the life of horatio lord nelson-第18部分

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ern；　and　were　fired　into　in　a　masterly　style　by　the　EXCELLENT；　Captain　Collingwood。　The　SAN　ISIDRO　struck；　and　Nelson　thought　that　the　SALVADOR　struck　also。　〃But　Collingwood；〃　says　he；　〃disdaining　the　parade　of　taking　possession　of　beaten　enemies；　most　gallantly　pushed　up；　with　every　sail　set；　to　save　his　old　friend　and　messmate；　who　was　to　appearance　in　a　critical　situation；〃　for　the　CAPTAIN　was　at　this　time　actually　fired　upon　by　three　first…ratesby　the　SAN　NICOLAS；　and　by　a　seventy…four；　within　about　pistol…shot　of　that　vessel。　The　BLENHEIM　was　ahead；　the　CULLODEN　crippled　and　astern。　Collingwood　ranged　up；　and　hauling　up　his　mainsail　just　astern；　passed　within　ten　feet　of　the　SAN　NICOLAS；　giving　her　a　most　tremendous　fire；　then　passed　on　for　the　SANTISSIMA　TRINIDAD。　The　SAN　NICOLAS　luffing　up；　the　SAN　JOSEPH　fell　on　board　her；　and　Nelson　resumed　his　station　abreast　of　them；　and　close　alongside。　The　CAPTAIN　was　now　incapable　of　further　service；　either　in　the　line　or　in　chase：　she　had　lost　her　foretop…mast；　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