The times., 1893-01-27
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! TIE ADVENTVRES]
)oF RAVID BAEoUR y 'SaEssSSSV5L| AZ
@RoBERT Iovy STtyEN7oN
[Chapter TX Continued. ]

back 90 The rOundhOuSe. What
was / to dor They were dogs and
thieves; they had stolen men from my
own country; they had killed poor RAN
some, and was I to hold the candle to
another murder? But then, upon the
other hand, there was the fear of death
very plain before me, for what could
boy and man. If they were as brave as
lions, against q whole ships company?
was still arguing it back and forth
and getting no great clearness when T
came into the roundhouse and saw the
Jacobite eating his supper under the
lamp, and at that my mind was made up
all in a moment. / have no credit by 1t;
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 we want to be killed." said l.
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 them! They've
murdered boy already. Now it's you"
"Aye, aye,' said he, "but they haven't
got me yet" And then looking at me
curiously, "Will ye stand with me?'
"That will Ir said I. lam no thief,
nor yet murderer. I'll stand by you"
"Why, them" said he, whats your
name?"
david Balfour," said l, and then
thinking that man with so fine coat
must like fine people l added for the
first time, "of Shaws."
1t 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 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 l 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 chief
Importance, he turned to examine our
defenses.
The roundhouse was built very strong
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 l secured i'll this
fashion, but when / was proceeding to
slide to the other Alan stopped me.
DAVID" said he-"for l 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."
SIT would be yet better shut" says l.
"Not so, David" says he. "Ye see, l
have but one face, but so long as that
door is open and my face to it, the best
part of my enemies will be in front Of
me, where l would aye wish to find
them"
Then he gave me from the rack cut
lass, of which there were 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 powder horn, Il bag of
bullets, and all the pistols, which he
babe me charge.
"And that will be better work, let me
tell you," said he, ''for gentleman Of
decent birth, than scraping 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, land that's pity too.
1t doesn't set my genius, which is all for
the upper guard. And now" said he,
'do you keep on charging the pistols,
and give heed to me-"
| told him / would listen closely. My
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 q 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.
First Of all, " said he, chow many are
against us|
reckoned them up, and such was the
hurry of my mind l had to cast the num-
bers twice. Fifteen said |.
Alan whistled. "Well, said he, "that
can't be cured. And now follow me. 1t
is my part to keep this door, where l
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 l would rather have ten foes Ill front
of me than one friend like you cracking
pistols at my back"
| l told him indeed / was no great shot.
"And that's very bravely said," he
cried in a great admiration Of my can
dor. "There's many q pretty gentleman
that would nae dare to say it."
"But then, sir" said l, "there is the
door behind you, which they may per-
haps break in"
AYE" said he, land that is part of
your work. No sooner the pistols
charged than ye must climb up into
yon bed where ye're handy at the win
| dow. and IL they lift hand against the