Викрадений
Chapter 18
“Ay”saidAlan,“Riach!Well,itwashimthattookuptheclubsforme,askedthemeniftheywerenaefearedofajudgment,and,sayshe‘Dod,I’llputmybacktotheHielandman’smysel’.’That’snonesuchanentirelybadlittleman,yonlittlemanwiththeredhead,”saidAlan.“Hehassomespunksofdecency.”
“Well,”saidI,“hewaskindtomeinhisway.”
“AndsohewastoAlan,”saidhe;“andbymytroth,Ifoundhiswayaverygoodone!Butyesee,David,thelossoftheshipandthecriesofthesepoorladssatveryillupontheman;andI’mthinkingthatwouldbethecauseofit.”
“Well,Iwouldthinkso,”saysI;“forhewasaskeenasanyoftherestatthebeginning.ButhowdidHoseasontakeit?”
“Itsticksinmymindthathewouldtakeitveryill,”saysAlan.“Butthelittlemancriedtometorun,andindeedIthoughtitwasagoodobserve,andran.ThelastthatIsawtheywereallinaknotuponthebeach,likefolkthatwerenotagreeingverywelltogether.”
“Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”saidI.
“Well,thefistsweregoing,”saidAlan;“andIsawonemangodownlikeapairofbreeks.ButIthoughtitwouldbebetternotowait.Yeseethere’sastripofCampbellsinthatendofMull,whichisnogoodcompanyforagentlemanlikeme.IfithadnaebeenforthatIwouldhavewaitedandlookedforyemysel’,letalonegivingahandtothelittleman.”(ItwasdrollhowAlandweltonMr.Riach’sstature,for,tosaythetruth,theonewasnotmuchsmallerthantheother
