168 BURIED ALIVE. 



*• How would you have me to do that thing? " said poor Don- 

 ovan. "Come on board, did you say? Divil now, Sir Oliver, 

 you are mighty unrasonable." 



His superior officer was somewhat shoved off his balance by 

 this reply from his Lieutenant, and rapped out fiercely enough 

 — " Come on board this instant, sir, or by the Lord, I — " 



" How can 1 do that thing, and me dead since three bells in 

 the middle watch last night ? '' This was grumbled as it were 

 through his trumpet, but presently he shouted out as loud as he 

 could bellow — " I can 't come ; and, what 's more, I won't ; 

 for I died last night, and am to be buried whenever it goes eight 

 bells at noon." 



" Dead ! '* said the Commodore, now seriously angry. " Dead, 

 did he say? Why, he is drunk, gentlemen, and not mad. 

 There is always sojne method in madness ; here there is none." 

 Till recollecting himself — " Poor fellow, let me try him a little 

 farther; but really it is too absurd" — as he looked round and 

 observed the difficulty both officers and men had in keeping 

 countenance — " Let me humour him- a little longer," continued 

 he. " Pray, Mr. Donovan, how can you be dead, and speaking 

 to me now ? " 



"Because," said Donovan, promptly, "I have a forenoon's 

 leave from purgatory to see myself decently buried, Sir Oliver." 



Here we could no longer contain ourselves, and, notwithstand- 

 ing the melancholy and humiliating spectacle before us, a shout 

 of laughter burst from all hands simultaneously, as the Commo- 

 dore, exceedingly tickled, sung out — " Oh, 1 see how it is — I see 

 — so do come on board, Mr. Donovan, and we will see you 

 properly buried." 



" You see, Sir Oliver ! " said the poor fellow ; " to be sure 

 you do — a blind horse might persave it." 



" I say, Dennis, dear," said I, " I will be answerable that all 

 the honors shall be paid you." But the deceased Irishman was 

 not to be had so easily, and again refused, point-blank to leave 

 the Midge. 



" Lower away the boat there, Mr. Sprawl," said Sir Oliver; 

 "no use in all this; you see he won 't come. Pipe away her 

 crew ; and, Mr. Brail, do you hear, take half-a-dozen marines 

 with you. So, brisk now — brisk — be off. Take the surgeon 

 with you, and spill no blood if you can help it, ♦but bring that 

 poor fellow on board instantly, cost what it may." 



