dialect that rose on the ruins of the former, and
scarce retained any traces of the old expression: but, if Doctor
Mackshane, who pretended to be master of the Greek language, could
maintain a conversation with these seamen, I would retract what I had
said, and be content to suffer any punishment be should think proper to
inflict. I had no sooner uttered these words than the surgeon, knowing
one of the fellows to be his countryman, accosted him in Irish, and was
answered in the same brogue; then a dialogue ensued between them, which
they affirmed to be in Greek, after having secured the secrecy of
the other tar, who had his cue in the language of the Morea, from
his companion, before they would venture to assert such an intrepid
falsehood. "I thought," said Oakum, "we should discover the imposture at
last. Let the rascal be carried back to his confinement. I find he must
dangle." Having nothing further to urge in my own behalf, before a court
so prejudiced with spite, and fortified with ignorance against truth, I
suffered myself to be reconducted peaceably to my fellow-prisoner, who,
hearing the particulars of my trial, lifted up his hands and eyes to
Heaven, and uttered a dreadful groan: and, not daring to disburden his
thoughts to me by speech, lest he might be overheard by the sentinel,
burst forth into a Welsh song, which he accompanied with a thousand
contortions of face and violent gestures of body.

CHAPTER XXXI

I discover a subornation against me, by means of a quarrel between
two of the evidences; in consequence of which I am set at liberty,
and prevail upon Morgan to accept of his freedom on the same
terms--Mackshane's malice--we arrive at Jamaica, from whence in a
short time we beat up to Hispaniola, in conjunction with the West
India squadron--we take in water, sail again, and arrive at
Carthagena--Reflections on our conduct there

Meanwhile, a quarrel happening between the two modern Greeks, the one,
to be revenged of the other, came and discovered to us the mystery
of Mackshane's dialogue, as I have explained it above. This detection
coming to the ears of the doctor, who was sensible that (now we were in
sight of Jamaica) we should have an opportunity of clearing ourselves
before a court-martial, and, at the same time, of making his malice
and ignorance conspicuous, he interceded for us with the captain so
effectually, that in a few hours we were set at liberty, and ordered to
return to our dut