the life of horatio lord nelson-第66章
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ope not；〃 cried Hardy。〃Yes！〃 he replied；〃my back…bone is shot through。〃 Yet even now； not for a moment losing his presence of mind； he observed； as they were carrying him down the ladder； that the tiller ropes； which had been shot away； were not yet replaced； and ordered that new ones should be rove immediately。 Then； that he might not be seen by the crew； he took out his handkerchief； and covered his face and his stars。 Had he but concealed these badges of honour from the enemy； England； perhaps； would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar。 The cockpit was crowded with wounded and dying men； over whose bodies he was with some difficulty conveyed； and laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's berth。 It was soon perceived； upon examination； that the wound was mortal。 This； however； was concealed from all except Captain Hardy； the chaplain； and the medical attendants。 He himself being certain； from the sensation in his back； and the gush of blood he felt momently within his breast； that no human care could avail him； insisted that the surgeon should leave him； and attend to those to whom he might be useful； 〃For；〃 said he； 〃you can do nothing for me。〃 All that could be done was to fan him with paper； and frequently to give him lemonade to alleviate his intense thirst。 He was in great pain； and expressed much anxiety for the event of the action； which now began to declare itself。 As often as a ship struck； the crew of the VICTORY hurrahed； and at every hurrah a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eyes； and marked the countenance of the dying hero。 But he became impatient to see Captain Hardy； and as that officer； though often sent for； could not leave the deck； Nelson feared that some fatal cause prevented him； and repeatedly cried； 〃Will no one bring Hardy to me？ He must be killed！ He is surely dead！〃 An hour and ten minutes elapsed from the time when Nelson received his wound before Hardy could come to him。 They shook hands in silence； Hardy in vain struggling to repress the feelings of that most painful and yet sublimest moment。 〃Well； Hardy；〃 said Nelson； 〃how goes the day with us？〃〃Very well；〃 replied Hardy； 〃ten ships have struck； but five of the van have tacked； and show an intention to bear down upon the VICTORY； I have called two or three of our fresh ships round； and have no doubt of giving them a drubbing。〃〃I hope；〃 said Nelson； 〃none of our ships have struck？〃 Hardy answered； 〃There was no fear of that。〃 Then； and not till then； Nelson spoke of himself。 〃I am a dead man； Hardy；〃 said he： 〃I am going fast： it will be all over with me soon。 Come nearer to me。 Let my dear Lady Hamilton have my hair； and all other things belonging to me。〃 Hardy observed that he hoped Mr。 Beatty could yet hold out some prospect of life。 〃Oh； no！〃 he replied； 〃it is impossible。 My back is shot through。 Beatty will tell you so。〃 Captain Hardy then； once more； shook hands with him； and； with a heart almost bursting； hastened upon deck。
By this time all feeling below the breast was gone； and Nelson； having made the surgeon ascertain this； said to him： 〃You know I am gone； I know it。 I feel something rising in my breast；〃 putting his hand on his left side；〃which tells me so。〃 And upon Beatty's inquiring whether his pain was very great； he replied； 〃So great； that he wished he was dead。 Yet；〃 said he； in a lower voice； 〃one would like to live a little longer too！〃 And after a few minutes； in the same under tone； he added〃What would become of poor Lady Hamilton； if she knew my situation！〃 Next to his country she occupied his thoughts。 Captain Hardy； some fifty minutes after he had left the cockpit； returned； and； again taking the hand of his dying friend and commander； congratulated him on having gained a complete victory。 How many of the enemy were taken he did not know； as it was impossible to perceive them distinctly； but fourteen or fifteen at least。 〃That's well；〃 cried Nelson； 〃but I bargained for twenty。〃 And then； in a stronger voice； he said： 〃Anchor； Hardy； anchor。〃 Hardy； upon this； hinted that Admiral Collingwood would take upon himself the direction of affairs。 〃Not while I live； Hardy；〃 said the dying Nelson； ineffectually endeavouring to raise himself from the bed： 〃Do you anchor。〃 His previous order for preparing to anchor had shown how clearly he foresaw the necessity of this。 Presently； calling Hardy back； he said to him in a low voice； 〃Don't throw me overboard：〃 and he desired that he might be buried by his parents； unless it should please the king to order otherwise。 Then reverting to private feelings： 〃Take care of my dear Lady Hamilton； Hardy take care of poor Lady Hamilton。 Kiss me； Hardy；〃 said he。 Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek； and Nelson： said； 〃Now I am satisfied。 Thank God I have done my duty。〃 Hardy stood over him in silence for a moment or two； then knelt again and kissed his forehead。 〃Who is that？〃 said Nelson； and being informed； he replied； 〃God bless you； Hardy。〃 And Hardy then left him for ever。
Nelson now desired to be turned upon his right side； and said； 〃I wish I had not left the deck； for I shall soon be gone。〃 Death was； indeed； rapidly approaching。 He said to the chaplain； 〃Doctor； I have NOT been a GREAT sinner；〃 and after a short pause； 〃Remember that I leave Lady Hamilton and my daughter Horatia as a legacy to my country。〃 His articulation now became difficult； but he was distinctly heard to say； 〃Thank God I have done my duty。〃 These words he repeatedly pronounced； and they were the last words which he uttered。 He expired at thirty minutes after fourthree hours and a quarter after he had received his wound。
Within a quarter of an hour after Nelson was wounded； above fifty of the VICTORY's men fell by the enemy's musketry。 They； however； on their part； were not idle； and it was not long before there were only two Frenchmen left alive in the mizzen…top of the REDOUTABLE。 One of them was the man who had given the fatal wound： he did not live to boast of what he had done。 An old quarter…master had seen him fire； and easily recognised him； because he wore a glazed cocked hat and a white frock。 This quarter…master and two midshipmen； Mr。 Collingwood and Mr。 Pollard； were the only persons left in the VICTORY's poop； the two midshipmen kept firing at the top； and he supplied them with cartridges。 One of the Frenchmen； attempting to make his escape down the rigging； was shot by Mr。 Pollard； and fell on the poop。 But the old quarter… master； as he cried out； 〃That's he； that's he；〃 and pointed at the other who was coming forward to fire again； received a shot in his mouth； and fell dead。 Both the midshipmen then fired at the same time； and the fellow dropped in the top。 When they took possession of the prize； they went into the mizzen…top； and found him dead； with one ball through his head； and another through his breast。
The REDOUTABLE struck within twenty minutes after the fatal shot had been fired from her。 During that time she had been twice on fire in her fore…chains and in her forecastle。 The French； as they had done in other battles； made use in this； of fire…balls and other combustibles； implements of destruction which other nations； from a sense of honour and humanity； have laid aside； which add to the； sufferings of the wounded； without determining the issue of the combat： which none but the cruel would employ； and which never can be successful against the brave。 Once they succeeded in setting fire； from the REDOUTABLE； to some ropes and canvas on the VICTORY's booms。 The cry ran through the ship； and reached the cockpit； but even this dreadful cry produced no confusion： the men displayed that perfect self…possession in danger by which English seamen are characterised； they extinguished the flames on board their own ship； and then hastened to extinguish them in the enemy； by throwing buckets of water from the gangway。 When the REDOUTABLE had struck； it was not practicable to board her from the VICTORY； for； though the two ships touched； the upper works of both fell in so much； that there was a great space between their gangways； and she could not be boarded from the lower or middle decks because her ports were down。 Some of our men went to Lieu
