ROBERT SOUTHEY 223 



ordered to put the helm to port, and the Victory 

 rarj on board the Redoubtable^ just as her tiller 

 ropes 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. Her tops, like those of 

 all the enemy's ships, were filled with riflemen. 

 Nelson never placed musketry in his tops ; he 

 had a strong dislike to the practice ; not merely 

 because it endangers setting fire to tiie sails, but 

 also because it is a murderous sort of warfare, by 

 which individuals may suffer, and a commander, 

 now and then, be picked off, but which never can 

 decide the fate of a general engagement. 



Captain Harvey, in the 'J'eineraire, fell on board 

 the Redoubtable on the other side. Another enemy 

 was in like manner on board the Tetneraire : 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 their guns of the 

 middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished 

 charge, lest the shot should pass through and 

 injure the Tcmeraire. And because there was 

 danger that the Redoubtable might take fire from 

 the lower-deck guns, the muzzles of which touched 

 her side when they were run out, the fireman 

 of each gun stood ready with a bucket of water. 



