‘You are very kind to say so, and I am emboldened to ask you if I could not offer myself to you for the Abyssinian expedition.’ ‘I do not think this Abyssinian expedition is of sufficient interest to Americans, but on what terms would you go?’ ‘Either as a special at a moderate salary, or by letter. Of course, if you pay me by the letter, I should reserve the liberty to write occasional letters to other papers.’ ‘We do not like to share our news that way; but we would be willing to pay well for exclusive intelligence. Have you ever been abroad before?’ ‘Oh, yes. I have travelled in the East, and been to Europe several times.’ ‘Well, how would you like to do this on trial? Pay your own expenses to Abyssinia, and if your letters are up to the standard, and your intelligence is early and exclusive, you shall be well paid by the letter, or at the rate by which we engage our European specials, and you will be placed on the permanent list.’ ‘Very well, Sir. I am at your service, any way you like.’ ‘When do you intend to start?’ ‘On the 22nd, by the steamer “Hecla.”’ ‘That is the day after to-morrow. Well, consider it arranged. Just wait a moment while I write to our agent in London.’ In a few minutes he had placed in my hands a letter to ‘Colonel Finlay Anderson, Agent of the “New York Herald,” The Queen’s Hotel, St. Martin’s Le Grand, London’; and thus I became what had been an object of my ambition, a regular, I hope, correspondent of the ‘New York Herald.’ On the 22nd, in the morning, I received letters of introduction from Generals Grant and Sherman, which I telegraphed for, and they probably will be of some assistance among the military officers on the English expedition. A few hours later, the mail steamer left. I had taken a draft on London for three hundred pounds, and had left the remainder in the bank. * * * * *