THE DEATH OF NELSON. 265 



The doctor stood watching* his countenance ; and 

 when ihe chaplain touched Beattie's arm, and looked 

 at him in the face, as much as to say, *' Doctor what is 

 your opinion ?'' 1 overheard the answer, which was 

 only meant for the ears of the captain and the chap- 

 lain, *' No hope whatever !'' 



1 ran upon deck. 1 was burning for some reveng-e ; 

 and if I could have boarded the top of that cursed ship 

 d — n me if I would not have eaten the Frenchman! 

 I was on the poop in an instant; 1 seized a musket, 

 and I watched the mizen-top of the Redoutable, from 

 which the fatal shot had been fired. There were still 

 two Frenchmen left aloft — the rest had been killed 

 — and one of those had killed the admiral, Mr. Pollard 

 and Mr. CoUing-wood, two g'allant,youno: midshipmen, 

 were the only two alive on the poop of the Victory : 

 now I again joined them. I supplied them with car- 

 tridges, and loaded my own gun. I saw the man ; for 

 we knew him by his glazed hat, and white frock jacket. 

 — " Be ready," said Pollard : "he will come within sight 

 directly ; he has loaded his musket/' — " That 's he ! 

 that ^s he!'' w^e all said at the same moment, and we 

 fired instantly. His gun was discharged at the same 

 time, — he fell dead, and I lost my arm ! I was desired 

 to go below ; and I did not stand two calls, — my worst 

 enemy was dead, my best friend was dying. Smart- 

 ing from the wound, I was going down the poop lad- 

 der when a small splinter struck my eye, and caused 

 the most insufferable pain for a short time. Bleeding 

 and almost fainting, I came below. 



A tourniquet was instantly applied, and some water 

 given me. I was in the act of drinking it, when one 

 of the men said, " Brace, the admiral is near his end,'" 

 — I soon st£^ggered to the midshipmen's berth. 



Although the space was kept as clear as possible, 

 in order to give Nelson all the air which could reach 

 him, room was made for me. Every one knew that I 

 had stood by him from the first hour he became a sailor 

 until this last, sad moment; besides, which, he had 

 inquired for me. 



'* Who is that V said the admiral as he heard the noise 

 in making room for me. 



VOL. VII.~-1836. KK 



