the life of horatio lord nelson-第58节
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ets under his command waited for the attack with perfect coolness。 Ten minutes before twelve they opened their fire。 Eight or nine of the ships immediately ahead of the VICTORY； and across her bows； fired single guns at her； to ascertain whether she was yet within their range。 As soon as Nelson perceived that their shot passed over him； he desired Blackwood and Captain Prowse； of the SIRIUS； to repair to their respective frigates； and； on their way； to tell all the captains of the line…of…battle ships that he depended on their exertions； and that if； by the prescribed mode of attack； they found it impracticable to get into action immediately； they might adopt whatever they thought best； provided it led them quickly and closely alongside an enemy。 As they were standing on the front of the poop； Blackwood took him by the hand； saying； he hoped soon to return and find him in possession of twenty prizes。 He replied； 〃God bless you； Blackwood； I shall never see you again。〃
Nelson's column was steered about two points more to the north than Collingwood's； in order to cut off the enemy's escape into Cadiz： the lee line； therefore； was first engaged。 〃See；〃 cried Nelson； pointing to the ROYAL SOVEREIGN； as she steered right for the centre of the enemy's line； cut through it astern of the SANTA ANNA three…decker； and engaged her at the muzzle of her guns on the starboard side〃see how that noble fellow； Collingwood； carries his ship into action！〃 Collingwood； delighted at being first in the heat of the fire； and knowing the feelings of his commander and old friend； turned to his captain； and exclaimed： 〃Rotherham； what would Nelson give to be here？〃 Both these brave officers； perhaps； at this moment； thought of Nelson with gratitude； for a circumstance which had occurred on the preceding day。 Admiral Collingwood； with some of the captains； having gone on board the VICTORY to receive instructions； Nelson inquired of him where his captain was and was told； in reply； that they were not upon good terms with each other。 〃Terms！〃 said Nelson；〃good terms with each other！〃 Immediately he sent a boat for Captain Rotherham； led him； as soon as he arrived； to Collingwood； and saying；〃Look； yonder are the enemy！〃 bade them shake hands like Englishmen。
The enemy continued to fire a gun at a time at the VICTORY； till they saw that a shot had passed through her main…top…gallant sail； then they opened their broadsides； aiming chiefly at her rigging； in the hope of disabling her before she could close with them。 Nelson； as usual； had hoisted several flags； lest one should be shot away。 The enemy showed no colours till late in the action； when they began to feel the necessity of having them to strike。 For this reason； the SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD； Nelson's old acquaintance； as he used to call her； was distinguishable only by her four decks； and to the bow of this opponent he ordered the VICTORY to be steered。 Meantime an incessant raking fire was kept up upon the VICTORY。 The admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell； he was killed by a cannon…shot while conversing with Hardy。 Captain Adair of the marines； with the help of a sailor； endeavoured to remove the body from Nelson's sight； who had a great regard for Mr。 Scott； but he anxiously asked： 〃Is that poor Scott that's gone？〃 and being informed that was indeed so； exclaimed： 〃Poor fellow！〃 Presently； a double…headed shot struck a party of marines who were drawn up on the poop； and killed eight of them； upon which Nelson immediately desired Captain Adair to disperse his men round the ship； that they might not suffer so much from being together。 A few minutes afterwards a shot struck the four…brace bits on the quarter…deck； and passed between Nelson and Hardy； a splinter from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle； and bruising his foot。 Both stopped； and looked anxiously at each other； each supposed the other to be wounded。 Nelson then smiled； and said； 〃This is too warm work； Hardy； to last long。〃
The VICTORY had not yet returned a single gun： fifty of her men had been by this time killed or wounded； and her main…top…mast； with all her studding…sails and her booms； shot away。 Nelson declared； that； in all his battles； he had seen nothing which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on this occasion。 At four minutes after twelve she opened her fire from both sides of her deck。 It was not possible to break the enemy's line without running on board one of their ships： Hardy informed him of this； and asked him which he would prefer。 Nelson replied： 〃Take your choice； Hardy； it does not signify much。〃 The master was ordered to put the helm to port； and the VICTORY ran on board the REDOUTABLE； just as her tiller ropes were shot away。 The French ship received her with a broadside； then instantly let down her lower…deck ports； for fear of being bearded through them； and never afterwards fired a great gun during the action。 Her tops； like those of all the enemy's ships； were filled with riflemen。 Nelson never placed musketry in his tops； he had a strong dislike to the practice； not merely because it endangers setting fire to the sails； but also because it is a murderous sort of warfare； by which individuals may suffer； and a commander now and then be picked off； but which never can decide the fate of a general engagement。
Captain Harvey； in the TEMERAIRE； fell on board the REDOUTABLE on the other side。 Another enemy was in like manner on board the TEMERAIRE； so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together； their heads lying all the same way。 The lieutenants of the VICTORY； seeing this； depressed their guns of the middle and lower decks； and fired with a diminished charge； lest the shot should pass through； and injure the TEMERAIRE。 And because there was danger that the REDOUBTABLE might take fire from the lower…deck guns； the muzzles of which touched her side when they were run out； the fireman of each gun stood ready with a bucket of water； which； as soon as the gun was discharged； he dashed into the hole made by the shot。 An incessant fire was kept up from the VICTORY from both sides； her larboard guns playing upon the BUCENTAURE and the huge SANTISSIMA TRINIDAD。
It had been part of Nelson's prayer that the British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected。 Setting an example himself； he twice gave orders to cease firing upon the REDOUTABLE； supposing that she had struck； because her great guns were silent； for as she carried no flag； there were no means of instantly ascertaining the fact。 From this ship； which he had thus twice spared； he received his death。 A ball fired from her mizzen…top； which； in the then situation of the two vessels； was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing； struck the epaulette on his left shoulder； about a quarter after one； just in the heat of action。 He fell upon his face； on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood。 Hardy； who was a few steps from him； turning round； saw three men raising him up。〃They have done for me at last； Hardy；〃 said he。〃I hope not；〃 cried Hardy。〃Yes！〃 he replied；〃my back…bone is shot through。〃 Yet even now； not for a moment losing his presence of mind； he observed； as they were carrying him down the ladder； that the tiller ropes； which had been shot away； were not yet replaced； and ordered that new ones should be rove immediately。 Then； that he might not be seen by the crew； he took out his handkerchief； and covered his face and his stars。 Had he but concealed these badges of honour from the enemy； England； perhaps； would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar。 The cockpit was crowded with wounded and dying men； over whose bodies he was with some difficulty conveyed； and laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's berth。 It was soon perceived； upon examination； that the wound was mortal。 This； however； was concealed from all except Captain Hardy； the chaplain； and the medical attendants。 He himself being certain； from the sensation in his back； and the gush of blood he felt momently within his breast； that no human care could avail him； insisted that the surgeon should leave him； and attend to those to whom he might be useful； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃you can do nothing for me。〃 All that could be done was to fan him with paper； and frequently to give him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst。 He was in great pain； and expressed much anxiety for the event of the action； which now began to declare itself。 As often as a ship struck； the crew of the VICTORY hurrahed； and at every hurrah a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eyes； and marked the countenance of the dying hero。 But he became impatient to see Captain Hardy； and as that officer； though often sent for； could not leave the deck； Nelson feared that some fatal cause prevented him； and repeatedly cried； 〃Will no one bring Hardy to me？ He must be killed！ He is surely dead！〃 An hour and ten minutes elapsed from the time when Nelson received his wound before Hardy could come to him。 They shook hands in silence； Hardy in vain struggling to repress the feelings of that most painful and yet sublimest moment。 〃Well； Hardy；〃 said Nelson； 〃how goes the
