LITMIR.BIZ

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buckets of water hither and

       thither. The killed and wounded thicken around, and are being

       lifted and examined by the surgeons. NELSON and HARDY meet again.]

      NELSON

       Bid still the firemen bring more bucketfuls,

       And dash the water into each new hole

       Our guns have gouged in the “Redoubtable,”

       Or we shall all be set ablaze together.

      HARDY

       Let me once more advise, entreat, my lord,

       That you do not expose yourself so clearly.

       Those fellows in the mizzen-top up there

       Are peppering round you quite perceptibly.

      NELSON

       Now, Hardy, don't offend me. They can't aim;

       They only set their own rent sails on fire.—

       But if they could, I would not hide a button

       To save ten lives like mine. I have no cause

       To prize it, I assure 'ee.—Ah, look there,

       One of the women hit,—and badly, too.

       Poor wench! Let some one shift her quickly down.

      HARDY

       My lord, each humblest sojourner on the seas,

       Dock-labourer, lame longshore-man, bowed bargee,

       Sees it as policy to shield his life

       For those dependent on him. Much more, then,

       Should one upon whose priceless presence here

       Such issues hang, so many strivers lean,

       Use average circumspection at an hour

       So critical for us all.

      NELSON

       Ay, ay. Yes, yes;

       I know your meaning, Hardy,; and I know

       That you disguise as frigid policy

       What really is your honest love of me.

       But, faith, I have had my day. My work's nigh done;

       I serve all interests best by chancing it

       Here with the commonest.—Ah, their heavy guns

       Are silenced every one! Thank God for that.

      HARDY

       'Tis so. They only use their small arms now.

       [He goes to larboard to see what is progressing on that side

       between his ship and the “Santisima Trinidad.”]

      OFFICER [to seaman]

       Swab down these stairs. The mess of blood about

       Makes 'em so slippery that one's like to fall

       In carrying the wounded men below.

       [While CAPTAIN HARDY is still a little way off, LORD NELSON turns

       to walk aft, when a ball from one of the muskets in the mizzen-

       top of the “Redoubtable” enters his left shoulder. He falls upon

       his face on the deck. HARDY looks round, and sees what has

       happened.]

      HARDY [hastily]

       Ah—what I feared, and strove to hide I feared!...

       [He goes towards NELSON, who in the meantime has been lifted by

       SERGEANT-MAJOR SECKER and two seamen.]

      NELSON

       Hardy, I think they've done for me at last!

      HARDY

       I hope not!

      NELSON

       Yes. My backbone is shot through.

       I have not long to live.

       [The men proceed to carry him below.]

       Those tiller ropes

       They've torn away, get instantly repaired!

       [At sight of him borne along wounded there is great agitation

       among the crew.]

       Cover my face. There will be no good be done

       By drawing their attention off to me.

       Bear me along, good fellows; I am but one

       Among the many darkened here to-day!

       [He is carried on to the cockpit over the crowd of dead and

       wounded.]

       Doctor, I'm gone. I am waste o' time to you.

      HARDY [remaining behind]

       Hills, go to Collingwood and let him know

       That we've no Admiral here.

       [He passes on.]

      A LIEUTENANT

       Now quick and pick him off who did the deed—

       That white-bloused man there in the mizzen-top.

      POLLARD, a midshipman [shooting]

       No sooner said than done. A pretty aim!

       [The Frenchman falls dead upon the poop.

       The spectacle seems now to become enveloped in smoke, and the

       point of view changes.]

      SCENE III

       THE SAME. ON BOARD THE “BUCENTAURE”

       [The bowsprit of the French Admiral's ship is stuck fast in the

       stern-gallery of the “Santisima Trinidad,” the starboard side of

       the “Bucentaure” being shattered by shots from two English three-

       deckers which are pounding her on that hand. The poop is also

       reduced to ruin by two other English ships that are attacking

       her from behind.

       On the quarter-deck are ADMIRAL VILLENEUVE, the FLAG-CAPTAIN

       MAGENDIE, LIEUTENANTS DAUDIGNON, FOURNIER, and others, anxiously

       occupied. The whole crew is in desperate action of battle and

       stumbling among the dead and dying, who have fallen too rapidly

       to be carried below.]

      VILLENEUVE

       We shall be crushed if matters go on thus.—

       Direct the “Trinidad” to let her drive,

       That this foul tangle may be loosened clear!

      DAUDIGNON

       It has been tried, sir; but she cannot move.

      VILLENEUVE

       Then signal to the “Hero” that she strive

       Once more to drop this way.

       MAGENDIE

       We may make signs,

       But in the thickened air what signal's marked?—

       'Tis done, however.

      VILLENEUVE

       The “Redoubtable”

       And “Victory” there,—they grip in dying throes!

       Something's amiss on board the English ship.

       Surely the Admiral's fallen?

      A PETTY OFFICER

       Sir, they say

       That he was shot

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