n,"
between which he divided his fire. The "Alexander," Captain Ball,
passed through the line, astern of the "Orient," and anchored close on
her inner quarter. Just at this time a shot cut the cable of the
"Peuple Souverain," next ahead of the "Franklin," and she drifted out
of her place to abreast the latter ship, ahead of which a wide gap of
a thousand feet was thus left. Into this the "Leander" glided, fixing
herself with great skill to rake at once the "Franklin" and the
"Orient."

These two French ships had already been much battered, and the
"Franklin" was still receiving part of the fire of the "Orion," Sir
James Saumarez, on her inner bow, as well as that of the "Defence,"
hitherto engaged by the "Peuple Souverain." This accumulation upon
them of three fresh ships would doubtless have proved irresistible,
even if a yet more dire calamity had not supervened. The new-comers
took their positions soon after eight, and a little before nine a fire
was observed on the poop of the "Orient." The British captains, seeing
the flames fighting on their behalf, redoubled their efforts,
directing their aim especially upon the scene of the conflagration,
and thereby thwarting all attempt to extinguish it. The blaze spread
rapidly, upward through the tarred rigging and the masts, downward to
the lower decks, where her heroic crew, still ignorant of the
approaching doom, labored incessantly at their guns. As the sublime
sight forced itself upon the eyes of all about, friends and enemies
alike busied themselves with precautions for their own safety in the
coming catastrophe. The ships to windward held on; those to leeward
for the most part veered or slipped their cables, the "Alexander"
fiercely refusing to do so till assured that the "Orient's"
destruction was inevitable. Captain Berry went below to report to the
admiral this appalling climax to the night's work, and to his own
long-sustained efforts in chase and battle. Nelson demanded to be led
on deck, where he gave orders that the only boat still in condition
for use should be sent with the "Vanguard's" first lieutenant, to help
save the unhappy crew. He then remained watching the progress of the
fire. At quarter before ten the "Orient" blew up. At this time the
moon rose, and from her tranquil path looked down, through the clear
Egyptian air, upon the scene of devastation.

Nelson was now persuaded to go to bed, but he neither got nor sought
repose of mind. Throughout the