As soon as we were through with our meal he rummaged in the captain 's locker till he found a clothes-brush ; and then taking off his coat , began to visit his suit and brush away the stains , with such care and labour as I supposed to have been only usual with women . To be sure , he had no other ; and , besides -LRB- as he said -RRB- , it belonged to a king and so behoved to be royally looked after . For all that , when I saw what care he took to pluck out the threads where the button had been cut away , I put a higher value on his gift . He was still so engaged when we were hailed by Mr. Riach from the deck , asking for a parley ; and I , climbing through the skylight and sitting on the edge of it , pistol in hand and with a bold front , though inwardly in fear of broken glass , hailed him back again and bade him speak out . He came to the edge of the round-house , and stood on a coil of rope , so that his chin was on a level with the roof ; and we looked at each other awhile in silence . Mr. Riach , as I do not think he had been very forward in the battle , so he had got off with nothing worse than a blow upon the cheek : but he looked out of heart and very weary , having been all night afoot , either standing watch or doctoring the wounded . `` This is a bad job , '' said he at last , shaking his head . `` It was none of our choosing , '' said I. `` The captain , '' says he , `` would like to speak with your friend . They might speak at the window . '' `` And how do we know what treachery he means ? '' cried I. `` He means none , David , '' returned Mr. Riach , `` and if he did , I 'll tell ye the honest truth , we couldnae get the men to follow . '' `` Is that so ? '' said I. `` I 'll tell ye more than that , '' said he . `` It 's not only the men ; it 's me . I 'm frich ` ened , Davie . '' And he smiled across at me . `` No , '' he continued , `` what we want is to be shut of him . '' Thereupon I consulted with Alan , and the parley was agreed to and parole given upon either side ; but this was not the whole of Mr. Riach 's business , and he now begged me for a dram with such instancy and such reminders of his former kindness , that at last I handed him a pannikin with about a gill of brandy . He drank a part , and then carried the rest down upon the deck , to share it -LRB- I suppose -RRB- with his superior . A little after , the captain came -LRB- as was agreed -RRB- to one of the windows , and stood there in the rain , with his arm in a sling , and looking stern and pale , and so old that my heart smote me for having fired upon him .
XXXXX at once held a pistol in his face .
Alan David Davie Riach doctoring labour night pannikin round-house treachery