The enemy showed no colors till late in the action, when they began to feel the necessity of having them to strike.

An incessant raking fire was kept up upon the 5 Victory.

The admiral's secretary was one of the first who fell: he was killed by a cannon-shot, while conversing with Hardy. Captain Adair of the marines, with the help of a sailor, endeavored to remove the body from Nel10 son's sight, who had a great regard for Mr. Scott; but

he anxiously asked, "Is that poor Scott that 's gone?" and being informed that it was indeed so, exclaimed, "Poor fellow!"

Presently a double-headed shot struck a party of 15 marines, who were drawn up on the poop, and killed eight of them upon which Nelson immediately desired Captain Adair to disperse his men round the ship, that they might not suffer so much from being together. A few minutes afterwards a shot struck the fore brace 20 bits on the quarter-deck, and passed between Nelson and Hardy, a splinter from the bit tearing off Hardy's buckle and bruising his foot. Both stopped and looked anxiously at each other, each supposing the other to be wounded. Nelson then smiled and said, "This is too 25 warm work, Hardy, to-last long."

The Victory had not yet returned a single gun; fifty of her men had been by this time killed or wounded, and her main-topmast, with all her studding sails and their booms, shot away. Nelson declared that, in all

his battles, he had seen nothing which surpassed the cool courage of his crew on this occasion. At four minutes after twelve she opened her fire from both sides of her deck. It was not possible to break the enemy's line without running on board one of their 5 ships; Hardy informed him of this, and asked which he would prefer. Nelson replied: "Take your choice, Hardy, it does not signify much." The master was then ordered to put the helm to port, and the Victory ran on board the Redoubtable, just as her tiller ropes 10 were shot away. The French ship received her with a broadside; then instantly let down her lower-deck ports, for fear of being boarded through them, and never afterwards fired a great gun during the action.

Captain Harvey, in the Téméraire, fell on board the 15 Redoubtable on the other side. Another enemy was in like manner on board the Téméraire: so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads lying all the same way. The lieutenants of the Victory, seeing this, depressed 20 their guns of the middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished charge, lest the shot should pass through, and injure the Téméraire. And because there was danger that the Redoubtable might take fire from the lower-deck guns, the muzzles of which touched her 25 side when they were run out, the fireman of each gun stood ready with a bucket of water, which, as soon as the gun was discharged, he dashed into the hole made. by the shot. An incessant fire was kept up from the

Victory from both sides; her larboard guns playing upon the Bucentaure and the huge Santissima Trinidad.

It had been part of Nelson's prayer that the British 5 fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing upon the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck, because her great guns were silent; for, as she carried no flag, there was no 10 means of instantly ascertaining the fact. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top, which, in the then situation of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was 15 standing, struck the epaulette on his left shoulder,— about a quarter after one, just in the heat of the action. He fell upon his face, on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood. "They have done for me at last, Hardy!" said he.

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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 25 be seen by the crew, he took out his handkerchief, and covered his face and his stars. Had he but concealed these badges of honor from the enemy, England, perhaps, would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar.

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 that no human 5 care could avail him, insisted that the surgeon should leave him and attend to those to whom he might be useful. 66 For," said he, "you can do nothing for

me."

As often as a ship struck, the crew of the Victory 10 hurrahed; and at every hurrah a visible expression of joy gleamed in the eyes and marked the countenance of the dying hero.

An hour and ten minutes elapsed, from the time when Nelson received his wound, before Hardy could come to 15 him. They shook hands in silence; Hardy in vain struggling to suppress 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 their van 20 have tacked, and show an intention of bearing 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 25 of that." Then, and not till then, Nelson spoke of himself. "I am going fast," said he;"it will be all over with me soon." Hardy observed that he hoped Mr. Beatty could yet hold out some prospect of life. Oh, no!" he replied; "it is impossible." Captain

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