fflictions, of
which, Cot knows, and I know, he had his own share--Ochree! Ochree!
he was a promising youth indeed!" So saying he groaned grievously,
and began to whine in such a manner, as persuaded me he had a real
friendship for me. The sergeant, alarmed at his words, came into the
berth, and, while he looked upon me, I smiled, and tipped him the wink:
he immediately guessed my meaning and remaining silent, Morgan was
confirmed in his opinion of my being dead; whereupon he approached, with
tears in his eyes, in order to indulge his grief with a sight of
the object: and I counterfeited death so well, by fixing my eyes and
dropping my under-jaw, that he said, "There he lies, no petter than a
lump of clay, Cot help me!" and observed, by the distortion of my face,
that I must have had a strong struggle.

I should not have been able to contain myself much longer, when he began
to perform the last duty of a friend, in closing my eyes and my mouth,
upon which I suddenly snapped at his fingers and discomposed him so much
that he started back, turned pale as ashes, and stared like the picture
of horror; although I could not help laughing at his appearance, I was
concerned for his situation, and stretched out my hand, telling him I
hoped to live and eat some salmagundy of his making in England. It was
some time before he could recollect himself so far as to feel my pulse,
and inquire into the particulars of my disease; but when he found I had
enjoyed a favourable crisis, he congratulated me upon my good fortune;
not failing to ascribe it, under Cot, to the blister he had applied
to my back, at his last visit; which, by the bye, said he, must now be
removed and dressed; he was actually going to fetch dressings, when I,
feigning astonishment, said, "Bless me! sure you never applied a blister
to me--there is nothing on my back, I assure you." But he could not be
convinced till he had examined it, and then endeavoured to conceal his
confusion, by expressing his surprise in finding the skin untouched
and the plaster missing. In order to excuse myself for paying so little
regard to his prescription, I pretended to have been insensible when it
was put on, and to have pulled it off afterwards in a fit of delirium.
This apology satisfied my friend, who, on this occasion, abated a good
deal of his stiffness in regard to punctilio; and as we were now safely
arrived at Jamaica, where I had the benefit of fresh provisions and
other refresh