the life of horatio lord nelson-第21章

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hips　to　form　as　most　convenient　for　their　mutual　support；　and　to　anchor　by　the　stern。　〃First　gain　the　victory；〃　he　said；〃and　then　make　the　best　use　of　it　you　can。〃　The　moment　he　perceived　the　position　of　the　French；　that　intuitive　genius　with　which　Nelson　was　endowed　displayed　itself；　and　it　instantly　struck　him　that　where　there　was　room　for　an　enemy's　ship　to　swing；　there　was　room　for　one　of　ours　to　anchor。　The　plan　which　he　intended　to　pursue；　therefore；　was　to　keep　entirely　on　the　outer　side　of　the　French　line；　and　station　his　ships；　as　far　as　he　was　able；　one　on　the　outer　bow；　and　another　　on　the　outer　quarter；　of　each　of　the　enemy's。　This　plan　of　doubling　on　the　enemy's　ships　was　projected　by　Lord　Hood；　when　he　designed　to　attack　the　French　fleet　at　their　anchorage　in　Gourjean　Road。　Lord　Hood　found　it　impossible　to　make　the　attempt；　but　the　thought　was　not　lost　upon　Nelson；　who　acknowledged　himself；　on　this　occasion；　indebted　for　it　to　his　old　and　excellent　commander。　Captain　Berry；　when　he　comprehended　the　scope　of　the　design；　exclaimed　with　transport；　〃If　we　succeed；　what　will　the　world　say　？〃　　〃There　is　no　IF　in　the　case；〃　replied　the　admiral：　〃that　we　shall　succeed　is　certain；　who　may　live　to　tell　the　story　is　a　very　different　question。〃

As　the　squadron　advanced；　they　were　assailed　by　a　shower　of　shot　and　shells　from　the　batteries　on　the　island；　and　the　enemy　opened　a　steady　fire　from　the　starboard　side　of　their　whole　line；　within　half　gunshot　distance；　full　into　the　bows　of　our　van　ships。　It　was　received　in　silence：　the　men　on　board　every　ship　were　employed　aloft　in　furling　sails；　and　below　in　tending　the　braces　and　making　ready　for　anchoring。　A　miserable　sight　for　the　French；　who；　with　all　their　skill；　and　all　their　courage；　and　all　their　advantages　of　numbers　and　situation；　were　upon　that　element　on　which；　when　the　hour　of　trial　comes；　a　Frenchman　has　no　hope。　Admiral　Brueys　was　a　brave　and　able　man；　yet　the　indelible　character　of　his　country　broke　out　in　one　of　his　letters；　wherein　he　delivered　it　as　his　private　opinion；　that　the　English　had　missed　him；　because；　not　being　superior　in　force；　they　did　not　think　it　prudent　to　try　their　strength　with　him。　The　moment　was　now　come　in　which　he　was　to　be　undeceived。

A　French　brig　was　instructed　to　decoy　the　English　by　manoeuvring　so　as　to　tempt　them　toward　a　shoal　lying　off　the　island　of　Bekier；　but　Nelson　either　knew　the　danger　or　suspected　some　deceit；　and　the　lure　was　unsuccessful。　Captain　Foley　led　the　way　in　the　GOLIATH；　outsailing　the　ZEALOUS；　which　for　some　minutes　disputed　this　post　of　honour　with　him。　He　had　long　conceived　that　if　the　enemy　were　moored　in　line　of　battle　in　with　the　land；　the　best　plan　of　attack　would　be　to　lead　between　them　and　the　shore；　because　the　French　guns　on　that　side　were　not　likely　to　be　manned；　nor　even　ready　for　action。　Intending；　therefore；　to　fix　himself　on　the　inner　bow　of　the　GUERRIER；　he　kept　as　near　the　edge　of　the　bank　as　the　depth　of　water　would　admit；　but　his　anchor　hung；　and　having　opened　his　fire　he　drifted　to　the　second　ship；　the　CONQUERANT；　before　it　was　clear；　then　anchored　by　the　stern　inside　of　her；　and　in　ten　minutes　shot　away　her　mast。　Hood；　in　the　ZEALOUS；　perceiving　this；　took　the　station　which　the　GOLIATH　intended　to　have　occupied；　and　totally　disabled　the　GUERRIER　in　twelve　minutes。　The　third　ship　which　doubled　the　enemy's　van　was　the　ORION；　Sir　J。　Saumarez；　she　passed　to　windward　of　the　ZEALOUS；　and　opened　her　larboard　guns　as　long　as　they　bore　on　GUERRIER；　then；　passing　inside　the　GOLIATH；　sunk　a　frigate　which　annoyed　her；　hauled　round　toward　the　French　line；　and　anchoring　inside；　between　the　fifth　and　sixth　ships　from　the　GUERRIER；　took　her　station　on　the　larboard　bow　of　the　FRANKLIN　and　the　quarter　of　the　PEUPLE　SOUVERAIN；　receiving　and　returning　the　fire　of　both。　The　sun　was　now　nearly　down。　The　AUDACIOUS；　Captain　Could；　pouring　a　heavy　fire　into　the　GUERRIER　and　the　CONQUERANT；　fixed　herself　on　the　larboard　bow　of　the　latter；　and　when　that　ship　struck；　passed　on　to　the　PEUPLE　SOUVERAIN。　The　THESEUS；　Capt　Miller；　followed；　brought　down　the　GUERRIER's　remaining　main　and　mizzen　masts；　then　anchored　inside　of　the　SPARTIATE；　the　third　in　the　French　line。

While　these　advanced　ships　doubled　the　French　line；　the　VANGUARD　was　the　first　that　anchored　on　the　outer　side　of　the　enemy；　within　half　pistol…shot　of　their　third　ship；　the　SPARTIATE。　Nelson　had　six　colours　flying　in　different　parts　of　his　rigging；　lest　they　should　be　shot　away；　that　they　should　be　struck；　no　British　admiral　considers　as　a　possibility。　He　veered　half　a　cable；　and　instantly　opened　a　tremendous　fire；　under　cover　of　which　the　other　four　ships　of　his　division；　the　MINOTAUR；　BELLEROPHON；　DEFENCE；　and　MAJESTIC；　sailed　on　ahead　of　the　admiral。　In　a　few　minutes；　every　man　stationed　at　the　first　six　guns　in　the　fore　part　of　the　VANGUARD's　deck　was　killed　or　wounded。　These　guns　were　three　times　cleared。　Captain　Louis；　in　the　MINOTAUR；　anchored　just　ahead；　and　took　off　the　fire　of　the　AQUILON；　the　fourth　in　the　enemy's　line。　The　BELLEROPHON；　Captain　Darby；　passed　ahead；　and　dropped　her　stern　anchor　on　the　starboard　bow　of　the　ORIENT；　seventh　in　the　line；　Brueys'　own　ship；　of　one　hundred　and　twenty　guns；　whose　difference　of　force　was　in　proportion　of　more　than　seven　to　three；　and　whose　weight　of　ball；　from　the　lower　deck　alone；　exceeded　that　from　the　whole　broadside　of　the　BELLEROPHON。　Captain　Peyton；　in　the　DEFENCE；　took　his　station　ahead　of　the　MINOTAUR；　and　engaged　the　FRANKLIN；　the　sixth　in　the　line；　by　which　judicious　movement　the　British　line　remained　unbroken。　The　MAJESTIC；　Captain　Westcott；　got　entangled　with　the　main　rigging　of　one　of　the　French　ships　astern　of　the　ORIENT；　and　suffered　dreadfully　from　that　three…decker's　fire；　but　she　swung　clear；　and　closely　engaging　the　HEUREUX；　the　ninth　ship　on　the　starboard　bow；　received　also　the　fire　of　the　TONNANT；　which　was　the　eighth　in　the　line。　The　other　four　ships　of　the　British　squadron；　having　been　detached　previous　to　the　discovery　of　the　French；　were　at　a　considerable　distance　when　the　action　began。　It　commenced　at　half　after　six；　about　seven　night　closed；　and　there　was　no　other　light　than　that　from　the　fire　of　the　contending　fleets。

Troubridge；　in　the　CULLODEN；　then　foremost　of　the　remaining　ships；　was　two　leagues　astern。　He　came　on　sounding；　as　the　others　had　done：　as　he　advanced；　the　increasing　darkness　increased　the　difficulty　of　the　navigation；　and　suddenly；　after　having　found　eleven　fathoms　water；　before　the　lead　could　be　hove　again　he　was　fast　aground；　nor　could　all　his　own　exertions；　joined　with　those　of　the　LEANDER　and　the　MUTINE　brig；　which　came　to　his　assistance；　get　him　off　in　time　to　bear　a　part　in　the　action。　His　ship；　however；　served　as　a　beacon　to　the　ALEXANDER　and　SWIFTSURE；　which　would　else；　from　the　course　which　they　were　holding；　have　gone　considerably　further　on　the　reef；　and　must　inevitably　have　been　lost。　These　ships　entered　the　bay；　and　took　their　stations　in　the　darkness；　in　a　manner　still　spoken　of　with　admiration　by　all　who　remember　it。　Captain　　Hallowell；　in　the　SWIFTSURE；　as　he　was　bearing　down；　fell　in　with　what　seemed　to　be　a　strange　sail。　Nelson　had　directed　his　ships　to　hoist　four　lights　horizontally　at　the　mizzen　peak　as　soon　as　it　became　dark；　and　this　vessel　had　no　such　distinction。　Hallowell；　however；　with　great　judgment；　ordered　his　men　not　to　fire：　if　she　was　an　enemy；　he　said；　she　was　in　too　disabled　a　state　to　escape；　but　from　her　sails　being　loose；　and　the　way　in　which　her　head　was；　it　was　probable　she　might　be　an　English　ship。　It　was　the　BELLEROPHON；　overpowered　by　the　huge　ORIENT：　her　lights　had　gone　overboard；　nearly　200　of　her　crew　were　killed　or　wounded；　all　her　masts　and　cables　had　been　shot　away；　and　she　was　drifting　out　of　the　line　toward　the　leeside　of　the　bay。　Her　station；　at　this　important　time；　was　occupied　by　the　SWIFTSURE；　which　opened　a　steady　fire　on　the　quarter　of　the　FRANKLIN　and　the　bows　of　the　French　admiral。　At　the　same　instant；　Captain　Ball；　with　the　ALEXANDER；　passed　under　his　stern；　and　anchored　within…side　on　his　larboard　quarter；　raking；　him；　and　keeping　up　a　severe　fire　of　musketry　upon　his　decks。　The　last　ship　which　arrived　to　complete　the　destruction　of　the　enemy　was　the　LEANDER。　Captain　Thompson；　finding　that　nothing　could　be　done　that　night　to　get　off　the　CULLODEN；　advanced　with　the　intention　of　anchoring　athwart…hawse　　of　the　ORIENT。　The　FRANKLIN　was　so　near　her　ahead　that　there　was　not　room　for　him　to　pass　clear　of　the　two；　he　therefore　took　his　station　athwart…hawse　of　the　latter　in　such　a　position　as　to　rake　both。

The　two　first　ships　of　the　French　line　had　been　dismasted　within　a　quarter　of　an　hour　after　the　commencement　of　the　action；　and　the　others　had　in　that　time　suffered　so　severely　that　victory　was　already　certain。　The　third；　fourth；　and　fifth　were　taken　possession　of　at　half…past　eight。

Meantime　Nelson　received　a　severe　wound　on　the　head　from　a　piece　of　langridge　shot。　Captain　Berry　caught　him　in　his　arms　as　he　was　falling。　The　great　effusion　of　blood　occasioned　an　apprehension　that　the　wound　was　mortal：　Nelson　himself　thought　so；　a　large　flap　of　the　skin　of　the　forehead；　cut　from　the　bone；　had　fallen　over　one　eye；　and　the　other　being　blind；　he　was　in　total　darkness。　When　he　was　carried　down；　the　surgeonin　the　midst　of　a　scene　scarcely　to　be　conceived　by　those　who　have　never　seen　a　cockpit　in　time　of　action；　and　the　heroism　which　is　displayed　amid　its　horrors；with　a　natural　and　pardonable　eagerness；　quitted　the　poor　fellow　then　under　his　hands；　that　he　might　instantly　attend　the　admiral。　〃No！〃　said　Nelson；　〃I　will　take　my　turn　with　my　brave　fellows。〃　Nor　would　he　suffer　his　own　wound　to　be　examined　till　every　man　who　had　been　previously　wounded　was　properly　attended　to。　Fully　believing　that　the　wound　was　mortal；　and　that　he　was　about　to　die；　as　he　had　ever　desired；　in　battle；　and　in　victory；　he　called　the　chaplain；　and　desired　him　to　deliver　what　he　supposed　to　be　his　dying　remembrance　to　lady　Nelson；　he　then　sent　for　Captain　Louis　on　board　from　the　MINOTAUR；　that　he　might　thank　him　personally　for　the　great　assistance　which　he　had　rendered　to　the　VANGUARD；　and　ever　mindful　of　those　who　deserved　to　be　his　friends；　appointed　Captain　Hardy　from　the　brig　to　the　command　of　his　own　ship；　Captain　Berry　having　to　go　home　with　the　news　of　the　victory。　When　the　surgeon　came　in　due　time　to　exa…　mine　his　wound　（for　it　was　in　vain　to　entreat　him　to　let　it　be　examined　sooner）；　the　most　anxious　silence　prevailed；　and　the　joy　of　the　wounded　men；　and　of　the　whole　crew；　when　they　heard　that　the　hurt　was　merely　superficial；　gave　Nelson　deeper　pleasure　than　the　unexpected　assurance　that　his　life　was　in　no　danger。　The　surgeon　requested；　and　as　far　as　he　could；　ordered　him　to　remain　quiet；　but　Nelson　could　not　rest。　He　called　for　his　secretary；　Mr。　Campbell；　to　write　the　despatches。　Campbell　had　himself　been　wounded；　and　was　so　affected　at　the　blind　and　suffering　state　of　the　admiral　that　he　was　unable　to　write。　The　chaplain　was　then　sent　for；　but　before　he　came；　Nelson　with　his　characteristic　eagerness　took　the　pen；　and　contrived　to　trace　a　few　words；　marking　his　devout　sense　of　the　success　which　had　already　been　obtained。　He　was　now　left