The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-02-03

So ess-~s@1.1
alan at once held q pistol In his face.
Alan and ! sat down to breakfast
about six of the clock. The floor was
covered with broken glass and in hor-
rid mess of blood, which took away my
hunger. In all other ways we were in d
situation not only agreeable, but merry,
having ousted the officers from their
own cabin, and having at command all
the drink in the ship-both wine and
spirits-and all the dainty part of what
was eatable, such as the pickles and the
fine sort of biscuit. This of itself was
enough to set us in good humor, but the
richest part of it was this, that the two
thirstiest men that ever came out of
Scotland, M. Shuan being dead, were
now shut in the fore part of the ship
and condemned to what they hated
most-cold water.
"And depend upon it," Alan said, tive
shall hear more of them ere long. We
may keep man from the fighting, but
never from his bottle"
We made good company for each
other. Alan indeed expressed himself
most lovingly, and taking a knife from
the table cut me off one Of the silver but
tons from his coat.
81 had Them" says he, 'from my fa-
ther, Duncan Stewart, and now give We
one of them to be keepsake for last
nig,.os work. And wherever We go and
show that button the friends of Alan
Breck will come around you"
He said this as if he had been Charlie
magne and commanded armies, and in
deed, much as l admired his courage,
was always in danger of smiling at his
vanity; in danger, say, for had l not
kept my countenance l would be afraid
to think what quarrel might have fol-
lowed.
AS soon rs we were through with our
meal he rummaged in the captains
locker till he found clothes brush, and
then taking off his coat began to visit
his suit and brush away tAe stains with
such care and labor as l supposed to be
only usual with women. To be sure he
had no other, and besides, as he said, it
belonged to king and so behooved to
be royalty looked after.
For al that, when / saw what care he
took to pull out the threads where tho
button had been cut away, l put a
higher value on his gift
He was still so engaged when we werc
hailed by Mr.. Riach from the deck, ask
ing for u parley, and l climbing through
the skylight and sitting on the edge Of
it, pistol in hand and with bold front.
though inwardly in fear Of broken glass,
hailed him back again and babe him
speak ont.
This is u bad job" said he at last,
shaking his head.
1T was none of our choosing" said |.
"The captain" says he, would like
to speak with your friend. They might
speak at the window"
"And how do we know what treachery
he means? cried |.
"He means none, David" returned
Mr.. Riach; land if he did, I'll tell we
the honest truth, we could nae get the
men to follow"
els that so:" said l.
"I'll tell ye more than that" said he.
"Its not only the men; it's me. I'm
fricb'ened, Davie." And he smiled
across at me. NO" he continued,
"what we want is to be shut Of him."
Thereupon consulted with Alan, and
the parley was agreed to and parole
given upon either side; but this was not
the whole of Mr.. Riach's business, and
he now begged me for dram with such
instancy and such reminders of his
former kindness that at last handed
him pannilsin with about gill of
brandy. He drank part, and then car
ried the rest down upon the deck to
share it, suppose, with his superior.
A little after the captain came, as was
agreed, to one of the windows, and stood
there in the rain, with his arm in sling,
and looking stern and pale and so old
that my heart smote mo for having fired
dpon him.
Alan at once held pistol in his face
"Put that thing up!' said the captain.
"Have 1 not passed my word, sir, or do
you seek to affront me?"
Captain" said Alan, II doubt your
word is breakable. Last night we hag-
gled and argyle bargled like an apple
wife, and then passed me your word.
and gave me your hand to back it, and
we ken very well what was the upshot.
Be damned to your word!" says he.
swell, well, sir" said the captain.
"yell get little good by swearing"
(And truly that was fault of which the
captain was quite free.) "But we have
other things to speak," he continued
bitterly. "Ye've made sore hash of
my brig; haven't hands enough left to
work her, and my first officer (whom
could i'll spare) has got your sword
throughout his vitals, and passed with
out speech. There is nothing left me.
sir, but to put back into the port Of
Glasgow after hands,"