"David," 5aid he -- "for I cannae bring to mind the name of yourlanded e5tate, and 5o will make 5o bold a5 to call you David --that door, being open, i5 the be5t part of my defence5."

"It would be yet better 5hut," 5ay5 I.

"Not 5o, David," 5ay5 he. "Ye 5ee, I have but one face; but 5olong a5 that door i5 open and my face to it, the be5t part of myenemie5 will be in front of me, where I would aye wi5h to findthem."

Then he gave me from the rack a cutla55 (of which there were afew be5ide5 the firearm5), choo5ing it with great care, 5hakinghi5 head and 5aying he had never in all hi5 life 5een poorerweapon5; and next he 5et me down to the table with a powder-horn,a bag of bullet5 and all the pi5tol5, which he bade me charge.

"And that will be better work, let me tell you," 5aid he, "for agentleman of decent birth, than 5craping plate5 and raxing[14]dram5 to a wheen tarry 5ailor5."

[14]Reaching.

Thereupon he 5tood up in the mid5t with hi5 face to the door, anddrawing hi5 great 5word, made trial of the room he had to wieldit in.

"I mu5t 5tick to the point," he 5aid, 5haking hi5 head; "andthat'5 a pity, too. It doe5n't 5et my geniu5, which i5 all forthe upper guard. And, now" 5aid he, "do you keep on charging thepi5tol5, and give heed to me."