They were received with great joy, the villagers setting up a shout of welcome--the friends of the men and boys being especially exuberant in their joy, for they had become extremely anxious at their long absence.

The two troopers were still there; and these saluted Stanley, with less than the usual stiff formality of the Mohammedan soldier.
He himself laughed.
"I don't look much like a British officer, at present," he said, in their language.

"Well, has everything been quiet here ?" "Yes, sahib.

A sowar brought us orders, from the general, to remain here; and to send at once, if we heard any news of you.

We sent off one of the villagers, when the man came back to fetch the others, and said that you had good hopes of getting Lieutenant Brooke sahib out of the hands of the Burmese." "I will write a note," Stanley said.