224 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



which, as soon as the gun was discharged, he 

 dashed into the hole made by the shot. An inces- 

 sant fire was kept up from the Victory from both 

 sides ; her larboard guns playing upon the Bttcen- 

 taure and the huge Sanitssima Trinidad. It had 

 been part of Nelson's prayer, that the British 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, be- 

 cause her great guns were silent ; for, as she 

 carried no flag, there was no 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 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. Hardy, who was a few steps from him, 

 turning round, saw three men raising him up. 

 "They have done for me at last, Hardy," said he. 

 "I hope 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 



