2l6 THE CALL OK THE SP:A 



line of thirteen ships ; the Viciory led the weather 

 line of fourteen. . . . 



Blackwood went on board the Victory about six. 

 He found him in good spirits, but very calm ; not 

 in that exhilaration which he had felt upon enter- 

 ing into battle at Aboukir and Copenhagen ; he 

 knew that his own life would be particularly aimed 

 at, and seems to have looked for death with almost 

 as sure an expectation as for victory. His whole 

 attention was fixed upon the enemy. They tacked 

 to the northward, and formed their line on the 

 larboard tack ; thus bringing the shoals of 

 Trafalgar and St. Pedro under the lee of the 

 British, and keeping the port of Cadiz open for 

 themselves. This was judiciously done ; and 

 Nelson, aware of all the advantages which it 

 gave them, made signal to prepare to anchor. 

 Villeneuve was a skilful seaman, worthy of serving 

 a better master and a better cause. His plan of 

 defence was as well conceived, and as original, as 

 the plan of attack. He formed the fleet in a 

 double line, every alternate ship being about a 

 cable's length to windward of her second ahead 

 and astern. Nelson, certain of a triumphant issue 

 to the day, asked Blackwood what he should con- 

 sider as a victory. That officer answered, that, 

 considering the handsome way in which battle was 

 offered by the enemy, their apparent determination 



