It has slashed the heads off mair Whigamores than you have toes upon your feet . Call up your vermin to your back , sir , and fall on ! The sooner the clash begins , the sooner ye 'll taste this steel throughout your vitals . '' The captain said nothing to Alan , but he looked over at me with an ugly look . `` David , '' said he , `` I 'll mind this ; '' and the sound of his voice went through me with a jar . Next moment he was gone . `` And now , '' said Alan , `` let your hand keep your head , for the grip is coming . '' Alan drew a dirk , which he held in his left hand in case they should run in under his sword . I , on my part , clambered up into the berth with an armful of pistols and something of a heavy heart , and set open the window where I was to watch . It was a small part of the deck that I could overlook , but enough for our purpose . The sea had gone down , and the wind was steady and kept the sails quiet ; so that there was a great stillness in the ship , in which I made sure I heard the sound of muttering voices . A little after , and there came a clash of steel upon the deck , by which I knew they were dealing out the cutlasses and one had been let fall ; and after that , silence again . I do not know if I was what you call afraid ; but my heart beat like a bird 's , both quick and little ; and there was a dimness came before my eyes which I continually rubbed away , and which continually returned . As for hope , I had none ; but only a darkness of despair and a sort of anger against all the world that made me long to sell my life as dear as I was able . I tried to pray , I remember , but that same hurry of my mind , like a man running , would not suffer me to think upon the words ; and my chief wish was to have the thing begin and be done with it . It came all of a sudden when it did , with a rush of feet and a roar , and then a shout from Alan , and a sound of blows and some one crying out as if hurt . I looked back over my shoulder , and saw Mr. Shuan in the doorway , crossing blades with Alan . `` That 's him that killed the boy ! '' I cried . `` Look to your window ! ''
said XXXXX ; and as I turned back to my place , I saw him pass his sword through the mate 's body .
Alan David Shuan Whigamores cutlasses dimness dirk fall left vermin