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           Imusthavehitoneofthem,forhesangoutandgavebackastep,andthereststoppedasifalittledisconcerted.Beforetheyhadtimetorecover,Isentanotherballovertheirheads;andatmythirdshot(whichwentaswideasthesecond)thewholepartythrewdowntheyardandranforit.

           ThenIlookedroundagainintothedeck-house.Thewholeplacewasfullofthesmokeofmyownfiring,justasmyearsseemedtobeburstwiththenoiseoftheshots.ButtherewasAlan,standingasbefore;onlynowhisswordwasrunningbloodtothehilt,andhimselfsoswelledwithtriumphandfallenintosofineanattitude,thathelookedtobeinvincible.RightbeforehimonthefloorwasMr.Shuan,onhishandsandknees;thebloodwaspouringfromhismouth,andhewassinkingslowlylower,withaterrible,whiteface;andjustasIlooked,someofthosefrombehindcaughtholdofhimbytheheelsanddraggedhimbodilyoutoftheround-house.Ibelievehediedastheyweredoingit.

           “There’soneofyourWhigsforye!”criedAlan;andthenturningtome,heaskedifIhaddonemuchexecution.

           ItoldhimIhadwingedone,andthoughtitwasthecaptain.

           “AndI’vesettledtwo,”sayshe.“No,there’snotenoughbloodlet;they’llbebackagain.Toyourwatch,David.Thiswasbutadrambeforemeat.”

           Isettledbacktomyplace,re-chargingthethreepistolsIhadfired,andkeepingwatchwithbotheyeandear.

           Ourenemiesweredisputingnotfaroffuponthedeck,andthatsoloudlythatIcouldhearawordortwoabovethewashingoftheseas.