the life of horatio lord nelson-第39部分
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time。
The Prince…Royal had taken his station upon one of the batteries； from whence he beheld the action and issued his orders。 Denmark had never been engaged in so arduous a contest； and never did the Danes more nobly display their national couragea courage not more unhappily than impolitically exerted in subserviency to the interests of France。 Captain Thura； of the INDFOEDSRETTEN； fell early in the action； and all his officers； except one lieutenant and one marine officer； were either killed or wounded In the confusion； the colours were either struck or shot away； but she was moored athwart one of the batteries in such a situation that the British made no attempt to board her； and a boat was despatched to the prince； to inform him of her situation。 He turned to those about him； and said； 〃Gentlemen； Thura is killed； which of you will take the command？〃 Schroedersee； a captain who had lately resigned on account of extreme ill…health； answered in a feeble voice； 〃I will！〃 and hastened on board。 The crew； perceiving a new commander coming alongside； hoisted their colours again； and fired a broadside。 Schroedersee； when he came on deck； found himself surrounded by the dead and wounded； and called to those in the boat to get quickly on board： a ball struck him at that moment。 A lieutenant； who had accompanied him； then took the command； and continued to fight the ship。 A youth of seventeen； by name Villemoes； particularly distinguished himself on this memorable day。 He had volunteered to take the command of a floating battery； which was a raft； consisting merely of a number of beams nailed together； with a flooring to support the guns： it was square； with a breast…work full of port…holes； and without masts carrying twenty…four guns； and one hundred and twenty men。 With this he got under the stern of the ELEPHANT； below the reach of the stern… chasers； and under a heavy fire of small…arms from the marines； fought his raft； till the truce was announced； with such skill as well as courage； as to excite Nelson's warmest admiration。
Between one and two the fire of the Danes slackened； about two it ceased from the greater part of their line； and some of their lighter ships were adrift。 It was； however； difficult to take possession of those which struck； because the batteries on Amak Island protected them； and because an irregular fire was kept up from the ships themselves as the boats approached。 This arose from the nature of the action： the crews were continually reinforced from the shore； and fresh men coming on board； did not inquire whether the flag had been struck； or； perhaps； did not heed it； many or most of them never having been engaged in war beforeknowing nothing； therefore； of its laws； and thinking only of defending their country to the last extremity。 The DANBROG fired upon the ELEPHANT's boats in this manner； though her commodore had removed her pendant and deserted her； though she had struck； and though she was in flames。 After she had been abandoned by the commodore； Braun fought her till he lost his right hand； and then Captain Lemming took the command。 This unexpected renewal of her fire made the ELEPHANT and GLATTON renew theirs； till she was not only silenced； but nearly every man in the praams； ahead and astern of her； was killed。 When the smoke of their guns died away； she was seen drifting in flames before the wind： those of her crew who remained alive； and able to exert themselves； throwing themselves out at her port…holes。 Captain Bertie of the ARDENT sent his launch to their assistance； and saved three…and… twenty of them。
Captain Rothe commanded the NYEBORG praam； and perceiving that she could not much longer be kept afloat； made for the inner road。 As he passed the line； he found the AGGERSHUUS praam in a more miserable condition than his own； her masts had all gone by the board； and she was on the point of sinking。 Rothe made fast a cable to her stern； and towed her off； but he could get her no further than a shoal called Stubben； when she sunk； and soon after he had worked the NYEBORG up to the landing…place； that vessel also sunk to her gunwale。 Never did any vessel come out of action in a more dreadful plight。 The stump of her foremast was the only stick standing； her cabin had been stove in； every gun； except a single one； was dismounted； and her deck was covered with shattered limbs and dead bodies。
By half…past two the action had ceased along that part of the line which was astern of the ELEPHANT； but not with the ships ahead and the Crown Batteries。 Nelson； seeing the manner in which his boats were fired upon when they went to take possession of the prizes； became angry； and said he must either send ashore to have this irregular proceeding stopped； or send a fire…ship and burn them。 Half the shot from the Trekroner； and from the batteries at Amak； at this time； struck the surrendered ships； four of which had got close together； and the fire of the English； in return； was equally or even more destructive to these poor devoted Danes。 Nelson； who was as humane as he was brave； was shocked at the massacrefor such he called it； and with a presence of mind peculiar to himself； and never more signally displayed than now； he retired into the stern gallery； and wrote thus to the Crown Prince： 〃Vice…Admiral Lord Nelson has been commanded to spare Denmark when she no longer resists。 The line of defence which covered her shores has struck to the British flag； but if the firing is continued on the part of Denmark； he must set on fire all the prizes that he has taken； without having the power of saving the men who have so nobly defended them。 The brave Danes are the brothers； and should never be the enemies； of the English。〃 A wafer was given him； but he ordered a candle to be brought from the cockpit； and sealed the letter with wax； affixing a larger seal than he ordinarily used。 〃This；〃 said he； 〃is no time to appear hurried and informal。〃 Captain Sir Frederick Thesiger； who acted as his aide…de…camp； carried this letter with a flag of truce。 Meantime the fire of the ships ahead； and the approach of the RAMILLIES and DEFENCE from Sir Hyde's division； which had now worked near enough to alarm the enemy； though not to injure them； silenced the remainder of the Danish line to the eastward of the Trekroner。 That battery； however； continued its fire。 This formidable work； owing to the want of the ships which had been destined to attack it； and the inadequate force of Riou's little squadron； was comparatively uninjured。 Towards the close of the action it had been manned with nearly fifteen hundred men； and the intention of storming it； for which every preparation had been made； was abandoned as impracticable。
During Thesiger's absence； Nelson sent for Freemantle； from the GANGES； and consulted with him and Foley whether it was advisable to advance； with those ships which had sustained least damage； against the yet uninjured part of the Danish line。 They were decidedly of opinion that the best thing which could be done was； while the wind continued fair； to remove the fleet out of the intricate channel from which it had to retreat。 In somewhat more than half an hour after Thesiger had been despatched； the Danish adjutant…general； Lindholm came； bearing a flag of truce； upon which the Trekroner ceased to fire； and the action closed； after four hours' continuance。 He brought an inquiry from the prince；What was the object of Nelson's note？ The British admiral wrote in reply：〃Lord Nelson's object in sending the flag of truce was human… ity； he therefore consents that hostilities shall cease； and that the wounded Danes may be taken on shore。 And Lord Nelson will take his prisoners out of the vessels； and burn or carry off his prizes as he shall think fit。 Lord Nelson； with humble duty to his royal highness the prince； will consider this the greatest victory he has ever gained； if it may be the cause of a happy reconciliation and union between his own most gracious sovereign and his majesty the King of Denmark。〃 Sir Frederick Thesiger was despatched a second time with the reply； and the Danish adjutant…general was referred to the commander…in…chief for a conference upon this overture。 Lindholm assenting to this； proceeded to the LONDON； which was riding at anchor full four miles off and Nelson； losing not one of the critical moments which he had thus gained； made signal for his leading ships to weigh in succession； they had the shoal to clear； they were much crippled； and their course was immediately under the guns of the Trekroner。
The MONARCH led the way。 This ship had received six…and…twenty shot between wind and water。 She had not a shroud standing； there was a double…headed shot in the heart of her foremast； and the slightest wind would have sent every mast over her side。 The imminent danger from which Nelson had extricated himself soon became apparent： the MONARCH touched immediately upon a shoal； over which she was pushed by the GANGES taking her amidships； the GLATTON went clear； but the other two； the DEFIANCE and the ELEPHANT； grounded about a mile from the Trekroner； and there remained fixed for many hours； in spite of all the exertions of their wearied crews。 The DESIREE frigate also； at the other end of the line； having gone toward the close of the action to assist the BELLONA； became fast on the same shoal。 Nelson left the ELEPHANT soon after she took the ground； to follow Lindholm。 The heat of the action was over； and that kind of feeling which the surrounding scene of havoc was so well fitted to produce； pressed heavily upon his exhausted spirits。 The sky had suddenly become overcast； white flags were waving from the mast…heads of so many shattered ships； the slaughter had ceased； but the grief was to come； for the account of the dead was not yet made up； and no man could tell for what friends he might have to mourn。 The very silence which follows the cessation of such a battle becomes a weight upon the heart at first； rather than a relief； and though the work of mutual destruction was at an end； the DANBROG was at this time drifting about in flames； presently she blew up； while our boats； which had put off in all directions to assist her； were endeavouring to pick up her devoted crew； few of whom could
