Once--twice, I was struck with cruel force upon the head--then a loud roaring in my ears drowned everything.
I can remember well the first return of consciousness.

It was like the slow breaking of dawn in the sky.

I could hear voices singing: Hark! hark! my soul! angelic voices swelling O'er earth's green fields and ocean's wave-beat shore.
I could just distinguish those words.

Where was I?
Strange thoughts began trooping through my mind.

Then a great wave of emotion swept over me.