And drawing my sword , I fell on guard as Alan himself had taught me . `` David ! '' he cried . `` Are ye daft ? I cannae draw upon ye , David . It 's fair murder . '' `` That was your look-out when you insulted me , '' said I. `` It 's the truth ! '' cried Alan , and he stood for a moment , wringing his mouth in his hand like a man in sore perplexity . `` It 's the bare truth , '' he said , and drew his sword . But before I could touch his blade with mine , he had thrown it from him and fallen to the ground . `` Na , na , '' he kept saying , `` na , na -- I cannae , I cannae . '' At this the last of my anger oozed all out of me ; and I found myself only sick , and sorry , and blank , and wondering at myself . I would have given the world to take back what I had said ; but a word once spoken , who can recapture it ? I minded me of all Alan 's kindness and courage in the past , how he had helped and cheered and borne with me in our evil days ; and then recalled my own insults , and saw that I had lost for ever that doughty friend . At the same time , the sickness that hung upon me seemed to redouble , and the pang in my side was like a sword for sharpness . I thought I must have swooned where I stood . This it was that gave me a thought . No apology could blot out what I had said ; it was needless to think of one , none could cover the offence ; but where an apology was vain , a mere cry for help might bring Alan back to my side . I put my pride away from me . `` Alan ! ''
I XXXXX ; `` if ye cannae help me , I must just die here . ''
's Are fell found lost said take thought touch wondering