the life of horatio lord nelson-第24章
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leven o'clock the boats； containing between 600 and 700 men； with 180 on board the FOX cutter； and from 70 to 80 in a boat which had been taken the day before； proceeded in six divisions toward the town； conducted by all the captains of the squadron； except Freemantle and Bowen； who attended with Nelson to regulate and lead the way to the attack。 They were to land on the mole； and thence hasten as fast as possible into the great square； then form and proceed as should be found expedient。 They were not discovered till about half…past one o'clock； when； being within half gun…shot of the landing…place； Nelson directed the boats to cast off from each other； give a huzza； and push for the shore。 But the Spaniards were exceedingly well prepared； the alarm…bells answered the huzza； and a fire of thirty or forty pieces of cannon； with musketry from one end of the town to the other； opened upon the invaders。 Nothing； however； could check the intrepidity with which they advanced。 The night was exceedingly dark： most of the boats missed the mole and went on shore through a raging surf； which stove all to the left of it。 The Admiral； Freemantle； Thompson； Bowen； and four or five other boats； found the mole： they stormed it instantly； and carried it； though it was defended； as they imagined； by 400 or 500 men。 Its guns； which were six…and…twenty pounders； were spiked； but such a heavy fire of musketry and grape was kept up from the citadel and the houses at the head of the mole； that the assailants could not advance； and nearly all of them were killed or wounded。
In the act of stepping out of the boat； Nelson received a shot through the right elbow； and fell； but as he fell he caught the sword； which he had just drawn； in his left hand； determined never to part with it while he lived； for it had belonged to his uncle； Captain Suckling； and he valued it like a relic。 Nisbet； who was close to him； placed him at the bottom of the boat； and laid his hat over the shattered arm； lest the sight of the blood； which gushed out in great abundance； should increase his faintness。 He then examined the wound； and taking some silk handkerchiefs from his neck； bound them round tight above the lacerated vessels。 Had it not been for this presence of mind in his son…in…law； Nelson must have perished。 One of his bargemen； by name Level； tore his shirt into shreds； and made a sling with them for the broken limb。 They then collected five other seamen； by whose assistance they succeeded at length in getting the boat afloat； for it had grounded with the falling tide。 Nisbet took one of the oars and ordered the steersman to go close under the guns of the battery； that they might be safe from its tremendous fire。 Hearing his voice； Nelson roused himself； and desired to be lifted up in the boat that he might look about him。 Nisbet raised him up； but nothing could be seen except the firing of the guns on shore； and what could be discerned by their flashes upon a stormy sea。 In a few minutes a general shriek was heard from the crew of the FOX； which had received a shot under water； and went down。 Ninety…seven men were lost in her： 83 were saved； many by Nelson himself； whose exertions on this occasion greatly increased the pain and danger of his wound。 The first ship which the boat could reach happened to be the SEAHORSE； but nothing could induce him to go on board； though he was assured that if they attempted to row to another ship it might be at the risk of his life。 〃I had rather suffer death；〃 he replied； 〃than alarm Mrs。 Freemantle； by letting her see me in this state； when I can give her no tidings whatever of her husband。〃 They pushed on for the THESEUS。 When they came alongside he peremptorily refused all assistance in getting on board； so impatient was he that the boat should return； in hopes that it might save a few more from the FOX。 He desired to have only a single rope thrown over the side； which he twisted round his left hand； saying 〃Let me alone； I have yet my legs left and one arm。 Tell the surgeon to make haste and get his instruments。 I know I must lose my right arm； so the sooner it is off the better。〃 The spirit which he displayed in jumping up the ship's side astonished everybody。
Freemantle had been severely wounded in the right arm soon after the admiral。 He was fortunate enough to find a boat on the beach； and got instantly to his ship。 Thompson was wounded： Bowen killed； to the great regret of Nelson： as was also one of his own officers； Lieutenant Weatherhead； who had followed him from the AGAMEMNON； and whom he greatly and deservedly esteemed。 Troubridge； meantime； fortunately for his party； missed the mole in the darkness； but pushed on shore under the batteries； close to the south end of the citadel。 Captain Waller； of the EMERALD； and two or three other boats； landed at the same time。 The surf was so high that many others put back。 The boats were instantly filled with water and stove against the rocks； and most of the ammunition in the men's pouches was wetted。 Having collected a few men they pushed on to the great square； hoping there to find the admiral and the rest of the force。 The ladders were all lost； so that they could make no immediate attempt on the citadel； but they sent a sergeant with two of the town's…people to summon it： this messenger never returned； and Troubridge having waited about an hour in painful expectation of his friends； marched to join Captains Hood and Miller； who had effected their landing to the south…west。 They then endeavoured to procure some intelligence of the admiral and the rest of the officers； but without success。 By daybreak they had gathered together about eighty marines； eighty pikemen； and one hundred and eighty small…arm seamen； all the survivors of those who had made good their landing。 They obtained some ammunition from the prisoners whom they had taken； and marched on to try what could be done at the citadel without ladders。 They found all the streets commanded by field…pieces； and several thousand Spaniards； with about a hundred French； under arms； approaching by every avenue。 Finding himself without provisions； the powder wet； and no possibility of obtaining either stores or reinforcements from the ships； the boats being lost； Troubridge with great presence of mind； sent Captain Samuel Hood with a flag of truce to the governor to say he was prepared to burn the town； and would instantly set fire to it if the Spaniards approached one inch nearer。 This； however； if he were compelled to do it； he should do with regret； for he had no wish to injure the inhabitants；and he was ready to treat upon these termsthat the British troops should re… embark； with all their arms of every kind； and take their own boats； if they were saved； or be provided with such others as might be wanting； they； on their part； engaging that the squadron should not molest the town； or any of the Canary Islands： all prisoners on both sides to be given up。 When these terms were proposed the governor made answer； that the English ought to surrender as prisoners of war； but Captain Hood replied； he was instructed to say； that if the terms were not accepted in five minutes； Captain Troubridge would set the town on fire and attack the Spaniards at the point of the bayonet。 Satisfied with his success； which was indeed sufficiently complete； and respecting； like a brave and honourable man； the gallantry of his enemy； the Spaniard acceded to the proposal； found boats to re…embark them； their own having all been dashed to pieces in landing； and before they parted gave every man a loaf and a pint of wine。
〃And here；〃 says Nelson in his journal； 〃it is right we should notice the noble and generous conduct of Don Juan Antonio Gutierrez； the Spanish governor。 The moment the terms were agreed to； he directed our wounded men to be received into the hospitals； and all our people to be supplied with the best provisions that could be procured； and made it known that the ships were at liberty to send on shore and purchase whatever refreshments they were in want of during the time they might be off the island。〃 A youth； by name Don Bernardo Collagon； stripped himself of his shirt to make bandages for one of those Englishmen against whom； no
