Captain Harvey, in the _Téméraire_, fell on board the _Redoubtable_ on the other side. Another enemy was in like manner on board the _Téméraire_: so that these four ships formed as compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads lying all the same way. The lieutenants of the _Victory_, seeing this, depressed their guns of the middle and lower decks, and fired with a diminished charge, lest the shot should pass through, and injure the _Téméraire_. And because there was danger that the _Redoubtable_ might take fire from the lower-deck guns, the muzzles of which touched her side when they were run out, the fireman of each gun stood ready with a bucket of water, which, as soon as the gun was discharged, he dashed into the hole made by the shot. An incessant fire was kept up from the _Victory_ from both sides; her larboard guns playing upon the _Bucentaure_ and the huge _Santissima Trinidad_.
It had been part of Nelson’s prayer that the British fleet might be distinguished by humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave orders to cease firing upon the _Redoubtable_, supposing that she had struck, because her great guns were silent; for, as she carried no flag, there was no means of instantly ascertaining the fact. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top, which, in the then situation of the two vessels, was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing, struck the epaulette on his left shoulder,--about a quarter after one, just in the heat of the action.
He fell upon his face, on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary’s blood. “They have done for me at last, Hardy!” said he.
Yet even now, not for a moment losing his presence of mind, he observed, as they were carrying him down the ladder, that the tiller ropes, which had been shot away, were not yet replaced, and ordered that new ones should be rove immediately:--then, that he might not be seen by the crew, he took out his handkerchief, and covered his face and his stars.--Had he but concealed these badges of honor from the enemy, England, perhaps, would not have had cause to receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar.