Part 25 (1/2)

The _Caesar_, the leading s.h.i.+p of the fleet, had been directed to sail right past the line of s.h.i.+ps and to operate against a detached fort standing on a spit of land on the right flank of the Danish position.

This fort mounted many guns, much superior to those of the Caesar in weight, but the crew were in high spirits at the prospect of a fight, little as they understood the cause for which they were engaged.

Stripping to the waist, they cl.u.s.tered round the guns, each officer at his post, Harry, with two other mids.h.i.+pmen, being upon the quarter-deck near the captain to carry orders from him as might be required to different parts of the s.h.i.+p. As the _Caesar_ pa.s.sed along the line of s.h.i.+ps to take up her position she was saluted by a storm of fire from the Danish vessels, to which she made no reply. She suffered, however, but little injury, although shot and sh.e.l.l whistled between the masts and struck the water on all sides of her, several striking the hull with a dull, cras.h.i.+ng sound, while her sails were pierced with holes. Harry felt that he was rather pale, and was disgusted with himself at the feeling of discomfort which he experienced. But there is nothing that tries the nerves more than standing the fire of an enemy before it is time to set to work to reply. As soon as orders were given for the _Caesar's_ fire to be opened, directly the guns could be brought to bear, and the roar of her cannon answered those of the fort, the feeling of uneasiness on Harry's part disappeared, and was succeeded by that of the excitement of battle. The din was prodigious. Along the whole line the British fleet was engaged, and the boom of the heavy guns of the s.h.i.+ps, forts, and batteries, and the rattle of musketry from the tops of the s.h.i.+ps, kept up a deep roar like that of incessant thunder.

”The water is very shallow, sir,” the first lieutenant reported to the captain. ”There are but two fathoms under her foot. The wind, too, is dropping so much that we have scarcely steerage-way, and the current is sweeping us along fast.”

”Prepare to anchor, Mr. Francis,” the captain said.

He had scarcely spoken, however, when there was a slight s.h.i.+vering sensation in the s.h.i.+p, and it was known by all on board that she was aground, and that on a falling tide. While the starboard guns were kept at work the men were called off from those of the port side, boats were lowered and hawsers were got out, and every effort was made to tow the s.h.i.+p off the shoal. The sailors pulled hard in spite of the storm of shot and sh.e.l.l which fell round them from the fort and the nearest Danish s.h.i.+ps. But the _Caesar_ was fast. Calling the men on board again, the captain requested the first lieutenant to go aloft and see what was going on in other parts of the line. He returned with the news that four or five other s.h.i.+ps were plainly aground, and that things appeared to be going badly. In the meantime the _Caesar_ was suffering heavily. The fire of the fort was well directed, and the gunners, working their pieces under comparative shelter, were able to pour their fire steadily into the _Caesar_, while a floating battery and two frigates also kept up an incessant fire.

The number of killed and wounded was already large, but as only the guns of the starboard side could be worked the fire was kept up with unabated zeal, and the fort bore many signs of the accuracy of the fire. The parapet was in many places shot away and several of the guns put out of action. But the _Caesar_ was clearly overmatched, and the captain hastily wrote a note to the admiral, stating that the s.h.i.+p was aground and was altogether overmatched, and begging that another vessel might be dispatched to his aid, if one could be spared, in order to partially relieve her of the enemy's fire.

”Here, Mr. Langley, take the gig and row off to the flags.h.i.+p instantly.”

Harry obeyed orders. Through the storm of shot and sh.e.l.l which was flying, striking up the water in all directions, he made his way to the admirals s.h.i.+p, which was lying nearly a mile away.

Admiral Nelson opened the note and read it through.

”Tell Captain Ball,” he said, ”that I haven't a s.h.i.+p to spare.

Several are aground, and all hard pressed. He must do the best he can.

Ah! you are the lad whom I saw in Sir Hyde Parker's cabin, are you not?”

”Yes, sir.”

The Admiral nodded in token of approval, and Harry prepared to leave.

Suddenly a thought struck him, and running into the captain's cabin he asked the steward for a small tablecloth.

”What on earth d'you want it for?” he exclaimed.

”Never mind. Give it me at once.”

Seizing the tablecloth he ran down into the boat. As they returned towards the _Caesar_ they could see how hardly matters were going with her. One of her masts was down. Her sides were battered and torn, and several of her port-holes were knocked into one. Still her fire continued unabated, but it was clear that she could not much longer resist.

”Do you think she must haul down her flag?” Harry said to the c.o.xswain of the boat.

”Aye, aye, sir,” the c.o.xswain said. ”Wood and iron can't stand such a pounding as that much longer. Most captains would have hauled down the flag long before this, and even our skipper can't stand out much longer. There won't be a man alive to fight her.”

”Will you do as I order?” Harry said.

”Aye, sir,” the c.o.xswain said in surprise, ”I will do what you like;”

for the story of the conduct by which Harry had gained his mids.h.i.+pman's promotion had been repeated through the s.h.i.+p, and the men were all proud of the lad who had behaved so pluckily.

”At least,” Harry said, ”it may do good, and it can't do harm. Where's the boat-hook? Fasten this tablecloth to it and pull for the fort.”

The c.o.xswain gave an exclamation of surprise, but did as Harry told him, and with the white flag flying the boat pulled straight towards the fort. As he was seen to do so the fire of the latter, which had been directed towards the boat, ceased, although the duel between the battery and the _Caesar_ continued with unabated vigor. Harry steered direct to the steps on the sea face and mounted to the interior of the fort, where, on saying that he brought a message from the captain, he was at once conducted to the commandant.

”I am come, sir,” Harry said, ”from the captain to beg of you to surrender at once. Your guns have been n.o.bly fought, but two more s.h.i.+ps are coming down to engage with you, and the captain would fain save further effusion of life. You have done all that brave men could do, but the fight everywhere goes against you, and further resistance is vain. In a quarter of an hour a fire will be centered upon your guns that will mean annihilation, and the captain therefore begs you to spare the brave men under your orders from further sacrifice.”