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on stood. "I can't hear a word that Peter says," replied I to Ben. "No, because the wind's so high, and I myself am a little hard of hearing out of doors. Suppose we go now, and by-and-by you shall get the paper from Anderson, and read it all over to me." "Come away, Ben," replied I, impatiently, "I've got a shilling, and I'll buy one." We left the hill and went down into the town, directing our course to where we heard the horns blowing. I had not, however, to go to such an extraordinary expense, as "a full and particular account" had been struck off for twopence; one of these I purchased, and then Ben and I sat down on the bench outside of a public-house, and I commenced reading. "How good that porter looks!" observed Ben, after a pause, as he eyed a man near to him who was blowing off the froth from the top of the pot he held in his hand. "Well, Ben, as I have bought the account of the battle for twopence, suppose I spend the rest of the money I intended to pay for it in a pot of porter, to drink the health of Nelson?" "Ay, my boy, and of those who fought with him," replied Ben; "your own father, Jack, whether he be dead or alive." I sighed at the idea of my father being dead, for I had a great regard for him, although I had not seen much of him. The porter was brought, and after we had both drunk I recommenced reading. Having concluded Admiral Nelson's dispatch and the list of the ships taken, we then came to the loss in killed and wounded on board of the respective English ships. "'Vanguard'--thirty killed, seventy-five wounded; total, a hundred and five." "Yes, Jack, that was Nelson's own ship; and he is always to be found where the shot fly thickest." "'Bellerophon'--forty-nine killed, a hundred and forty-eight wounded; total, a hundred and ninety-seven." "Well, she was in the thick of it, anyhow!" observed Ben. "'Majestic'--fifty killed, a hundred and forty-three wounded; total, a hundred and ninety-three." "Why, she and the 'Bellyruffron' seem to have pretty well shared and shared alike. You see, Jack, they led into the action, and had all the cream of the fire." I went on reading and Ben remarking, until I came to the "Audacious." "'Audacious'"--one killed, and thirty-five wounded; total, thirty-six." "Well now, Jack, that's all in favor of your father being alive; 'cause why should he be the one killed, more than any one else? I'd bet two pots of beer that he's among th
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