# The Captain Knuckles Under explained — Kidnapped

> Chapter companion for Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.

## What happens

After the battle in the roundhouse, Alan and David enjoy a tense but triumphant breakfast, cleaning up and negotiating with Captain Hoseason and Mr. Riach. Alan gives David a silver button as a keepsake. A parley leads to a treaty: Alan agrees to guide the ship to the coast of Appin in exchange for sixty guineas, and a bottle of brandy is traded for water to clean the roundhouse.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Resilience

Alan and David, though outnumbered, secure their safety through negotiation and force, cleaning the roundhouse and striking a deal to be set ashore.

### Honor and Code of Conduct

The parley and exchange of parole highlight the importance of verbal agreements and honor, though Alan distrusts the captain's word due to past betrayal.

### Friendship and Comradeship

Alan gives David a silver button as a keepsake, symbolizing their bond and mutual reliance after the battle.

## Character check-ins

### David Balfour

Narrates the chapter; participates in the parley and treaty negotiations, feeling sympathy for the wounded captain.

### Alan Breck Stewart

Dominates the negotiation with Hoseason, gives David a silver button, and insists on being set ashore in his own country.

### Captain Hoseason

Appears at the window with his arm in a sling, pale and old; reluctantly agrees to Alan's terms after losing his first officer.

### Mr. Riach

Acts as intermediary for the parley, admits fear, and asks for brandy; helps enforce the treaty.

### Mr. Shuan

Mentioned as dead, having been killed in the previous battle.

## Key lines

> And depend upon it, we shall hear more of them ere long. Ye may keep a man from the fighting, but never from his bottle.

Alan predicts that the thirsty sailors will soon try to negotiate for alcohol, since you can stop a man from fighting but not from drinking.

_Alan's remark foreshadows the brandy-for-water trade that concludes the chapter._

> I had them from my father, Duncan Stewart; and now give ye one of them to be a keepsake for last night’s work. And wherever ye go and show that button, the friends of Alan Breck will come around you.

Alan gives David a silver button from his coat, saying it will identify David to Alan's allies wherever he goes.

_This gift symbolizes Alan's trust and the bond formed during their fight._

> Set me on dry ground in Appin, or Ardgour, or in Morven, or Arisaig, or Morar; or, in brief, where ye please, within thirty miles of my own country; except in a country of the Campbells.

Alan demands to be put ashore anywhere within thirty miles of his home, as long as it's not Campbell territory.

_This shows Alan's deep distrust of the Campbells and his desire to return to safe ground._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kidnapped_se/chapters/xi-the-captain-knuckles-under
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kidnapped_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/kidnapped_se/chapters