their prophecies of disaster; but, as on many another day, and in that more famous incident, a few hours later, in this same battle, his tenacious purpose harbored no side-thought of retreat.  “Before you receive this,” he had written to Lady Hamilton, “all will be over with Denmark,—­either your Nelson will be safe, and Sir Hyde Parker a victor, or he, your own Nelson, will be laid low.”  The signal to advance was kept flying, but new dispositions had to be made to meet the new and adverse conditions.[32] The remaining ships were made to close to the rear, as they anchored.  The “Elephant” had been originally assigned as antagonist to the biggest Danish ship, the “Sjaelland,” seventy-four; but, the “Bellona” having grounded, she now dropped into the latter’s berth immediately ahead of the “Glatton;” and Nelson hailed the “Ganges,” as she was passing, to place herself as close as possible ahead of the “Elephant.”  This movement was imitated by the “Monarch,” which thus got the “Elephant’s” position abreast the “Sjaelland.”  Here, according to Danish accounts, the contest stood for some time, until the “Defiance,” Graves’s flagship, arriving, anchored ahead of the “Monarch,” completing the line of nine British ships.  Captain Riou with his light division engaged the Trekroner, and the Danish blockship next south of it, which was by him terribly battered.  From this moment, and for some time, to use subsequent words of Nelson, “Here was no manoeuvring:  it was downright fighting.”

Meanwhile Parker’s division, which had weighed as agreed, was some four miles off, beating up against Nelson’s fair wind.  It had not yet come into action, and the anxious chief, ever doubtful of the result of a step into which he had been persuaded, contrary, not, perhaps, to his will, but certainly to his bent, watched the indecisive progress of the strife with a mind unoccupied by any fighting of his own.  Two things were evident:  that Nelson had met with some mishaps, and that the Danish resistance was more prolonged and sturdier than he had argued in the Council that it would be.  Parker began to talk about making the signal to leave off action, and the matter was discussed between himself, his fleet-captain, and Otway, the captain of the ship.  The latter opposed the idea strongly, and at last, as a stay, obtained the admiral’s authority to go on board the “Elephant” and learn how things were.  He shoved off accordingly, but before he reached Nelson the signal was made.

Nelson at the moment was walking the quarter-deck of the “Elephant,” which was anchored on the bow of the Danish flagship “Dannebroge,” engaging her and some floating batteries ahead of her.  At this time, Stewart says, “Few, if any, of the enemy’s heavy ships and praams had ceased to fire;” and, after mentioning various disappointments that had befallen the smaller British vessels, besides the failure of three heavy ships to reach their stations, he continues:  “The contest, in general,