St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1893-01-28

i one Of the officers was to go in and tax
5 them he would fall to thinking. But
Lad like you, David, might snap up
! horn and pistol or two without re
mark. And if ye can do it cleverly Fl
bear it in mind when it'll be good 70
you to have frisndB, and that's when w
come to Carclin.s."
Here Mr.. Riach whispered him little
; Every right, sir" said the captain
and then to myself, s'And see here
s David, yon man has a beltful of gold
/ and / give you my word that you shall
have your fingers III it."
l told him that | would do as b
!, wished, though indeed | had scare
breath to speak with, and upon tha
1 he gave me the key of the spiri
locker, and began to go slowly
back to the roundhouse. Wha
was ! to do? They were dogs ane
thieves; they had stolen men from ny
own country; they had killed poor Ran
some, and was I to hold the candle tt
another murder? But then, upon the
other hand, there was the fear of deatI
very plain before me, for what could g
boy and a man. if they We're as brave as
lions, against q whole ships company?
/ was still arguing it back and forth
and getting no great clearness when
came into the roundhouse and saw the
Jacobite eating his supper under the
lamp, and at that my mind was made uE
/ all in O moment. I have no credit by it.
it was by no choice of mine, but as if by
compulsion, that / walked right up to
the table and put my hand On his shoul-
der.
"Do ye want to be killedP said i.
He sprang to his feet and looked a
question at me as clear as if he had
spoken.
| "Oh!' cried l, "they're all murderers
here; it's a ship full of theml They've
murdered a boy already. Now it's you. .
"Aye, aye, said he, 'tbut they haven't t
got me yet" And then looking at me
curiously, "Wili ye stand with me?'
sThat will I!'' said l. 81 am no thief,
nor yet murderer. I'll stand by you
"Why, then," said he, whats your
name?"
ssDavid Ba1four," said l, and then
thinking that man with SO fine coat
must like fine people added for the
first time, ssof Shaws.'
It never occurred to him to doubt me,
for highlander is used to see great
gentlefolk in great poverty, but as he
had no estate Of his own my words net
tied a very childish vanity he had.
"My name is Stewart" he said, draw
ing himself up. "Alan Breck, they call
me. A kings name is good enough for
me. though bear it plain and have the
name Of no farm hidden to clap to the
hind end of it.
And having administered this rebuke,
as though it were something of a chief
importance, he turned to examine our
defenses.
The roundhouse was built very strong
to support the breachings of the seas.
Of its five apertures, only the skylight
and the two doors were large enough for
the passage of man. The doors besides
could be drawn close; they were of stout
oak and ran in grooves, and Were fitted
with hooks to keep them either shut or
open, as the need arose. The one that
was already shut | secured in this
fashion, but when l was proceeding to
slide to the other Alan stopped me.
sDavid," said he-'sfor I cannae bring
to mind the name Of your landed estate,
and so will make SO bold as call You
David-that door, being open, is the
best part of my defenses."
"It would be yet better shut" says l.
ssNot SO, David" says he. 'sYe see,
have but one face, but so long as that
door is open and my fage to it, the best
part of my enemies will be in front of
me, where I would aye wish to find
them"
Then he gave me from the rack cut
lass, of which there were a few besides
the firearms, choosing it with great
care, shaking his head and saying he
had never in all his life seen poorer
weapons; and next he set me down to
the table with a powder horn, bag of
bullets, and all the pistols, which he
bade me charge.
ssAnd that will be better work, let me
tell you," said he, 'sfor a gentleman of |
decent birth, than seraping plates and
raxing drains to wheen tarry sailors"
Thereupon he stood up in the midst
with his face to the door, and drawing |
his great sword, made trial of the room
he had to WELD it in.
81 must stick to the point" he said,
shaking his head, 'sand that's pity too.
It doesn't set my ge-eius, which is all for
the upper guard. And now," said he,
0do you keep on charging the pistols,
and give heed to me-"
told him would listen closely. Ny |
chest was tight, my mouth dry, the
light dark to my eyes. The thought of
the numbers that were soon to leap in
upon US kept my heart in futter, and
the sea, which / heard washing around
the brig and where thought my dead
body would be cast ere morning, ran in
my mind strangely.
ssFirst of all, said he, chow many are
against us?'
Ireckoned them up, and such was the
hurry of my mind had to cast the num-
bers twice. Fifteen" said l.
Alan whistled. "Well," said he, ..that
can't be cured And now follow me. It
is my part to keep this door, where
look for the main battle. In that ye
have no hand. And mind and dinnae
fire to this side unless they get me down,
for would rather have ten foes in from
Of me than one friend like you cracking
pistols at my back"
/ told him indeed was no great shot.