The governor met them at the gate.
"You will pardon my not descending to meet you below," he said, "but I am not so young as I used to be, and the journey up and down fatigues me much." Dick and Surajah dismounted, and the former presented the two documents.

The governor, after reading the pass, bowed, and led the way into the interior of the fort; and they were soon seated on a divan in his quarters, when he read the circular letter.
"I am glad indeed," he said, when he had finished, "that the sultan is pleased to take into consideration the many demands I have made for cannon and ammunition.

A large number of the pieces are past service, and they would be as dangerous to those who fired them as to those at whom they were aimed; while I have scarcely powder enough to furnish three rounds for each.

As to the defences, I have done my best to strengthen them.

Idleness is bad for all men, most of all for soldiers, and I have kept them well employed at repairing the effects of the English fire.