uch resembled a
crucifix; but this I will not insist upon, that I may not seem too much
a slave to common report, which indeed assisted my conjecture on this
occasion, by representing Dr. Mackshane as a member of the church of
Rome. Be this as it will, he got up in a sort of confusion, occasioned
(I suppose) by his being disturbed in his devotion, and in a trice
snatched the subject of my suspicion from my sight.

After making an apology for my intrusion, I acquainted him with the
situation of Rattlin, but could by no means prevail upon him to visit
him on deck, where he lay; he bade me desire the boatswain to order some
of the men to carry him down to the cockpit, "and in the meantime,"
said he, "I will direct Thompson to get ready the dressings." When I
signified to the boatswain the doctor's desire, he swore a terrible
oath, that he could not spare one man from deck, because he expected the
mast would go by the board every minute. This piece of information did
not at all contribute to my peace of mind; however, as my friend Rattlin
complained very much, with the assistance of Morgan I supported him to
the lower deck, whither Mr. Mackshane, after much entreaty, ventured to
come, attended by Thompson, with a box full of dressings, and his own
servant, who carried a whole set of capital instruments. He examined the
fracture and the wound, and concluding, from a livid colour extending
itself upon the limb, that mortification would ensue, resolved to
amputate the leg immediately. This was a dreadful sentence to the
patient, who, recruiting himself with a quid of tobacco, pronounced
with a woful countenance, "What! is there no remedy, doctor! must I be
dock'd? can't you splice it?" "Assuredly, Doctor Mackshane," said the
first mate, "with submission, and deference, and veneration, to your
superior apilities, and opportunities, and stations, look you, I
do apprehend, and conjure, and aver, that there is no occasion nor
necessity to smite off this poor man's leg." "God Almighty bless you,
dear Welshman!" cried Rattlin, "may you have fair wind and weather
wheresoever you're bound, and come to an anchor in the road of heaven at
last!" Mackshane, very much incensed at his mate's differing in opinion
from him, so openly, answered, that he was not bound to give an account
of his practice to him; and in a peremptory tone, ordered him to apply
the tourniquet. At the sight of which, Jack, starting up, cried, "Avast,
avast! D--n my h