e nearer the British
vessel drew, the better necessarily became the enemies' aim. Just as
she got within about five hundred yards--quarter of a mile--from the
"Bucentaure's" beam, the mizzen topmast was shot away. At the same
time the wheel was hit and shattered, so that the ship had to be
steered from below, a matter that soon became of little importance. A
couple of minutes more, eight marines were carried off by a single
projectile, while standing drawn up on the poop, whereupon Nelson
ordered the survivors to be dispersed about the deck. Presently a shot
coming in through the ship's side ranged aft on the quarter-deck
towards the admiral and Captain Hardy, between whom it passed. On its
way it struck the fore-brace bitts--a heavy block of timber--carrying
thence a shower of splinters, one of which bruised Hardy's foot. The
two officers, who were walking together, stopped, and looked
inquiringly at each other. Seeing that no harm was done, Nelson
smiled, but said, "This is too warm work, Hardy, to last long." He
then praised the cool resolution of the seamen around him, compelled
to endure this murderous fire without present reply. He had never, he
said, seen better conduct. Twenty men had so far been killed and
thirty wounded, with not a shot fired from their own guns.

Still the ship closed the "Bucentaure." It had been Nelson's purpose
and desire to make her his special antagonist, because of Villeneuve's
flag; but to do so required room for the "Victory" to turn under the
French vessel's stern, and to come up alongside. As she drew near,
Hardy, scanning the hostile array, saw three ships crowded together
behind and beyond the "Bucentaure." He reported to Nelson that he
could go close under her stern, but could not round-to alongside, nor
pass through the line, without running on board one of these. The
admiral replied, "I cannot help it, it does not signify which we run
on board of. Go on board which you please: take your choice." At one
o'clock the bows of the "Victory" crossed the wake of the
"Bucentaure," by whose stern she passed within thirty feet, the
projecting yard arms grazing the enemy's rigging. One after another,
as they bore, the double-shotted guns tore through the woodwork of the
French ship, the smoke, driven back, filling the lower decks of the
"Victory," while persons on the upper deck, including Nelson himself,
were covered with the dust which rose in clouds from the wreck. From
the relative p