`` O ! '' cried I , `` they 're all murderers here ; it 's a ship full of them ! They 've murdered a boy already . Now it 's you . '' `` Ay , ay , '' said he ; `` but they have n't got me yet . '' And then looking at me curiously , `` Will ye stand with me ? '' `` That will I ! '' said I. `` I am no thief , nor yet murderer . I 'll stand by you . '' `` Why , then , '' said he , `` what 's your name ? '' `` David Balfour , '' said I ; and then , thinking that a man with so fine a coat must like fine people , I added for the first time , `` of Shaws . '' It never occurred to him to doubt me , for a Highlander is used to see great gentlefolk in great poverty ; but as he had no estate of his own , my words nettled a very childish vanity he had . `` My name is Stewart , '' he said , drawing himself up . `` Alan Breck , they call me . A king 's name is good enough for me , though I bear it plain and have the name of no farm-midden to clap to the hind-end of it . '' And having administered this rebuke , as though it were something of a chief importance , he turned to examine our defences . The round-house was built very strong , to support the breaching of the seas . Of its five apertures , only the skylight and the two doors were large enough for the passage of a man . The doors , besides , could be drawn close : they were of stout oak , and ran in grooves , and were fitted with hooks to keep them either shut or open , as the need arose . The one that was already shut I secured in this fashion ; but when I was proceeding to slide to the other , Alan stopped me .
`` David , '' said he -- `` for I cannae bring to mind the name of your landed estate , and so will make so bold as to call you David -- that door , being open , is the best part of my XXXXX . ''
Alan Ay Breck Highlander apertures defences farm-midden first gentlefolk round-house