These Christian Calabrians had found him hidden in a cave. He had been one of the chief in authority in the Castle of Uovo, until it became certain that the English fleet was approaching and not the French, whereupon he fled incontinently, knowing that our Admiral, though he was in every other respect the most kind-hearted of men, had only one recipe for mutineers--the yard-arm. But he had reckoned without his host in thinking to get away. The Calabrians, led by innumerable local chiefs, had really fought very well in their advance up the Peninsula, though it is true that they had not met many "regulars"; and now that the approach of our fleet had paralysed the enemy, they were engaged on a duty for which their training thoroughly fitted them--the hunting-out of fugitives skulking in the mountains, which is the whole history of brigandage. As soon as Captain Hardy was informed who the prisoner was, he was at once released from his bonds and conducted to an officer's cabin, where he was given every means of freshening his appearance, and had a proper meal, of which he seemed in great want, placed before him. But of this he refused to partake, showing a spirit in his last hours which might have saved him and brought him great honour if he had shown only a part of it at the beginning. The Admiral at once issued the following order to Count Thurn, Commodore and Commander of His Sicilian Majesty's frigate _Minerva_:-- "By Horatio Lord Nelson, etc., etc., etc. "Whereas Francisco Caracciolo, a Commodore in the service of His Sicilian Majesty, has been taken, and stands accused of rebellion against his lawful Sovereign, and for firing at his colours hoisted on board his Frigate _The Minerva_, under your command: You are, therefore, hereby required and directed to assemble five of the senior officers under your command, yourself presiding, and proceed to inquire whether the crime with which the said Francisco Caracciolo stands charged, can be proved against him; and if the charge is proved, you are to report to me what punishment he ought to suffer. "Given on board the _Foudroyant_, Naples Bay, the 29th June, 1799. "Nelson." And the Court, assembling at once, sat from 10 a.m. till noon. The charge was found proved, and the Admiral then issued this second order to Count Thurn:-- "By Horatio, Lord Nelson, etc., etc., etc. "Whereas a Board of Naval Officers of His Sicilian Majesty hath been assembled to try Francisco Caracciolo for rebellion against his lawful Sovereign, and for firing at His Sicilian Majesty's Frigate _La Minerva_; "And whereas the said Board of Naval Officers have found the charge of rebellion fully proved against him, and have sentenced the said Caracciolo to suffer death;