When we were safely at anchor, out of reach of the guns, I thought of
the package for Louise which he had left in my care. It was not sealed,
but simply tied, and the captain said, in view of the relation which he
and Charley had sustained to each other, he would take the
responsibility of opening it, and ascertaining its contents before it
should be delivered. There was an ambrotype of the sweet young girl, and
a letter written in French, breathing all the devotion of a true and
faithful heart. The following is a correct translation of its closing
sentences: "Good by, Louise! My darling! My own one! When this reaches
you, I shall be in the grave, but we shall meet again, and love each
other forever. Adieu, my love! I kiss you for the last time!" On the
glass, covering the picture, was plainly visible the print of his ardent
lips, so soon to be chilled in death.
There were hair-breadth escapes on board the "Albatross" that night, but
not another man was killed or wounded.
Many will regard this singular presentiment and its literal fulfilment
as merely a remarkable coincidence. I have stated only the simple facts
in the case, as they occurred under my own observation; and to me, at
least, they furnish additional evidence that "there are more things in
heaven and earth than are dreamed of in our philosophy."