They hung back indeed , having little taste for the employment ; but Hoseason was like a fiend , crying that Alan was alone , that he had a great sum about him , that he had been the means of losing the brig and drowning all their comrades , and that here was both revenge and wealth upon a single cast . It was seven against one ; in that part of the shore there was no rock that Alan could set his back to ; and the sailors began to spread out and come behind him . `` And then , '' said Alan , `` the little man with the red head -- I havenae mind of the name that he is called . '' `` Riach , '' said I. `` Ay '' said Alan , `` Riach ! Well , it was him that took up the clubs for me , asked the men if they werenae feared of a judgment , and , says he ` Dod , I 'll put my back to the Hielandman 's mysel ' . ' That 's none such an entirely bad little man , yon little man with the red head , '' said Alan . `` He has some spunks of decency . '' `` Well , '' said I , `` he was kind to me in his way . '' `` And so he was to Alan , '' said he ; `` and by my troth , I found his way a very good one ! But ye see , David , the loss of the ship and the cries of these poor lads sat very ill upon the man ; and I 'm thinking that would be the cause of it . '' `` Well , I would think so , '' says I ; `` for he was as keen as any of the rest at the beginning . But how did Hoseason take it ? '' `` It sticks in my mind that he would take it very ill , '' says Alan . `` But the little man cried to me to run , and indeed I thought it was a good observe , and ran . The last that I saw they were all in a knot upon the beach , like folk that were not agreeing very well together . '' `` What do you mean by that ? '' said I. `` Well , the fists were going , '' said Alan ; `` and I saw one man go down like a pair of breeks . But I thought it would be better no to wait . Ye see there 's a strip of Campbells in that end of Mull , which is no good company for a gentleman like me . If it hadnae been for that I would have waited and looked for ye mysel ' , let alone giving a hand to the little man . ''
-LRB- It was droll how Alan dwelt on Mr. XXXXX 's stature , for , to say the truth , the one was not much smaller than the other . -RRB-
Alan Ay David Dod Hielandman Riach Ye breeks spunks troth