The day being calm and the wind fair, the scuttle was open, and not only the good daylight, but from time to time (as the ship rolled) a dusty beam of sunlight shone in, and dazzled and delighted me.

I had no sooner moved, moreover, than one of the men brought me a drink of something healing which Mr.Riach had prepared, and bade me lie still and I should soon be well again.
There were no bones broken, he explained: "A clour* on the head was naething.

Man," said he, "it was me that gave it ye!" * Blow.
Here I lay for the space of many days a close prisoner, and not only got my health again, but came to know my companions.

They were a rough lot indeed, as sailors mostly are: being men rooted out of all the kindly parts of life, and condemned to toss together on the rough seas, with masters no less cruel.

There were some among them that had sailed with the pirates and seen things it would be a shame even to speak of; some were men that had run from the king's ships, and went with a halter round their necks, of which they made no secret; and all, as the saying goes, were "at a word and a blow" with their best friends.