Then I saw why we had come there ; for the two rocks , being both somewhat hollow on the top and sloping one to the other , made a kind of dish or saucer , where as many as three or four men might have lain hidden . All this while Alan had not said a word , and had run and climbed with such a savage , silent frenzy of hurry , that I knew that he was in mortal fear of some miscarriage . Even now we were on the rock he said nothing , nor so much as relaxed the frowning look upon his face ; but clapped flat down , and keeping only one eye above the edge of our place of shelter scouted all round the compass . The dawn had come quite clear ; we could see the stony sides of the valley , and its bottom , which was bestrewed with rocks , and the river , which went from one side to another , and made white falls ; but nowhere the smoke of a house , nor any living creature but some eagles screaming round a cliff . Then at last Alan smiled . `` Ay '' said he , `` now we have a chance ; '' and then looking at me with some amusement , `` Ye 're no very gleg * at the jumping , '' said he . * Brisk . At this I suppose I coloured with mortification , for he added at once , `` Hoots ! small blame to ye ! To be feared of a thing and yet to do it , is what makes the prettiest kind of a man . And then there was water there , and water 's a thing that dauntons even me . No , no , '' said Alan , `` it 's no you that 's to blame , it 's me . '' I asked him why . `` Why , '' said he , `` I have proved myself a gomeral this night . For first of all I take a wrong road , and that in my own country of Appin ; so that the day has caught us where we should never have been ; and thanks to that , we lie here in some danger and mair discomfort . And next -LRB- which is the worst of the two , for a man that has been so much among the heather as myself -RRB- I have come wanting a water-bottle , and here we lie for a long summer 's day with naething but neat spirit . Ye may think that a small matter ; but before it comes night , David , ye 'll give me news of it . '' I was anxious to redeem my character , and offered , if he would pour out the brandy , to run down and fill the bottle at the river . `` I wouldnae waste the good spirit either , '' says he . `` It 's been a good friend to you this night ; or in my poor opinion , ye would still be cocking on yon stone .
And what 's XXXXX , '' says he , `` ye may have observed -LRB- you that 's a man of so much penetration -RRB- that Alan Breck Stewart was perhaps walking quicker than his ordinar ' . ''
Alan Appin Ay first mair miscarriage naething night saucer water-bottle