from this brief yet suggestive and
characteristic narrative, that, however valuable and even
indispensable may have been his uncle's assistance in forwarding his
wishes, it was his own ambition and his own impulse that even at this
early day gave direction to his course, and obtained opportunities
which would scarcely have been offered spontaneously to one of his
physical frailty. In this Arctic expedition he underwent the
experiences common to all who tempt those icebound seas. During it
occurred an incident illustrative of Nelson's recklessness of personal
danger,--a very different thing from official recklessness, which he
never showed even in his moments of greatest daring and highest
inspiration. The story is so hackneyed by frequent repetition as to
make its relation a weariness to the biographer, the more so that the
trait of extreme rashness in youth is one by no means so rare as to be
specially significant of Nelson's character. It will be given in the
words of his first biographers:--

"There is also an anecdote recollected by Admiral Lutwidge,
which marked the filial attention of his gallant cockswain.
Among the gentlemen on the quarter-deck of the Carcass, who were
not rated midshipmen, there was, besides young Nelson, a daring
shipmate of his, to whom he had become attached. One night,
during the mid-watch, it was concerted between them that they
should steal together from the ship, and endeavour to obtain a
bear's skin. The clearness of the nights in those high latitudes
rendered the accomplishment of this object extremely difficult:
they, however, seem to have taken advantage of the haze of an
approaching fog, and thus to have escaped unnoticed. Nelson in
high spirits led the way over the frightful chasms in the ice,
armed with a rusty musket. It was not, however, long before the
adventurers were missed by those on board; and, as the fog had
come on very thick, the anxiety of Captain Lutwidge and his
officers was very great. Between three and four in the morning
the mist somewhat dispersed, and the hunters were discovered at
a considerable distance, attacking a large bear. The signal was
instantly made for their return; but it was in vain that
Nelson's companion urged him to obey it. He was at this time
divided by a chasm in the ice from his shaggy antagonist, which
probably saved his life; for the musket had flashed