the life of horatio lord nelson-第25节
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ish fleet accordingly； with every sail set； stood once more for the coast of Egypt。 On the 1st of August； about 10 in the morning； they came in sight of Alexandria： the port had been vacant and solitary when they saw it last； it was now crowded with ships； and they perceived with exultation that the tri…coloured flag was flying upon the walls。 At four in the afternoon； Captain Hood； in the ZEALOUS； made the signal for the enemy's fleet。 For many preceding days Nelson had hardly taken either sleep or food： he now ordered his dinner to be served； while preparations were making for battle； and when his officers rose from table； and went to their separate stations； he said to them； 〃Before this time to…morrow I shall have gained a peerage or Westminster Abbey。〃
The French； steering direct for Candia； had made an angular passage for Alexandria； whereas Nelson； in pursuit of them； made straight for that place； and thus materially shortened the distance。 The comparative smallness of his force made it necessary to sail in close order； and it covered a less space than it would have done if the frigates had been with him： the weather also was constantly hazy。 These circumstances prevented the English from discovering the enemy on the way to Egypt； though it appeared； upon examining the journals of the French officers taken in the action； that the two fleets must actually have crossed on the night of the 22nd of June。 During the return to Syracuse； the chances of falling in with them were become fewer。
Why Buonaparte； having effected his landing； should not have suffered the fleet to return； has never yet been explained。 This much is certain； that it was detained by his command； though； with his accustomed falsehood； he accused Admiral Brueys； after that officer's death； of having lingered on the coast contrary to orders。 The French fleet arrived at Alexandria on the 1st of July； and Brueys； not being able to enter the port； which time and neglect had ruined； moored his ships in Aboukir Bay； in a strong and compact line of battle； the headmost vessel； according to his own account； being as close as possible to a shoal on the N。W。； and the rest of the fleet forming a kind of curve along the line of deep water； so as not to be turned by any means in the S。W。 By Buonaparte's desire he had offered a reward of 10；000 livres to any pilot of the country who would carry the squadron in； but none could be found who would venture to take charge of a single vessel drawing more than twenty feet。 He had therefore made the best of his situation； and chosen the strongest position which he could possibly take in an open road。 The commissary of the fleet said they were moored in such a manner as to bid defiance to a force more than double their own。 This presumption could not then be thought unreasonable。 Admiral Barrington； when moored in a similar manner off St。 Lucia； in the year 1778； beat off the Comte d'Estaign in three several attacks； though his force was inferior by almost one…third to that which assailed it。 Here； the advantage in numbers； both in ships； guns； and men； was in favour of the French。 They had thirteen ships of the line and four frigates； carrying 1196 guns and 11；230 men。 The English had the same number of ships of the line and one fifty…gun ship； carrying 1012 guns and 8068 men。 The English ships were all seventy…fours； the French had three eighty…gun ships； and one three…decker of one hundred and twenty。
During the whole pursuit it had been Nelson's practice； whenever circumstances would permit； to have his captains on board the VANGUARD； and explain to them his own ideas of the different and best modes of attack； and such plans as he proposed to execute on falling in with the enemy； whatever their situation might be。 There is no possible position； it is said； which he did not take into calculation。 His officers were thus fully acquainted with his principles of tactics； and such was his confidence in their abilities that the only thing determined upon； in case they should find the French at anchor； was for the ships to form as most convenient for their mutual support； and to anchor by the stern。 〃First gain the victory；〃 he said；〃and then make the best use of it you can。〃 The moment he perceived the position of the French； that intuitive genius with which Nelson was endowed displayed itself； and it instantly struck him that where there was room for an enemy's ship to swing； there was room for one of ours to anchor。 The plan which he intended to pursue； therefore； was to keep entirely on the outer side of the French line； and station his ships； as far as he was able； one on the outer bow； and another on the outer quarter； of each of the enemy's。 This plan of doubling on the enemy's ships was projected by Lord Hood； when he designed to attack the French fleet at their anchorage in Gourjean Road。 Lord Hood found it impossible to make the attempt； but the thought was not lost upon Nelson； who acknowledged himself； on this occasion； indebted for it to his old and excellent commander。 Captain Berry； when he comprehended the scope of the design； exclaimed with transport； 〃If we succeed； what will the world say ？〃 〃There is no IF in the case；〃 replied the admiral： 〃that we shall succeed is certain； who may live to tell the story is a very different question。〃
As the squadron advanced； they were assailed by a shower of shot and shells from the batteries on the island； and the enemy opened a steady fire from the starboard side of their whole line； within half gunshot distance； full into the bows of our van ships。 It was received in silence： the men on board every ship were employed aloft in furling sails； and below in tending the braces and making ready for anchoring。 A miserable sight for the French； who； with all their skill； and all their courage； and all their advantages of numbers and situation； were upon that element on which； when the hour of trial comes； a Frenchman has no hope。 Admiral Brueys was a brave and able man； yet the indelible character of his country broke out in one of his letters； wherein he delivered it as his private opinion； that the English had missed him； because； not being superior in force； they did not think it prudent to try their strength with him。 The moment was now come in which he was to be undeceived。
A French brig was instructed to decoy the English by manoeuvring so as to tempt them toward a shoal lying off the island of Bekier； but Nelson either knew the danger or suspected some deceit； and the lure was unsuccessful。 Captain Foley led the way in the GOLIATH； outsailing the ZEALOUS； which for some minutes disputed this post of honour with him。 He had long conceived that if the enemy were moored in line of battle in with the land； the best plan of attack would be to lead between them and the shore； because the French guns on that side were not likely to be manned； nor even ready for action。 Intending； therefore； to fix himself on the inner bow of the GUERRIER； he kept as near the edge of the bank as the depth of water would admit； but his anchor hung； and having opened his fire he drifted to the second ship； the CONQUERANT； before it was clear； then anchored by the stern inside of her； and in ten minutes shot away her mast。 Hood； in the ZEALOUS； perceiving this； took the station which the GOLIATH intended to have occupied； and totally disabled the GUERRIER in twelve minutes。 The third ship which doubled the enemy's van was the ORION； Sir J。 Saumarez； she passed to windward of the ZEALOUS； and opened her larboard guns as long as they bore on GUERRIER； then； passing inside the GOLIATH； sunk a frigate which annoyed her； hauled round toward the French line； and anchoring inside； between the fifth and sixth ships from the GUERRIER； took her station on the larboard bow of the FRANKLIN and the quarter of the PEUPLE SOUVERAIN； receiving and returning the fire of both。 The sun was now nearly down。 The AUDACIOUS； Captain Could； pouring a heavy fire into the GUERRIER and the CONQUERANT； fixed herself on the larboard bow of the latter； and when that ship struck； passed on to the PEUPLE SOUVERAIN。 The THESEUS； Capt Miller； followed； brought down the GUERRIER's remaining main and mizzen masts； then anchored inside of the SPARTIATE； the third in the French line。
While these advanced ships doubled the French line； the VANGUARD was the first that anchored on the outer side of the enemy； within half pistol…shot of their third ship； the SPARTIATE。 Nelson had six colours flying in different parts of his rigging； lest they should be shot away； that they should be struck； no British admiral considers as a possibility。 He veered half a cable； and instantly opened a tremendous fire； under cover of which the other four ships of his division； the MINOTAUR； BELLEROPHON； DEFENCE； and MAJESTIC； sailed on ahead of the admiral。 In a few minutes； every man stationed at the first six guns in the fore part of the VANGUARD's deck was killed or wounded。 These guns were three times cleared。 Captain Louis； in the MINOTAUR； anchored just ahead； and took off the fire of the AQUILON； the fourth in the enemy's line。 The BELLEROPHON； Captain Darby； passed ahead； and dropped her stern anchor on the starboard bow of the ORIENT； seventh i
