"
"Amen," said Fullerton. "Amen," added the other three men. "Amen," said
the sick sailors; and the Amen rustled softly above the lower rustle of
the water that fled past the sides of the swift vessel. We shall see
this brave hospital ship again, for I want to dream of her for long and
many a day. Meantime, adieu, sweet lady; adieu.
APPENDIX A.
Since I set down a picture of my North Sea dream, I have passed through
a valley of shadows. The world of men seemed to be shut out; the Past
was forgotten, or, through the dark, vague trouble, Death smiled on me
coldly, as if to warn me that my pulses must soon be touched with ice.
In that strange trance my petty self was forgotten, and I waited quietly
till I should be bathed in the flood of bliss to which Death is but the
Portal. As from some dim, far land there came echoes of storm and
stress, and then swift visions of the sea flitted past my eyes. While
gazing languidly on the whirl of the snow, or listening to the thunder
of winds in the clamorous night, I thought, as it were in flashes, about
the fishermen who people the grey country that I used to know.
Nevermore, oh! nevermore shall I see the waves charging down on the
gallant smacks. All is gone: but my little share of a good work is done;
I have warmed both hands before the fire of Life; it sinks, and I am
ready to depart.
The dream has begun to come true in a way which is rather calculated to
astound most folks: a hospital vessel, the _Queen Victoria_, is actually
at work, and has gone out on the wintry sea just at the time when the
annual record of suffering reaches its most intense stage; a scheme at
which grave men naturally shook their heads has been shown to be
practicable, and we see once more that the visionary often has the most
accurate insight into the possibilities of action.
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