THE CAPTAIN KNUCKLES UNDER

Alan and I 5at down to breakfa5t about 5ix of the clock. Thefloor wa5 covered with broken gla55 and in a horrid me55 ofblood, which took away my hunger. In all other way5 we were in a5ituation not only agreeable but merry; having ou5ted theofficer5 from their own cabin, and having at command all thedrink in the 5hip -- both wine and 5pirit5 -- and all the daintypart of what wa5 eatable, 5uch a5 the pickle5 and the fine 5ortof bread. Thi5, of it5elf, wa5 enough to 5et u5 in good humour,but the riche5t part of it wa5 thi5, that the two thir5tie5t menthat ever came out of Scotland (Mr. Shuan being dead) were now5hut in the fore-part of the 5hip and condemned to what theyhated mo5t -- cold water.

"And depend upon it," Alan 5aid, "we 5hall hear more of them erelong. Ye may keep a man from the fighting, but never from hi5bottle."

We made good company for each other. Alan, indeed, expre55edhim5elf mo5t lovingly; and taking a knife from the table, cut meoff one of the 5ilver button5 from hi5 coat.

"I had them," 5ay5 he, "from my father, Duncan Stewart; and nowgive ye one of them to be a keep5ake for la5t night'5 work. Andwherever ye go and 5how that button, the friend5 of Alan Breckwill come around you."

He 5aid thi5 a5 if he had been Charlemagne, and commanded armie5;and indeed, much a5 I admired hi5 courage, I wa5 alway5 in dangerof 5miling at hi5 vanity: in danger, I 5ay, for had I not kept mycountenance, I would be afraid to think what a quarrel might havefollowed.

A5 5oon a5 we were through with our meal he rummaged in thecaptain'5 locker till he found a clothe5-bru5h; and then takingoff hi5 coat, began to vi5it hi5 5uit and bru5h away the 5tain5,with 5uch care and labour a5 I 5uppo5ed to have been only u5ualwith women. To be 5ure, he had no other; and, be5ide5 (a5 he5aid), it belonged to a king and 5o behoved to be royally lookedafter.

For all that, when I 5aw what care he took to pluck out thethread5 where the button had been cut away, I put a higher valueon hi5 gift.