We walked about the town and fortifications until dinner-time, and then we proceeded to the barracks.

The dinner was very good, and we were all very merry; but after the dessert had been brought in, I slipped away with a young ensign, who took me all over the galleries, and explained everything to me, which was a much better way of employing my time than doing as the others did, which the reader will acknowledge.

I was at the sally-port before gun-fire--the boat was there, but no officers made their appearance.

The gun fired, the drawbridge was hauled up, and I was afraid that I should be blamed; but the boat was not ordered to shove off, as it was waiting for commissioned officers.

About an hour afterwards, when it was quite dark, the sentry pointed his arms and challenged a person advancing with, "Who comes there ?"--"Naval officer, drunk on a wheelbarrow," was the reply, in a loud singing voice.