My grand-son, can you forgive the wrong that I have done you and yours?
Yes, grand-father, Walter replied, in the name of, and in behalf of my mother, I forgive you.
Did your mother speak of me? Did she bless or curse me?
She loved and prayed for you.
The old man, still holding Walter by the hand, fell back on his pillow exhausted. In a moment he opened his eyes and extended his other hand.
My Lord, addressing Lord Wallace, I forgive. Am I forgiven?
God be my Judge! exclaimed Lord Wallace. As I hope to be forgiven, so do I forgive you.
Then, said the Admiral, I will perform my last act, and I call upon all present to witness my last words. Here, in the presence of my God and these witnesses, I own and acknowledge the youth I hold by the hand to be my lawful heir—the son of my daughter Amelia. Captain Davis, I resign him to your care. Lay me down. My sails are spread for a distant clime. The rigging is taut. My anchor is hove for the last cruise. Jordan’s waters roll smoothly across the valley of death. Angels are my pilots. They know the course and all the reefs and rocks under the swells. Angels lead me. They are the children that went before me. They clasp my hand and press it to their hearts. Yes, it is they—it is Thomas and Amelia. Cast off, men—cast off! I am homeward bound. My eye is on the Polar Star. My anchor holds—yes it holds——
Here his voice became inaudible, but his lips moved. His voice is heard once more:
Peace, be still! and he fell back on his couch, dead.