This was but a dram before meat." I settled back to my place, re-charging the three pistols I had fired, and keeping watch with both eye and ear.
Our enemies were disputing not far off upon the deck, and that so loudly that I could hear a word or two above the washing of the seas.
"It was Shuan bauchled* it," I heard one say.
* Bungled.
And another answered him with a "Wheesht, man! He's paid the piper." After that the voices fell again into the same muttering as before.

Only now, one person spoke most of the time, as though laying down a plan, and first one and then another answered him briefly, like men taking orders.

By this, I made sure they were coming on again, and told Alan.
"It's what we have to pray for," said he.

"Unless we can give them a good distaste of us, and done with it, there'll be nae sleep for either you or me.

But this time, mind, they'll be in earnest." By this, my pistols were ready, and there was nothing to do but listen and wait.