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. Riach 's stature , for , to say the truth , the one was not much smaller than the other . -RRB- `` So , '' says he , continuing , `` I set my best foot forward , and whenever I met in with any one I cried out there was a wreck ashore . Man , they didnae stop to fash with me ! Ye should have seen them linking for the beach ! And when they got there they found they had had the pleasure of a run , which is aye good for a Campbell . I 'm thinking it was a judgment on the clan that the brig went down in the lump and didnae break . But it was a very unlucky thing for you , that same ; for if any wreck had come ashore they would have hunted high and low , and would soon have found ye . '' CHAPTER XIX THE HOUSE OF FEAR Night fell as we were walking , and the clouds , which had broken up in the afternoon , settled in and thickened , so that it fell , for the season of the year , extremely dark . The way we went was over rough mountainsides ; and though Alan pushed on with an assured manner , I could by no means see how he directed himself . At last , about half-past ten of the clock , we came to the top of a brae , and saw lights below us . It seemed a house door stood open and let out a beam of fire and candle-light ; and all round the house and steading five or six persons were moving hurriedly about , each carrying a lighted brand .
`` James must have tint his wits , '' said XXXXX .
Alan Campbell Campbells Hoseason Mull Riach XIX afternoon candle-light mysel