On the eastern side of the fort two or three dozen negroes were engaged in filling canvas bags with sand, to be used in forming temporary embrasures.  One lad of eighteen, a dark mulatto, presented the very remarkable peculiarity of chest-nut hair, only slightly curling.  The others were nearly all of the true field-hand type, aboriginal black, with dull faces, short and thick forms, and an air of animal contentment or at least indifference.  They talked little, but giggled a great deal, snatching the canvas bags from each other, and otherwise showing their disbelief in the doctrine of all work and no play.  When the barrows were sufficiently filled to suit their weak ideal of a load, a procession of them set off along a plank causeway leading into the fort, observing a droll semblance of military precision and pomp, and forcing a passage through lounging unmilitary buckras with an air of, “Out of de way, Ole Dan Tucker!” We glanced at the yet unfinished ditch, half full of water, and walked on to the gateway.  A grinning, skipping negro drummer was showing a new pair of shoes to the tobacco-chewing, jovial youth who stood, or rather sat, sentinel.

“How’d you get hold of them?” asked the latter, surveying the articles admiringly.

“Got a special order frum the Cap’m fur ’um.  That ee way to do it.  Won’t wet through, no matter how it rain.  He, he!  I’m all right now.”

Here he showed ivory to his ears, cut a caper, and danced into the fort.

“D-a-m’ nig-ger!” grinned the sentinel, approvingly, looking at us to see if we also enjoyed the incident.  Thus introduced to the temporary guardian of the fort, we told him that we were from the Columbia, which he was glad to bear of, wanting to know if she was damaged, how she went ashore, whether she could get off, etc., etc.  He was a fair specimen of the average country Southerner, lounging, open to address, and fond of talk.

“I’ve no authority to let you in,” he said, when we asked that favor; “but I’ll call the corporal of the guard.”

“If you please.”

“Corporal of the guard!”

Appeared the corporal, who civilly heard us, and went for the lieutenant of the guard.  Presently a blonde young officer, with a pleasant face, somewhat Irish in character, came out to us, raising his forefinger in military salute.

“We should like to go into the fort, if it is proper,” I said.  “We ask hospitality the more boldly, because we are shipwrecked people.”

“It is against the regulations.  However, I venture to take the responsibility,” was the obliging answer.