silence:
Hardy in vain struggling to suppress the feelings of that most painful,
and yet sublimest moment.

"Well, Hardy," said Nelson, "how goes the day with us?"

"Very well," replied Hardy. "Ten ships have struck, but five of their
van have tacked, and show an intention of bearing down upon the
_Victory_. I have called two or three of our fresh ships round, and have
no doubt of giving them a drubbing."

"I hope," said Nelson, "none of our ships struck."

Hardy answered, "There was no fear of that."

Then and not till then, Nelson spoke of himself.

"I am a dead man, Hardy," he said; "I am going fast; it will be all over
with me soon. Come nearer to me. My back is shot through. Beatty will
tell you so."

Captain Hardy then once more shook hands with him; and, with a heart
almost bursting, hastened upon deck. By this time all feeling below the
breast was gone, and Nelson, having made the surgeon ascertain this,
said: "You know I am gone. I know it. I feel something rising in my
breast"--putting his hand to his left side--"which tells me so." And
upon Beatty's inquiring whether his pain was very great, he replied, "So
great that I wish I was dead. Yet," said he, in a lower voice, "one
would like to live a little longer, too!"

Captain Hardy, some fifty minutes after he had left the cockpit,
returned; and, again taking the hand of his dying friend and commander,
congratulated him upon having gained a complete victory. How many of the
enemy were taken he did not know, as it was impossible to perceive them
distinctly--but fourteen or fifteen of them at least.

"That's well," cried Nelson; "but I bargained for twenty." And then, in
a stronger voice, he said, "Anchor, Hardy; anchor."

Hardy upon this, hinted that Admiral Collingwood would take upon himself
the direction of affairs.

"Not while I live, Hardy!" said the dying Nelson, ineffectually
endeavouring to raise himself from the bed; "do you anchor."

His previous order for preparing to anchor had shown how clearly he
foresaw the necessity of this. Presently, calling Hardy back, he said to
him in a low voice, "Don't throw me overboard"; and he desired that he
might be buried by his parents, unless it should please the king to
order otherwise.

Then, reverting to his private feelings: "Kiss me, Hardy," said he.
Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek: and Nelson said, "Now I am
satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty."

Hardy stood over him in silence