Wemountedsomestonestepsoverthisportalandweremetbyayoungmarine，wholefthisGatlinggunforamomenttoaskforourpermit，andthenwentbacksatisfied.Thenwefoundourselvesinthepresenceofasentrywitharifleonhisshoulder，whowasrathermoreexacting.
Still，heonlywishedtobeconvinced，andwhenhehadpointedouttheheadquarterswherewewerenexttogo，heletusoverhisbeat.Attheheadquarterstherewasanothersentry，equallyserious，butequallycivil，andwiththeinterventionofanorderlyourleadersawtheofficeroftheday.Hecameoutofthequarterslookingratherblank，forhehadlearnedthathispassadmittedourpartytothelines，butnottothestockade，whichwemightapproach，atacertainpointofvantageandlookoverinto，butnotpenetrate.Weresignedourselves，aswemust，andmadewhatwecouldofthenearestprisonbarrack，whosedooroverflowedandwhosewindowsswarmedwithswarthycaptives.Heretheywere，atsuchclosequartersthattheirblack，eagereyeseasilypiercedthepocketsfullofcigaretteswhichwehadbroughtforthem.Theylookedmostlyveryyoung，andtherewasonesmilingrogueatthefirstwindowwhowasobviouslypreparedtocatchanythingthrowntohim.Hecaught，infact，thefirstboxofcigarettesshiedoverthestockade;thenextboxflewopen，andspilleditspreciouscontentsoutsidethedead—lineunderthewindow，whereIhopesomecompassionateguardgatheredthemupandgavethemtothecaptives.
Ourfellowslookedcapableofanykindnesstotheirwardsshortoflettingthemgo.Theywereamostfriendlycompany，withaneffectofpicnickingthereamongthesweet—fernandblueberries，wheretheyhadpitchedtheirwoodententswithaslittledisturbancetotheshrubberyaspossible.Theywereverypolitetous，andwhen，afterthatmisadventurewiththecigarettes（Ihadputouryoungleaderuptothrowingthebox，merelysupplyingthecorpusdelictimyself），IwanderedvaguelytowardsaGatlinggunplantedonanearthenplatformwherethelaurelandthedogroseshadbeencutawayforit，themaninchargeexplainedwithasmileofapologythatImustnotpassacertainpathIhadalreadycrossed.
OnealwaysacceptstheapologiesofamanwithaGatlingguntobackthem，andIretreated.Thatseemedtheend;andweweregoingcrestfallenlyawaywhentheofficerofthedaycameoutandallowedustomakehisacquaintance.Hepermittedus，withlaughingreluctance，tolearnthathehadbeeninthefightatSantiago，andhadcomewiththeprisoners，andhewasmostobliginglysorrythatourpermitdidnotletusintothestockade.IsaidIhadsomecigarettesfortheprisoners，andIsupposedImightsendthem;in，buthesaidhecouldnotallowthis，fortheyhadmoneytobuytobacco;andheansweredanotherofourparty，whohadnotasoulabovebuttons，andwhoaskedifshecouldgetonefromtheSpaniards，thatsofarfrompromotingherwish，hewouldhavebeenobligedtotakeawayanybuttonsshemighthavegotfromthem.
\"Thefactis，\"heexplained，\"you\'vecometothewrongendfortransactionsinbuttonsandtobacco.\"