noon
`` Oh , friend , let me die so good that Miss Vesty and my father can come and kiss me ! '' `` Tell me about Princess Anne an ' my dear old Marster Meshach Milburn , dat I ` se leff so long , Virgie ! '' the old pugilist said , wiping his eyes of tears . She began to try to remember , but faces and events ran into each other , and she felt aware that her mind was wandering , but could not bring it back ; and so the boat , sailing in sight of the ocean and the stately ships there , grounded after noon almost within sound of the surf . Sheltered in a piece of woods for some hours , Virgie found herself , at dark , carried in old Samson 's arms up a beach of the sea where the sand was yielding and seldom firm , except at the very edge of the surf , which rolled ominously and at times became a roar , and often swept to the low , sedgy bank . Lightning played across the black sea , lifting it up , as it seemed , and showing vessels making either out or in , and finally thunder burst upon the gathering confusion , and Samson said : `` Dar 's a gun in dat thunder ! '' The next flash of lightning showed a vessel close to the shore , coming rapidly in on the southeaster , and her gun was fired again , and feeble hailing was heard ; but the storm now broke all at once , and a wave threw Samson to the ground and nearly carried Virgie back with it to the boiling sea ; but the faithful old man fought for her , and she ran at his side , uttering no complaint , till once , as they stopped to get breath , and the heavenly fire drew into sight every foot , as it seemed , of that vast ocean , cannonading it also with majestic artillery , the girl sighed , `` Freedom is beautiful ! ''