noon
`` He 's a confounded fool , Peter , '' said he : `` he thinks I am slipping my wind now -- but I know better ; going I am , 't is true -- but I sha n't die till next Thursday . '' Strange to say , from that moment he rallied ; and although it was reported that he was dead , and the admiral had signed the acting order for his successor , the next morning , to the astonishment of everybody , Captain Kearney was still alive . He continued in this state , between life and death , until the Thursday next , the day on which he asserted that he would die -- and , on that morning , he was evidently sinking fast . Towards noon , his breathing became much oppressed and irregular , and he was evidently dying ; the rattle in his throat commenced ; and I watched at his bedside , waiting for his last gasp , when he again opened his eyes , and beckoning me , with an effort , to put my head close to him to hear what he had to say , he contrived , in a sort of gurgling whisper , and with much difficulty , to utter -- `` Peter , I 'm going now -- not that the rattle -- in my throat -- is a sign of death : for I once knew a man -- to _ live _ with -- _ the rattle in his throat _ -- for _ six weeks _ . '' He fell back and expired , having , perhaps , at his last gasp , told the greatest lie of his whole life . Thus died this most extraordinary character , who , in most other points , commanded respect : he was a kind man and a good officer ; but from the idiosyncrasy of his disposition , whether from habit or from nature , could not speak the truth . I say from _ nature _ , because I have witnessed the vice of stealing equally strong , and never to be eradicated .