276 
RESIDENCE AT SOCCATOO. 
had heard with much distinctness the tolling of an English funeral 
bell : I entreated him to be composed, and observed that sick people 
frequently fancy they hear and see things which can possibly have 
no existence. lie made no reply. 
About six o'clock in the morning of the 11th, on asking how he 
did, my master answered he was much better, and requested me to 
shave him. He had not sufficient strength to lift his head from 
the pillow ; and after finishing one side of the face, I was obliged 
to turn his head, in order to shave the other. As soon as it was 
done, he desired me to fetch him a looking-glass which hung on the 
other side of the hut. On seeing himself in it, he observed that 
he looked quite as ill at Bornou, on his former journey ; and as he 
had borne his disorder so long a time, he might yet recover. On 
the following day he still fancied himself getting better. I began 
to flatter myself, also, that he was considerably improved, lie eat 
a bit of hashed guinea-fowl in the day, which he had not done be- 
fore since his illness, deriving his sole sustenance from a little fowl- 
soup and milk and water. On the morning of the 13th, however, 
being awake, I was much alarmed by a peculiar rattling noise, pro- 
ceeding from my master’s throat, and his breathing was loud and 
difficult ; at the same instant he called out “ Kichard !” in a low and 
hurried tone. 1 was immediately at his side, and was astonished 
at seeing him sitting upright in his bed, and staring wildly around. 
1 held him in my arms, and placing his head gently on my left 
shoulder, gazed a moment on his pale and altered features : some 
indistinct expressions quivered on his lips ; he strove, but inef- 
fectually, to give them utterance, and expired without a struggle or 
a sigh. When I found my poor master so very ill, I called out with 
all my strength, “ O God, my master is dying !” which brought 
Pascoe and Mudey into the apartment. Shortly after the breath 
bad left his body, 1 desired Pascoe to fetch some water, with which 
I washed the corpse. I then got Pascoe and Mudey to assist me in 
