the life of horatio lord nelson-第38部分

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　defiance　of　them。〃　At　length　Mr。　Bryerly；　the　master　of　the　BELLONA；　declared　that　he　was　prepared　to　lead　the　fleet；　his　judgment　was　acceded　to　by　the　rest；　they　returned　to　their　ships；　and　at　half…past　nine　the　signal　was　made　to　weigh　in　succession。

Captain　Murray；　in　the　EDGAR；　led　the　way；　the　AGAMEMNON　was　next　in　order；　but　on　the　first　attempt　to　leave　her　anchorage；　she　could　not　weather　the　edge　of　the　shoal；　and　Nelson　had　the　grief　to　see　his　old　ship；　in　which　he　had　performed　so　many　years'　gallant　services；　immovably　aground　at　a　moment　when　her　help　was　so　greatly　required。　Signal　was　then　made　for　the　POLYPHEMUS；　and　this　change　in　the　order　of　sailing　was　executed　with　the　utmost　promptitude：　yet　so　much　delay　had　thus　been　unavoidably　occasioned；　that　the　EDGAR　was　for　some　time　unsupported；　and　the　POLYPHEMUS；　whose　place　should　have　been　at　the　end　of　the　enemy's　line；　where　their　strength　was　the　greatest；　could　get　no　further　than　the　beginning；　owing　to　the　difficulty　of　the　channel：　there　she　occupied；　indeed；　an　efficient　station；　but　one　where　her　presence　was　less　required。　The　ISIS　followed　with　better　fortune；　and　took　her　own　berth。　The　BELLONA；　Sir　Thomas　Boulden　Thompson；　kept　too　close　on　the　starboard　shoal；　and　grounded　abreast　of　the　outer　ship　of　the　enemy：　this　was　the　more　vexatious；　inasmuch　as　the　wind　was　fair；　the　room　ample；　and　three　ships　had　led　the　way。　The　RUSSELL；　following　the　BELLONA；　grounded　in　like　manner：　both　were　within　reach　of　shot；　but　their　absence　from　their　intended　stations　was　severely　felt。　Each　ship　had　been　ordered　to　pass　her　leader　on　the　starboard　side；　because　the　water　was　supposed　to　shoal　on　the　larboard　shore。　Nelson；　who　came　next　after　these　two　ships；　thought　they　had　kept　too　far　on　the　starboard　direction；　and　made　signal　for　them　to　close　with　the　enemy；　not　knowing　that　they　were　aground；　but　when　he　perceived　that　they　did　not　obey　the　signal；　he　ordered　the　ELEPHANT's　helm　to　starboard；　and　went　within　these　ships：　thus　quitting　the　appointed　order　of　sailing；　and　guiding　those　which　were　to　follow。　The　greater　part　of　the　fleet　were　probably；　by　this　act　of　promptitude　on　his　part；　saved　from　going　on　shore。　Each　ship；　as　she　arrived　nearly　opposite　to　her　appointed　station；　let　her　anchor　go　by　the　stern；　and　presented　her　broadside　to　the　Danes。　The　distance　between　each　was　about　half　a　cable。　The　action　was　fought　nearly　at　the　distance　of　a　cable's　length　from　the　enemy。　This；　which　rendered　its　continuance　so　long；　was　owing　to　the　ignorance　and　consequent　indecision　of　the　pilots。　In　pursuance　of　the　same　error　which　had　led　the　BELLONA　and　the　RUSSELL　aground；　they；　when　the　lead　was　at　a　quarter　less　five；　refused　to　approach　nearer；　in　dread　of　shoaling　their　water　on　the　larboard　shore：　a　fear　altogether　erroneous；　for　the　water　deepened　up　to　the　very　side　of　the　enemy's　line　of　battle。

At　five　minutes　after　ten　the　action　began。　The　first　half　of　our　fleet　was　engaged　in　about　half　an　hour；　and　by　half…past　eleven　the　battle　became　general。　The　plan　of　the　attack　had　been　　complete：　but　seldom　has　any　plan　been　more　disconcerted　by　untoward　accidents。　Of　twelve　ships　of　the　line；　one　was　entirely　useless；　and　two　others　in　a　situation　where　they　could　not　render　half　the　service　which　was　required　of　them。　Of　the　squadron　of　gun…brigs；　only　one　could　get　into　action；　the　rest　were　prevented；　by　baffling　currents；　from　weathering　the　eastern　end　of　the　shoal；　and　only　two　of　the　bomb…vessels　could　reach　their　station　on　the　Middle　Ground；　and　open　their　mortars　on　the　arsenal；　firing　over　both　fleets。　Riou　took　the　vacant　station　against　the　Crown　Battery；　with　his　frigates：　attempting；　with　that　unequal　force；　a　service　in　which　three　sail　of　the　line　had　been　directed　to　assist。

Nelson's　agitation　had　been　extreme　when　he　saw　himself；　before　the　action　began；　deprived　of　a　fourth　part　of　his　ships　of　the　line；　but　no　sooner　was　he　in　battle；　where　his　squadron　was　received　with　the　fire　of　more　than　a　thousand　guns；　than；　as　if　that　artillery；　like　music；　had　driven　away　all　care　and　painful　thoughts；　his　countenance　brightened；　and；　as　a　bystander　describes　him；　his　conversation　became　joyous；　animated；　elevated；　and　delightful。　The　Commander…in…Chief　meantime；　near　enough　to　the　scene　of　action　to　know　the　unfavourable　accidents　which　had　so　materially　weakened　Nelson；　and　yet　too　distant　to　know　the　real　state　of　the　contending　parties；　suffered　the　most　dreadful　anxiety。　To　get　to　his　assistance　was　impossible；　both　wind　and　current　were　against　him。　Fear　for　the　event；　in　such　circumstances；　would　naturally　preponderate　in　the　bravest　mind；　and　at　one　o'clock；　perceiving　that；　after　three　hours'　endurance；　the　enemy's　fire　was　unslackened；　he　began　to　despair　of　success。　〃I　will　make　the　signal　of　recall；〃　said　he　to　his　captain；　〃for　Nelson's　sake。　If　he　is　in　a　condition　to　continue　the　action　successfully；　he　will　disregard　it；　if　he　is　not；　it　will　be　an　excuse　for　his　retreat；　and　no　blame　can　be　imputed　to　him。〃　Captain　Domett　urged　him　at　least　to　delay　the　signal　till　he　could　communicate　with　Nelson；　but　in　Sir　Hyde's　opinion　the　danger　was　too　pressing　for　delay。　〃The　fire；〃　he　said；〃was　too　hot　for　Nelson　to　oppose；　a　retreat　he　thought　must　be　made；　he　was　aware　of　the　consequences　to　his　own　personal　reputation；　but　it　would　be　cowardly　in　him　to　leave　Nelson　to　bear　the　whole　shame　of　the　failure；　if　shame　it　should　be　deemed。〃　Under；　a　mistaken　judgment；　therefore；　but　with　this　disinterested　and　generous　feeling；　he　made　the　signal　for　retreat。

Nelson　was　at　this　time；　in　all　the　excitement　of　action；　pacing　the　quarter…deck。　A　shot　through　the　mainmast　knocked　the　splinters　about；　and　he　observed　to　one　of　his　officers　with　a　smile；　〃It　is　warm　work；　and　this　day　may　be　the　last　to　any　of　us　at　a　moment：〃and　then　stopping　short　at　the　gangway；　added；　with　emotion〃But　mark　you！　I　would　not　be　elsewhere　for　thousands。〃　About　this　time　the　signal…　lieutenant　called　out　that　number　Thirty…nine　（the　signal　for　discontinuing　the　action）　was　thrown　out　by　the　Commander…in…Chief。　He　continued　to　walk　the　deck；　and　appeared　to　take　no　notice　of　it。　The　signal　officer　met　him　at　the　next　turn；　and　asked　if　he　should　repeat　it。　〃No；〃　he　replied；　〃acknowledge　it。〃　Presently　he　called　after　him　to　know　if　the　signal　for　close　action　was　still　hoisted；　and　being　answered　in　the　affirmative；　said；　〃Mind　you　keep　it　so。〃　He　now　paced　the　deck；　moving　the　stump　of　his　lost　arm　in　a　manner　which　always　indicated　great　emotion。　〃Do　you　know；〃　said　he　to　Mr。　Ferguson；　〃what　is　shown　on　board　the　Commander…in…Chief？　Number　Thirty…nine！〃　Mr。　Ferguson　asked　what　that　meant。　〃Why；　to　leave　off　action！〃　Then　shrugging　up　his　shoulders；　he　repeated　the　words〃Leave　off　action？　Now；　damn　me　if　I　do！　You　know；　Foley；〃　turning　to　the　captain；　〃I　have　only　one　eye；I　have　a　right　to　be　blind　sometimes：〃　and　then　putting　the　glass　to　his　blind　eye；　in　that　mood　of　mind　which　sports　with　bitterness；　he　exclaimed；　〃I　really　do　not　see　the　signal！〃　Presently　he　exclaimed；　〃Damn　the　signal！　Keep　mine　for　closer　battle　flying！　That's　the　way　I　answer　signals！　Nail　mine　to　the　mast！〃　Admiral　Graves；　who　was　so　situated　that　he　could　not　discern　what　was　done　on　board　the　ELEPHANT；　disobeyed　Sir　Hyde's　signal　in　like　manner；　whether　by　fortunate　mistake；　or　by　a　like　brave　intention；　has　not　been　made　known。　The　other　ships　of　the　line；　looking　only　to　Nelson；　continued　the　action。　The　signal；　however；　saved　Riou's　little　squadron；　but　did　not　save　its　heroic　leader。　This　squadron；　which　was　nearest　the　Commander…in…Chief；　obeyed　and　hauled　off。　It　had　suffered　severely　in　its　most　unequal　contest。　For　a　long　time　the　AMAZON　had　been　firing；　enveloped　in　smoke；　when　Riou　desired　his　men　to　stand　fast；　and　let　the　smoke　clear　off；　that　they　might　see　what　they　were　about。　A　fatal　orderfor　the　Danes　then　got　clear　sight　of　her　from　the　batteries；　and　pointed　their　guns　with　such　tremendous　effect　that　nothing　but　the　signal　for　retreat　saved　this　frigate　from　destruction。　〃What　will　Nelson　think　of　us？〃　was　Riou's　mournful　exclamation　when　he　unwillingly　drew　off。　He　had　been　wounded　in　the　head　by　a　splinter；　and　was　sitting　on　a　gun；　encouraging　his　men；　when；　just　as　the　AMAZON　showed　her　stern　to　the　Trekroner　battery；　his　clerk　was　killed　by　his　side；　and　another　shot　swept　away　several　marines　who　were　hauling　in　the　main…brace。　〃Come；　then；　my　boys！〃　cried　Riou；　〃let　us　die　all　together！〃　The　words　had　scarcely　been　uttered　before　a　raking　shot　cut　him　in　two。　Except　it　had　been　Nelson　himself；　the　British　navy　could　not　have　suffered　a　severer　loss。

The　action　continued　along　the　line　with　unabated　vigour　on　our　side；　and　with　the　most　determined　resolution　on　the　part　of　the　Danes。　They　fought　to　great　advantage；　because　most　of　the　vessels　in　their　line　of　defence　were　without　masts；　the　few　which　had　any　standing　had　their　top…masts　struck；　and　the　hulls　could　not　be　seen　at　intervals。　The　ISIS　must　have　been　destroyed　by　the　superior　weight　of　her　enemy's　fire；　if　Captain　Inman；　in　the　DESIREE　frigate；　had　not　judiciously　taken　a　situation　which　enabled　him　to　rake　the　Dane；　if　the　POLYPHEMUS　had　not　also　relieved　her。　Both　in　the　BELLONA　and　the　ISIS　many　men　were　lost　by　the　bursting　of　their　guns。　The　former　ship　was　about　forty　years　old；　and　these　guns　were　believed　to　be　the　same　which　she　had　first　taken　to　sea：　they　were；　probably；　originally　faulty；　for　the　fragments　were　full　of　little　air…holes。　The　BELLONA　lost　75　men；　the　ISIS；　110；　the　　MONARCH；　210。　She　was；　more　than　any　other　line…of…battle　ship；　exposed　to　the　great　battery；　and　supporting；　at　the　same　time；　the　united　fire　of　the　HOLSTEIN　and　the　ZEALAND；　her　loss　this　day　exceeded　that　of　any　single　ship　during　the　whole　war。　Amid　the　tremendous　carnage　in　this　vessel；　some　of　the　men　displayed　a　singular　instance　of　coolness：　the　pork　and　peas　happened　to　be　in　the　kettle；　a　shot　knocked　its　contents　about；　they　picked　up　the　pieces；　and　ate　and　fought　at　the　same　time。

The　Prince…Royal　had　taken　his　station　upon　one　of　the　batteries；　from　whence　he　beheld　th