Chapter 10

           Butnowourtimeoftrucewascometoanend.Thoseondeckhadwaitedformycomingtilltheygrewimpatient;andscarcehadAlanspoken,whenthecaptainshowedfaceintheopendoor.

           “Stand!”criedAlan,andpointedhisswordathim.Thecaptainstood,indeed;butheneitherwincednordrewbackafoot.

           “Anakedsword?”sayshe.“Thisisastrangereturnforhospitality.”

           “Doyeseeme?”saidAlan.“Iamcomeofkings;Ibearaking’sname.Mybadgeistheoak.Doyeseemysword?IthasslashedtheheadsoffmairWhigamoresthanyouhavetoesuponyourfeet.Callupyourvermintoyourback,sir,andfallon!Thesoonertheclashbegins,thesoonerye’lltastethissteelthroughoutyourvitals.”

           ThecaptainsaidnothingtoAlan,buthelookedoveratmewithanuglylook.“David,”saidhe,“I’llmindthis;”andthesoundofhisvoicewentthroughmewithajar.

           Nextmomenthewasgone.

           “Andnow,”saidAlan,“letyourhandkeepyourhead,forthegripiscoming.”

           Alandrewadirk,whichheheldinhislefthandincasetheyshouldruninunderhissword.I,onmypart,clamberedupintotheberthwithanarmfulofpistolsandsomethingofaheavyheart,andsetopenthewindowwhereIwastowatch.ItwasasmallpartofthedeckthatIcouldoverlook,butenoughforourpurpose.Theseahadgonedown,andthewindwassteadyandkeptthesailsquiet;sothattherewasagreatstillnessintheship,inwhichImadesureIheardthesoundofmutteringvoices.