The Story of Nelson | Page 3

or more
companions, and with the greatest fury they set on the boat with their
tusks, and tried to capsize her. My father and the rest of the crew
fought desperately with boat-hook and axes, but they were getting the

worst of it, and well-nigh gave themselves up as lost, when another
boat was seen coming along the channel towards them. On she dashed;
a young officer, a very little fellow, with an axe in his hand, sprang to
the bows, and began dealing his blows right and left at the heads of the
walruses till several were killed, when the rest dived down and took to
flight. That young lad was Nelson. Soon after this, one morning he and
another boy were missed from the ship. It was reported that they had
gone away in pursuit of a bear which had been seen prowling about. A
thick fog had come on, and they did not return. The captain began to
think that they were lost, and a party was sent out to look for them.
After wandering about for some time, the fog cleared off, and there was
Mr Nelson, with a ship's musket in his hand, close up to a big white
polar bear, who could have made mincemeat of him in a moment. The
party shouted to him to return, but he wouldn't listen to them; and they
expected every moment to see the bear turn and crush him. Still on he
went, moving sideways with the bear. When they got up, they found that
there was a wide chasm which had prevented him from getting closer to
the animal. They led him back to the ship, and when the captain asked
him why he had gone, he answered, with a pouting lip, that he had set
his heart on getting a bear's skin for his father, and that he didn't think
he should have a better opportunity.
"The captain reprimanded, but forgave him. There were greater
dangers in store both for him and all in the expedition; and for a long
time they had little hope of getting the ships clear of the ice. Mr Nelson
exerted himself to cut a channel to let them escape; and at length a
favourable wind getting up, they stood clear of it just as it was expected
that they would be frozen in. They found themselves free, and reached
England in safety. Mr Nelson had nearly been killed by the cold, and
now he was to be tried by the scorching climate of the Indian seas.
Such are the rapid changes we seamen have to undergo. He was
appointed to the `Seahorse,' and out she went to the Indian station. The
climate soon did what no dangers or common hardships could do; it
took away the use of his limbs, and almost overcame his brave spirit.
He retained home, feeling that he should never succeed in the navy or
in anything else. But then suddenly he thought, `I was not born to die
unknown. I'll try what I can do. I'll trust in Providence. I'll serve my

king and country--I will be a hero.' I heard him say this long after, and
I have often since thought if all lads were to try to do their best, and
trust in Providence, we shouldn't hear of so many as we do getting into
poverty and disgrace.
"No officer, I have heard, ever passed a better examination for
seamanship and navigation than did Mr Nelson. His uncle was present,
but did not say who the young man was till the examination was over.
Whatever he did he tried to do as well as he could; that was the reason
of his success. Just about this time, young as I was, my father took me
to sea with him, and we went out to the West Indies. We were shortly
turned over to the `Hichinbrook,' a prize captured from the enemy, and
mounting twenty-eight guns. I was walking the deck with my father
when a thin, sallow, small young man stepped up the side. I should
have taken him for a midshipman, but he had on a post-captain's
uniform. He nodded, as an old acquaintance, to my father, who stood
hat in hand with the other men to receive him. `That's Mr Nelson, our
new captain,' said my father; `he'll not let the grass grow under his
feet.' That was the first time I ever saw the great Lord Nelson. What my
father said was true. We soon sailed to convoy a fleet of transports
destined to attack Saint Juan de Nicaragua. Up a muddy river we
pulled, led by our captain, with a hot scorching sun striking down on us.
We arrived before a fort. Captain Nelson leaped on shore, sword in
hand,