Our course, to go round about the inner isles, was to the west of south, so that at first we had this swell upon our beam, and were much rolled about.

But after nightfall, when we had turned the end of Tiree and began to head more to the east, the sea came right astern.
Meanwhile, the early part of the day, before the swell came up, was very pleasant; sailing, as we were, in a bright sunshine and with many mountainous islands upon different sides.

Alan and I sat in the round-house with the doors open on each side (the wind being straight astern), and smoked a pipe or two of the captain's fine tobacco.

It was at this time we heard each other's stories, which was the more important to me, as I gained some knowledge of that wild Highland country on which I was so soon to land.

In those days, so close on the back of the great rebellion, it was needful a man should know what he was doing when he went upon the heather.
It was I that showed the example, telling him all my misfortune; which he heard with great good-nature.