said Alan . `` From now on , these weary dragoons of yours will keep the crown of the muirland , and none will get out of Appin but winged fowls . We got through in the nick of time , and shall we jeopard what we 've gained ? Na , na , when the day comes , it shall find you and me in a fast place on Ben Alder . '' `` Alan , '' I said , `` it 's not the want of will : it 's the strength that I want . If I could , I would ; but as sure as I 'm alive I can not . '' `` Very well , then , '' said Alan . `` I 'll carry ye . '' I looked to see if he were jesting ; but no , the little man was in dead earnest ; and the sight of so much resolution shamed me . `` Lead away ! '' said I. `` I 'll follow . '' He gave me one look as much as to say , `` Well done , David ! '' and off he set again at his top speed . It grew cooler and even a little darker -LRB- but not much -RRB- with the coming of the night . The sky was cloudless ; it was still early in July , and pretty far north ; in the darkest part of that night , you would have needed pretty good eyes to read , but for all that , I have often seen it darker in a winter mid-day . Heavy dew fell and drenched the moor like rain ; and this refreshed me for a while . When we stopped to breathe , and I had time to see all about me , the clearness and sweetness of the night , the shapes of the hills like things asleep , and the fire dwindling away behind us , like a bright spot in the midst of the moor , anger would come upon me in a clap that I must still drag myself in agony and eat the dust like a worm . By what I have read in books , I think few that have held a pen were ever really wearied , or they would write of it more strongly . I had no care of my life , neither past nor future , and I scarce remembered there was such a lad as David Balfour . I did not think of myself , but just of each fresh step which I was sure would be my last , with despair -- and of Alan , who was the cause of it , with hatred .
XXXXX was in the right trade as a soldier ; this is the officer 's part to make men continue to do things , they know not wherefore , and when , if the choice was offered , they would lie down where they were and be killed .
Alan Appin Balfour David Na dragoons fowls moor muirland night