A small window with a shutter on each side , and a skylight in the roof , gave it light by day ; and after dark there was a lamp always burning . It was burning when I entered , not brightly , but enough to show Mr. Shuan sitting at the table , with the brandy bottle and a tin pannikin in front of him . He was a tall man , strongly made and very black ; and he stared before him on the table like one stupid . He took no notice of my coming in ; nor did he move when the captain followed and leant on the berth beside me , looking darkly at the mate . I stood in great fear of Hoseason , and had my reasons for it ; but something told me I need not be afraid of him just then ; and I whispered in his ear : `` How is he ? '' He shook his head like one that does not know and does not wish to think , and his face was very stern . Presently Mr. Riach came in . He gave the captain a glance that meant the boy was dead as plain as speaking , and took his place like the rest of us ; so that we all three stood without a word , staring down at Mr. Shuan , and Mr. Shuan -LRB- on his side -RRB- sat without a word , looking hard upon the table . All of a sudden he put out his hand to take the bottle ; and at that Mr. Riach started forward and caught it away from him , rather by surprise than violence , crying out , with an oath , that there had been too much of this work altogether , and that a judgment would fall upon the ship . And as he spoke -LRB- the weather sliding-doors standing open -RRB- he tossed the bottle into the sea . Mr. Shuan was on his feet in a trice ; he still looked dazed , but he meant murder , ay , and would have done it , for the second time that night , had not the captain stepped in between him and his victim . `` Sit down ! '' roars the captain . `` Ye sot and swine , do ye know what ye 've done ? Ye 've murdered the boy ! '' Mr. Shuan seemed to understand ; for he sat down again , and put up his hand to his brow . `` Well , '' he said , `` he brought me a dirty pannikin ! '' At that word , the captain and I and Mr. Riach all looked at each other for a second with a kind of frightened look ; and then Hoseason walked up to his chief officer , took him by the shoulder , led him across to his bunk , and bade him lie down and go to sleep , as you might speak to a bad child . The murderer cried a little , but he took off his sea-boots and obeyed . `` Ah ! ''
cried Mr. XXXXX , with a dreadful voice , `` ye should have interfered long syne .
Hoseason Riach Shuan day fall pannikin sea-boots second trice violence