he said, "who was at the village with my friend, though I was absent when he was carried off. As you see, I am disguised."
Notwithstanding this and other, as successful, attacks upon their stockades, the Burmese troops now felt confident that, with their numerous forces, they would be victorious whenever the astrologers decided that the favourable moment had arrived. Meinik had ascertained, from the villagers, the name of the leader and the locality to which the corps belonged that was posted nearest to Rangoon.
When Stanley and Meinik had again examined the obstacle, the latter retired; and the Burmans, one by one, came up and looked at it. "What do you think of it?" Stanley asked them. "It would be dangerous to touch it, my lord," one of them said. "If only one stone moved out from its place, it would be death to us all.
"How many miles is it from here, do you think?" Meinik went over to the natives and asked the question. "About forty-five miles, they say; very bad travelling; all mountains, but ten miles to the north is a road that runs straight there." "Then we had better follow that, Meinik. In this broken country, and forest, we should be losing our way continually." "How will you go, master?
"I am sure that it would be a good thing for them, Meinik. The people of India are a great deal better off, under us, than they were under their native rulers. There is a fixed tax, and no one is allowed to charge more, or to oppress the people in any way. "But now we must be going. I said that I would be back at the place we started from, in half an hour."
Meinik, the trooper, and one of the Burmese were to form the first line; the four other Burmese were to stand behind, with their spears, between the men in front; the two guards with their muskets, and the boys were to act as a reserve.
"I should think that there must be some way out of this place, Meinik. Why should they have taken the trouble to cut that long flight of steps through the rock, just to reach this miserable little chamber?" Meinik shook his head. The ways of these ancient builders were beyond him. "There must be an outlet somewhere, if we could but find it. Besides, we have not found where the snake came in, yet."
"I will gladly keep you with me, Meinik, if you are willing to stay; and I am sure that you will be better off, here, than out in the woods, and a good deal safer. At any rate, stay until after your people make their next attack. You will see then how useless it is for them to fight against us.
Meinik, after picketing the animals, returned to Stanley but, seeing that the latter was pacing up and down, and evidently not disposed to speak, he went away. There were a good many fowls walking about, in a bewildered way, near the huts.
Most people have such a thing, for it is wanted for cutting firewood, for clearing the ground, for building houses, and for many other things; and a Burman must be poor, indeed, who does not own one." "By all means, then, get them for us, Meinik; besides, we may find them useful for ourselves."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking