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!