aptain; and then to myself: "And see here,
David, yon man has a beltful of gold, and I give you my word that you
shall have your fingers in it."

I told him I would do as he wished, though indeed I had scarce breath to
speak with; and upon that he gave me the key of the spirit-locker, and I
began to go slowly back to the round-house. What was I to do? They were
dogs and thieves; they had stolen me from my own country; they had
killed poor Ransome; 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 a boy and a man, if they were as brave as lions,
against a whole ship's company?

I was still arguing it back and forth, and getting no great clearness,
when I came into the round-house and saw the Jacobite eating his supper
under the lamp; and at that my mind was made up all in a moment. I have
no credit by it; it was by no choice of mine, but as if by compulsion,
that I walked right up to the table and put my hand on his shoulder.

"Do ye want to be killed?" said I.

He sprang to his feet, and looked a question at me as clear as if he had
spoken.

"O!" cried I, "they're all murderers here; it's a ship full of them!
They've murdered a boy already. Now it's you."

"Ay, ay," said he; "but they haven't got me yet." And then, looking at
me curiously, "Will ye stand with me?"

"That will I!" said I. "I am no thief, nor yet murderer. I'll stand by
you."

"Why, then," said he, "what's your name?"

"David Balfour," said I; and then, thinking that a man with so fine a
coat must like fine people, I added for the first time, "of Shaws."

It never occurred to him to doubt me, for a Highlander is used to see
great gentle-folk in great poverty; but as he had no estate of his own,
my words nettled a very childish vanity he had.

"My name is Stewart," he said, drawing himself up. "Alan Breck, they
call me. A king's name is good enough for me, though I bear it plain and
have the name of no farm-midden 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 defences.

The round-house was built very strong, to support the breaching of the
seas. Of its five apertures, only the skylight and the two doors were
large enough for the passage of a man. The doors, besides, could be
drawn close: they were of stout oak, and ran in grooves, and were fitted
wit