ollowers. With the appearance of the latter upon the scene, succeeded
shortly by the approach of the allied van, though too late and in
disorder, began what may be called the second and final phase of the
battle.

While such things were happening the deck could not be left by Hardy,
who, for the time being, was commander-in-chief as well as captain.
Shortly after Nelson fell, the "Temeraire" had run on board the
"Redoutable" on the other side, and the French "Fougueux" upon the
"Temeraire," so that for a few minutes the four ships were fast
together, in the heat of the fight. About quarter past two, the
"Victory" was shoved clear, and lay with her head to the northward,
though scarcely with steerage way. The three others remained in
contact with their heads to the southward. While this _melee_ was in
progress, the French flagship "Bucentaure" surrendered, at five
minutes past two; but, before hauling down the flag, Villeneuve made a
signal to his recreant van,--"The ships that are not engaged, take
positions which will bring them most rapidly under fire." Thus
summoned, the ten vessels which constituted the van began to go about,
as they should have done before; and, although retarded by the slack
wind, they had got their heads to the southward by half-past two. Five
stood to leeward of the line of battle, but five to windward. The
latter would pass not far to the westward of the "Victory," and to
meet this fresh attack demanded the captain's further care, and
postponed his going to the death-bed of his chief. The latter had
become very agitated at the delay, thinking that Hardy might be dead
and the news kept from him. "Will nobody bring Hardy to me?" he
frequently exclaimed. "He must be killed; he is surely destroyed." At
last a midshipman came down with the message that "circumstances
respecting the fleet required the captain's presence on deck, but that
he would take the first favourable moment to visit his Lordship."
Nelson, hearing the voice, asked who it was that spoke. The lad,
Bulkeley, who later in the day was wounded also, was the son of a
former shipmate in the far back days of the San Juan expedition, and
the dying admiral charged the lad with a remembrance to his father.

Two ships of Nelson's column, as yet not engaged,--the "Spartiate" and
the "Minotaur,"--were then just reaching the scene. Being in the
extreme rear, the lightness of the breeze had so far delayed them.
Arriving thus opportunely, they h