“I hope none of our ships have struck, Hardy?”
“No, my lord; there is no fear of that.”
“Well, I am a dead man, Hardy, but I am glad of what you say. Oh, whip them now you’ve got them; whip them as they’ve never been whipped before!”
Hardy then left him for a time, returning somewhat later to report that some fourteen ships had been taken.
“That’s well,” cried Nelson, “though I bargained for twenty. Anchor, Hardy, anchor.”
Hardy suggested that Admiral Collingwood might now take over the direction of affairs.
“Not while I live, Hardy!” said Nelson. “Do you anchor.”
“Shall we make the signal, sir?”
“Yes,” answered Nelson. “For if I live, I’ll anchor.”
For a little while Hardy looked down at his admiral.