There was that tightness on my chest that I could hardly breathe; the thought of the two men I had shot sat upon me like a nightmare; and all upon a sudden, and before I had a guess of what was coming, I began to sob and cry like any child.
Alan clapped my shoulder, and said I was a brave lad and wanted nothing but a sleep.
"I'll take the first watch," said he.

"Ye've done well by me, David, first and last; and I wouldn't lose you for all Appin--no, nor for Breadalbane." So I made up my bed on the floor; and he took the first spell, pistol in hand and sword on knee, three hours by the captain's watch upon the wall.

Then he roused me up, and I took my turn of three hours; before the end of which it was broad day, and a very quiet morning, with a smooth, rolling sea that tossed the ship and made the blood run to and fro on the round-house floor, and a heavy rain that drummed upon the roof.

All my watch there was nothing stirring; and by the banging of the helm, I knew they had even no one at the tiller.

Indeed (as I learned afterwards) there were so many of them hurt or dead, and the rest in so ill a temper, that Mr.Riach and the captain had to take turn and turn like Alan and me, or the brig might have gone ashore and nobody the wiser.