failed, and the love of country conquered death. With his feeble hand

he contrived to reach the handkerchief in his pocket, and spread it over

his face and breast, lest the crew should be disheartened.

"I know who fired that shot," cried Dan, when he saw that he could help

no more. "He never shall live to boast of it, if I have to board the

French ship to fetch him."

He ran back quickly to the quarterdeck, and there found three or four

others eager to give their lives for Nelson's death. The mizzen-top of

the Redoutable, whence the fatal shot had come, was scarcely so much

as fifty feet from the starboard rail of the Victory. The men who were

stationed in that top, although they had no brass cohorn there, such

as those in the main and fore tops plied, had taken many English lives,

while the thick smoke surged around them.

For some time they had worked unheeded in the louder roar of cannon, and

when at last they were observed, it was hard to get a fair shot at them,

not only from the rolling of the entangled ships, and clouds of blinding

vapour, but because they retired out of sight to load, and only

came forward to catch their aim. However, by the exertions of our

marines--who should have been at them long ago--these sharp-shooters

from the coign of vantage were now reduced to three brave fellows. They

had only done their duty, and perhaps had no idea how completely they

had done it; but naturally enough our men looked at them as if they were

"too bad for hanging." Smoky as the air was, the three men saw that a

very strong feeling was aroused against them, and that none of their

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