Похищенный
Chapter 9
“MynameisStewart,”hesaid,drawinghimselfup.“AlanBreck,theycallme.Aking’snameisgoodenoughforme,thoughIbearitplainandhavethenameofnofarm-middentoclaptothehind-endofit.”
Andhavingadministeredthisrebuke,asthoughitweresomethingofachiefimportance,heturnedtoexamineourdefences.
Theround-housewasbuiltverystrong,tosupportthebreachingoftheseas.Ofitsfiveapertures,onlytheskylightandthetwodoorswerelargeenoughforthepassageofaman.Thedoors,besides,couldbedrawnclose:theywereofstoutoak,andraningrooves,andwerefittedwithhookstokeepthemeithershutoropen,astheneedarose.TheonethatwasalreadyshutIsecuredinthisfashion;butwhenIwasproceedingtoslidetotheother,Alanstoppedme.
“David,”saidhe—“forIcannaebringtomindthenameofyourlandedestate,andsowillmakesoboldastocallyouDavid—thatdoor,beingopen,isthebestpartofmydefences.”
“Itwouldbeyetbettershut,”saysI.
“Notso,David,”sayshe.“Yesee,Ihavebutoneface;butsolongasthatdoorisopenandmyfacetoit,thebestpartofmyenemieswillbeinfrontofme,whereIwouldayewishtofindthem.”
Thenhegavemefromtherackacutlass(ofwhichtherewereafewbesidesthefirearms),choosingitwithgreatcare,shakinghisheadandsayinghehadneverinallhislifeseenpoorerweapons;andnexthesetmedowntothetablewithapowder-horn,abagofbulletsandallthepistols,whichhebademecharge.
