the life of horatio lord nelson-第20节
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not a sail； shroud； or rope was left； and her wheel was shot away。 Nelson therefore directed Captain Miller to put the helm a…starboard； and calling for the boarders； ordered them to board。
Captain Berry； who had lately been Nelson's first lieutenant； was the first man who leaped into the enemy's mizen chains。 Miller； when in the very act of going； was ordered by Nelson to remain。 Berry was supported from the spritsail…yard； which locked in the SAN NICOLAS's main rigging。 A soldier of the 69th broke the upper quarter…gallery window； and jumped in； followed by the commodore himself and by the others as fast as possible。 The cabin doors were fastened； and the Spanish officers fired their pistols at them through the window； the doors were soon forced； and the Spanish brigadier fell while retreating to the quarter…deck。 Nelson pushed on； and found Berry in possession of the poop； and the Spanish ensign hauling down。 He passed on to the forecastle； where he met two or three Spanish officers； and received their swords。 The English were now in full possession of every part of the ship； when a fire of pistols and musketry opened upon them from the admiral's stern… gallery of the SAN JOSEPH。 Nelson having placed sentinels at the different ladders； and ordered Captain Miller to send more men into the prize； gave orders for boarding that ship from the SAN NICOLAS。 It was done in an instant； he himself leading the way。 and exclaiming； 〃Westminster Abbey or victory！〃 Berry assisted him into the main chains； and at that moment a Spanish officer looked over the quarter…deck rail； and said they surrendered。 It was not long before he was on the quarter… deck； where the Spanish captain presented to him his sword； and told him the admiral was below dying of his wounds。 There； on the quarter…deck of an enemy's first…rate； he received the swords of the officers； giving them； as they were delivered； one by one to William Fearney； one of his old AGAMEMNONs； who； with the utmost coolness； put them under his arm； 〃bundling them up；〃 in the lively expression of Collingwood； 〃with as much composure as he would have made a faggot； though twenty…two sail of their line were still within gunshot。〃 One of his sailors came up； and with an Englishman's feeling took him by the hand； saying he might not soon have such another place to do it in； and he was heartily glad to see him there。 Twenty…four of the CAPTAIN's men were killed； and fifty… six wounded； a fourth part of the loss sustained by the whole squadron falling upon this ship。 Nelson received only a few bruises。
The Spaniards had still eighteen or nineteen ships which had suffered little or no injury： that part of the fleet which had been separated from the main body in the morning was now coming up； and Sir John Jervis made signal to bring to。 His ships could not have formed without abandoning those which they had captured； and running to leeward： the CAPTAIN was lying a perfect wreck on board her two prizes； and many of the other vessels were so shattered in their masts and rigging as to be wholly unmanageable。 The Spanish admiral meantime； according to his official account； being altogether undecided in his own opinion respecting the state of the fleet； inquired of his captains whether it was proper to renew the action； nine of them answered explicitly that it was not； others replied that it was expedient to delay the business。 The PELAYO and the PRINCE CONQUISTADOR were the only ships that were for fighting。
As soon as the action was discontinued； Nelson went on board the admiral's ship。 Sir John Jervis received him on the quarter…deck； took him in his arms； and said he could not sufficiently thank him。 For this victory the commander…in…chief was rewarded with the title of Earl St。 Vincent。 Nelson； who before the action was known in England had been advanced to the rank of rear…admiral； had the Order of the Bath given him。 The sword of the Spanish rear…admiral； which Sir John Jervis insisted upon his keeping； he presented to the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich； saying that he knew no place where it could give him or his family more pleasure to have it kept than in the capital city of the county where he was born。 The freedom of that city was voted him on this occasion。 But of all the numerous congratulations which he received； none could have affected him with deeper delight than that which came from his venerable father。 〃I thank my God；〃 said this excellent man； 〃with all the power of a grateful soul； for the mercies he has most graciously bestowed on me in preserving you。 Not only my few acquaintance here； but the people in general； met me at every corner with such handsome words； that I was obliged to retire from the public eye。 The height of glory to which your professional judgment； united with a proper degree of bravery； guarded by Providence； has raised you； few sons； my dear child； attain to； and fewer fathers live to see。 Tears of joy have involuntarily trickled down my furrowed cheeks： who could stand the force of such general congratulation？ The name and services of Nelson have sounded through this city of Bathfrom the common ballad… singer to the public theatre。〃 The good old man concluded by telling him that the field of glory； in which he had so long been conspicuous； was still open； and by giving him his blessing。
Sir Horatio； who had now hoisted his flag as rear…admiral of the blue； was sent to bring away the troops from Porto Ferrajo； having performed this； he shifted his flag to the THESEUS。 That ship； had taken part in the mutiny in England； and being just arrived from home； some danger was apprehended from the temper of the men。 This was one reason why Nelson was removed to her。 He had not been on board many weeks before a paper； signed in the name of all the ship's company； was dropped on the quarter…deck； containing these words： 〃Success attend Admiral Nelson！ God bless Captain Miller！ We thank them for the officers they have placed over us。 We are happy and comfortable； and will shed every drop of blood in our veins to support them； and the name of the THESEUS shall be immortalised as high as her captain's。〃 Wherever Nelson commanded； the men soon became attached to him； in ten days' time he would have restored the most mutinous ship in the navy to order。 Whenever an officer fails to win the affections of those who are under his command； he may be assured that the fault is chiefly in himself。
While Sir Horatio was in the THESEUS； he was employed in the command of the inner squadron at the blockade of Cadiz。 During this service； the most perilous action occurred in which he was ever engaged。 Making a night attack upon the Spanish gun…boats； his barge was attacked by an armed launch； under their commander； D。 Miguel Tregoyen； carrying 26 men。 Nelson had with him only his ten bargemen； Captain Freemantle； and his coxswain； John Sykes； an old and faithful follower； who twice saved the life of his admiral by parrying the blows that were aimed at him； and at last actually interposed his own head to receive the blow of a Spanish sabre； which he could not by any other means avert； thus dearly was Nelson beloved。 This was a desperate servicehand to hand with swords； and Nelson always considered that his personal courage was more conspicuous on this occasion than on any other during his whole life。 Notwithstanding the great disproportion of numbers； 18 of the enemy were killed； all the rest wounded； and their launch taken。 Nelson would have asked for a lieutenancy for Sykes； if he had served long enough； his manner and conduct； he observed； were so entirely above his situation； that Nature certainly intended him for a gentleman； but though he recovered from the dangerous wound which he received in this act of heroic attachment； he did not live to profit by the gratitude and friendship of his commander。
Twelve days after this rencontre； Nelson sailed at the head of an expedition against Teneriffe。 A report had prevailed a few months before； that the viceroy of Mexico； With the treasure ships； had put into that island。 This had led Nelson to meditate the plan of an attack upon it； which he communicated to Earl St。 Vincent。 He was perfectly aware of the difficulties of the attempt。 〃I do not；〃 said he； 〃reckon myself equal to Blake； but； if I recollect right； he was more obliged to the wind coming off the land than to any exertions of his own。 The approach by sea to the anchoring…place is under very high land； passing three valleys； therefore the wind is either in from the sea； or squally with calms from the mountains：〃 and he perceived that if the Spanish ships were won； the object would still be frustrated if the wind did not come off shore。 The land force； he thought； would render success certain； and there were the troops from Elba； with all necessary stores and artillery； already embarked。 〃But here；〃 said he； 〃soldiers must be consulted； and I know； from experience； they have not the same boldness in undertaking a political measure that we have： we look to the benefit of our country； and risk our own fame every day to serve her； a soldier obeys his orders； and no more。〃 Nelson's experience at Corsica justified him in this harsh opinion： he did not live to see the glorious
