that Collingwood, frequently testy, and at the moment
preoccupied with the approaching collision with the Spanish
three-decker he had marked for his opponent, exclaimed impatiently
when the first number went aloft, "I wish Nelson would stop
signalling, as we know well enough what we have to do." But the two
life-long friends, who were not again to look each other in the face,
soon passed to other thoughts, such as men gladly recall when death
has parted them. When the whole signal was reported to him, and cheers
resounded along the lines, Collingwood cordially expressed his own
satisfaction. A few moments later, just at noon, the French ship
"Fougueux," the second astern of the "Santa Ana," for which the "Royal
Sovereign" was steering, fired at the latter the first gun of the
battle. As by a common impulse the ships of all the nations engaged
hoisted their colors, and the admirals their flags,--a courteous and
chivalrous salute preceding the mortal encounter. For ten minutes the
"Royal Sovereign" advanced in silence, the one centre of the hostile
fire, upon which were fixed all eyes, as yet without danger of their
own to distract. As she drew near the two ships between which she
intended to pass, Nelson exclaimed admiringly, "See how that noble
fellow Collingwood carries his ship into action." At about the same
instant Collingwood was saying to his flag-captain, "Rotherham, what
would Nelson give to be here!"

These things being done, Nelson said to Blackwood, "Now I can do no
more. We must trust to the great Disposer of all events, and to the
justice of our cause. I thank God for this great opportunity of doing
my duty." When his last signal had been acknowledged by a few ships in
the van, the admiral directed Pasco to make that for close action, and
to keep it up. This was accordingly hoisted on board the flagship,
where it was flying still as she disappeared into the smoke of the
battle, and so remained till shot away. The "Victory" was about two
miles from the "Royal Sovereign" when the latter, at ten minutes past
twelve, broke through the allied order, and she had still a mile and a
half to go before she herself could reach it. At twenty minutes past
twelve Villeneuve's flagship, the "Bucentaure," of eighty guns, fired
a shot at her, to try the range. It fell short. A few minutes later a
second was fired, which dropped alongside. The distance then was a
mile and a quarter. Two or three followed in rapid succession