"I will go and have a talk with them, presently. It will, of course, be necessary for me to disguise myself again."
Meinik nodded.
"Yes, you must do that, master."
"Do you think that we can get two or three men to go with us, from here?"
"If you will pay them, master, no doubt they will be ready to go. They are well content with the white rulers. They find that they are not oppressed, and everything is paid for; and that the white officers treat them kindly and well. They have lost many things, in this affair today, and would be glad to earn a little money.
"How many would you like to have?"
"Four or five, Meinik. I don't exactly know, at present, what there would be for them to do; but they could help to make fires, and keep watch, while we are doing something. At any rate, they may be useful.
"Of course, I shall get the trooper out, too, if I can. Very likely they will be confined together and, if we rescue one, we can of course rescue the other.
"Now I must do some writing. Get me a torch of some sort, and I will do it while you are speaking to the natives."
Stanley always carried a notebook and pen and ink, to take down statements and complaints, as he rode about. He now sat down and wrote an account of what had taken place during his absence.