All were laughing and chatting merrily.

There were even troops of young girls, of from ten to fifteen years old, who were to carry parcels of less weight than their brothers.
Two officers were moving about, seeing that all went on regularly; and a number of men were bringing the burdens out from the storehouse, and ranging them in lines, ready for the women to take up.
The district commissioner, who was in charge of the old castle, received Lisle and his companions cordially; and invited them, when the day's work was over, to dine with him.

Rooms were placed at their disposal.
As soon as this was done they went down to the beach, and superintended the landing of the men and stores, which was carried on until nightfall.

Then, when the last boat load was landed, they came up to dinner.
After a hearty meal, one of them said: "We shall be glad, sir, if you will tell us what has been happening here.

All we know is that the fort of Coomassie is surrounded, and that we have come up to relieve it." "It is difficult to give you anything like an accurate account," the officer said, "for so many lying rumours have come down, that one hardly knows what to believe.