the life of horatio lord nelson-第35章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　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　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