under his lee, and to facilitate, if necessary, his escape
into that port. This induced Nelson to steer somewhat more to the north,
and telegraph Collingwood, "I intend to pass through the van of the
enemy's line, to prevent his getting into Cadiz." Villeneuve's movements
had also produced another danger, for they had brought the shoals of San
Pedro and Trafalgar under the lee of both fleets; and to guard against
this danger Nelson made a signal for the British fleet to anchor at the
close of day. All things prepared, the hero of the Nile gave his last
signal:--"England expects every man to do his duty!" which was greeted
with three cheers on board of every ship in the fleet. "Now," said
Nelson, "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 grand
opportunity of doing my duty." While gradually approaching the enemy,
whose ships had fallen into a crescent form, Nelson dressed himself,
putting on the coat which he had usually worn for weeks, and on which
the order of the Bath was embroidered. The captain of the "Victory,"
Hardy, suggested that this might become a mark for the enemy; to which
Nelson replied, "He was aware of it; but that, as in honour he had
gained his orders, so in honour he would die with them." The battle
commenced about ten minutes after the hour of noon, when Admiral
Colling-wood, in the "Royal Sovereign" engaged the "Santa Anna," the
flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Alava, the second in command. Ship after ship
followed his example, and the battle waged fiercely on every hand. The
"Victory," in which Nelson was, singled out the "Santissima Trinidad," a
huge four-decker, which he had encountered before, and which he was wont
to call his old acquaintance. At the same time seven or eight French and
Spanish ships opened a fire on the "Victory." Mr. Scott, his secretary,
was killed, Captain Hardy was wounded in the foot, and fifty sailors
perished before the "Victory" returned a shot. At length orders were
given to fire; and as it had been discovered that the French admiral,
who hoisted no colours, was in the "Bucentaure," of eighty guns,
Nelson's terrible sixty-eight pounder carronade from the "Victory's"
forecastle was turned chiefly against that ship. In two minutes nearly
four hundred men were killed or wounded in this ship; twenty of her guns
were dismounted, and she was almost disabled. The next ship which the
"Victory" encountered w