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diff --git a/17403.txt b/17403.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5dd9b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/17403.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12323 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Cornet of Horse, by G. A. Henty + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Cornet of Horse + A Tale of Marlborough's Wars + + +Author: G. A. Henty + + + +Release Date: December 27, 2005 [eBook #17403] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CORNET OF HORSE*** + + +E-text prepared by Martin Robb + + + +THE CORNET OF HORSE: + +A Tale of Marlborough's Wars + +by + +G. A. HENTY. + +1914 + + + + + + + +Contents + + Chapter 1: Windthorpe Chace. + Chapter 2: Rupert to the Rescue. + Chapter 3: A Kiss and its Consequences. + Chapter 4: The Sedan Chair. + Chapter 5: The Fencing School. + Chapter 6: The War Of Succession. + Chapter 7: Venloo. + Chapter 8: The Old Mill. + Chapter 9: The Duel. + Chapter 10: The Battle Of The Dykes. + Chapter 11: A Death Trap. + Chapter 12: The Sad Side Of War. + Chapter 13: Blenheim. + Chapter 14: The Riot at Dort. + Chapter 15: The End of a Feud. + Chapter 16: Ramilies. + Chapter 17: A Prisoner of War. + Chapter 18: The Court of Versailles. + Chapter 19: The Evasion. + Chapter 20: Loches. + Chapter 21: Back in Harness. + Chapter 22: Oudenarde. + Chapter 23: The Siege of Lille. + Chapter 24: Adele. + Chapter 25: Flight and Pursuit. + Chapter 26: The Siege of Tournai. + Chapter 27: Malplaquet, and the End of the War. + + + + +Chapter 1: Windthorpe Chace. + +"One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four--turn to your lady; +one, two, three, four--now deep reverence. Now you take her hand; +no, not her whole hand--the tips of her fingers; now you lead her +to her seat; now a deep bow, so. That will do. You are improving, +but you must be more light, more graceful, more courtly in your +air; still you will do. + +"Now run away, Mignon, to the garden; you have madam's permission +to gather fruit. + +"Now, Monsieur Rupert, we will take our lesson in fencing." + +The above speech was in the French language, and the speaker was a +tall, slightly-built man of about fifty years of age. The scene was +a long low room, in a mansion situated some two miles from Derby. +The month was January, 1702, and King William the Third sat upon +the throne. In the room, in addition to the dancing master, were +the lad he was teaching, an active, healthy-looking boy between +fifteen and sixteen; his partner, a bright-faced French girl of +some twelve years of age; and an old man, nearer eighty than +seventy, but still erect and active, who sat in a large armchair, +looking on. + +By the alacrity with which the lad went to an armoire and took out +the foils, and steel caps with visors which served as fencing +masks, it was clear that he preferred the fencing lesson to the +dancing. He threw off his coat, buttoned a padded guard across his +chest, and handing a foil to his instructor, took his place before +him. + +"Now let us practise that thrust in tierce after the feint and +disengage. You were not quite so close as you might have been, +yesterday. Ha! ha! that is better. I think that monsieur your +grandfather has been giving you a lesson, and poaching on my manor. +Is it not so?" + +"Yes," said the old man, "I gave him ten minutes yesterday evening; +but I must give it up. My sword begins to fail me, and your pupil +gets more skillful, and stronger in the wrist, every day. In the +days when I was at Saint Germains with the king, when the cropheads +lorded it here, I could hold my own with the best of your young +blades. But even allowing fully for the stiffness of age, I think I +can still gauge the strength of an opponent, and I think the boy +promises to be of premiere force." + +"It is as you say, monsieur le colonel. My pupil is born to be a +fencer; he learns it with all his heart; he has had two good +teachers for three years; he has worked with all his energy at it; +and he has one of those supple strong wrists that seem made for the +sword. He presses me hard. + +"Now, Monsieur Rupert, open play, and do your best." + +Then began a struggle which would have done credit to any fencing +school in Europe. Rupert Holliday was as active as a cat, and was +ever on the move, constantly shifting his ground, advancing and +retreating with astonishing lightness and activity. At first he was +too eager, and his instructor touched him twice over his guard. +Then, rendered cautious, he fought more carefully, although with no +less quickness than before; and for some minutes there was no +advantage on either side, the master's longer reach and calm steady +play baffling every effort of his assailant. + +At last, with a quick turn of the wrist, he sent Rupert's foil +flying across the room. Rupert gave an exclamation of disgust, +followed by a merry laugh. + +"You always have me so, Monsieur Dessin. Do what I will, sooner or +later comes that twist, which I cannot stop." + +"You must learn how, sir. Your sword is so; as you lunge I guard, +and run my foil along yours, so as to get power near my hilt. Now +if I press, your sword must go; but you must not let me press; you +must disengage quickly. Thus, you see? + +"Now let us try again. We will practise nothing else today--or +tomorrow--or till you are perfect. It is your one weak point. Then +you must practise to disarm your opponent, till you are perfect in +that also. Then, as far as I can teach you, you will be a master of +fencing. You know all my coups, and all those of monsieur le +colonel. These face guards, too, have worked wonders, in enabling +you to play with quickness and freedom. We are both fine blades. + +"I tell you, young sir, you need not put up with an insult in any +public place in Europe. I tell you so, who ought to know." + +In the year 1702 fencing was far from having attained that +perfection which it reached later. Masks had not yet been invented, +and in consequence play was necessarily stiff and slow, as the +danger of the loss of sight, or even of death, from a chance thrust +was very great. When Rupert first began his lessons, he was so rash +and hasty that his grandfather greatly feared an accident, and it +struck him that by having visors affixed to a couple of light steel +caps, not only would all possibility of an accident be obviated +upon the part of either himself or his pupil, but the latter would +attain a freedom and confidence of style which could otherwise be +only gained from a long practice in actual war. The result had more +than equalled his expectations; and Monsieur Dessin had, when he +assumed the post of instructor, been delighted with the invention, +and astonished at the freedom and boldness of the lad's play. It +was, then, thanks to these masks, as well as to his teachers' skill +and his own aptitude, that Rupert had obtained a certainty, a +rapidity, and a freedom of style absolutely impossible in the case +of a person, whatever his age, who had been accustomed to fence +with the face unguarded, and with the caution and stiffness +necessary to prevent the occurrence of terrible accident. + +For another half hour the lesson went on. Then, just as the final +salute was given, the door opened at the end of the room, and a +lady entered, in the stiff dress with large hoops then in fashion. +Colonel Holliday advanced with a courtly air, and offered her his +hand. The French gentleman, with an air to the full as courtly as +that of the colonel, brought forward a chair for her; and when she +had seated herself, Rupert advanced to kiss her hand. + +"No, Rupert, you are too hot. There, leave us; I wish to speak to +Colonel Holliday and monsieur." + +With a deep bow, and a manner far more respectful and distant than +that which nowadays would be shown to a stranger who was worthy of +all honour, Rupert Holliday left his mother's presence. + +"I know what she wants," Rupert muttered to himself. "To stop my +fencing lessons; just as if a gentleman could fence too well. She +wants me to be a stiff, cold, finnikin fop, like that conceited +young Brownlow, of the Haugh. + +"Not if I know it, madame ma mere. You will never make a courtier +of me, any more than you will a whig. The colonel fought at Naseby, +and was with the king in France. Papa was a tory, and so am I." + +And the lad whistled a Jacobite air as he made his way with a rapid +step to the stables. + +The terms Whig and Tory in the reign of King William had very +little in common with the meaning which now attaches to these +words. The principal difference between the two was in their views +as to the succession to the throne. The Princess Anne would succeed +King William, and the whigs desired to see George, Elector of +Hanover, ascend the throne when it again became vacant; the tories +looked to the return of the Stuarts. The princess's sympathies were +with the tories, for she, as a daughter of James the Second, would +naturally have preferred that the throne should revert to her +brother, than that it should pass to a German prince, a stranger to +her, a foreigner, and ignorant even of the language of the people. +Roughly it may be said that the tories were the descendants of the +cavaliers, while the whigs inherited the principles of the +parliamentarians. Party feeling ran very high throughout the +country; and as in the civil war, the towns were for the most part +whig in their predilection, the country was tory. + +Rupert Holliday had grown up in a divided house. The fortunes of +Colonel Holliday were greatly impaired in the civil war. His +estates were forfeited; and at the restoration he received his +ancestral home, Windthorpe Chace, and a small portion of the +surrounding domain, but had never been able to recover the outlying +properties from the men who had acquired them in his absence. He +had married in France, the daughter of an exile like himself; but +before the "king came to his own" his wife had died, and he +returned with one son, Herbert. + +Herbert had, when he arrived at manhood, restored the fortunes of +the Chace by marrying Mistress Dorothy Maynard, the daughter and +heiress of a wealthy brewer of Derby, who had taken the side of +parliament, and had thriven greatly at the expense of the royalist +gentry of the neighbourhood. After the restoration he, like many +other roundheads who had grown rich by the acquisition of forfeited +estates, felt very doubtful whether he should be allowed to retain +possession, and was glad enough to secure his daughter's fortune by +marrying her to the heir of a prominent royalist. Colonel Holliday +had at first objected strongly to the match, but the probable +advantage to the fortune of his house at last prevailed over his +political bias. The fortune which Mistress Dorothy brought into the +family was eventually much smaller than had been expected, for +several of the owners of estates of which the roundhead brewer had +become possessed, made good their claims to them. + +Still Herbert Holliday was a rich man at his father-in-law's death, +which happened three years after the marriage. With a portion of +his wife's dowry most of the outlying properties which had belonged +to the Chace were purchased back from their holders; but Herbert +Holliday, who was a weak man, cared nothing for a country life, but +resided in London with his wife. There he lived for another six +years, and was then killed in a duel over a dispute at cards, +having in that time managed to run through every penny that his +wife had brought him, save that invested in the lands of the Chace. + +Dorothy Holliday then, at the Colonel's earnest invitation, +returned to the Chace with her son Rupert, then five years old. +There she ruled as mistress, for her disposition was a masterful +one, and she was a notable housekeeper. The colonel gladly resigned +the reins of government into her hands. The house and surrounding +land were his; the estate whose rental enabled the household to be +maintained as befitted that of a county family, was hers; and both +would in time, unless indeed Dorothy Holliday should marry again, +go to Rupert. Should she marry again--and at the time of her +husband's death she wanted two or three years of thirty--she might +divide the estate between Rupert and any other children she might +have, she having purchased the estate with her dowry, and having +right of appointment between her children as she chose. Colonel +Holliday was quite content to leave to his daughter-in-law the +management of the Chace, while he assumed that of his grandson, on +whom he doted. The boy, young as he then was, gave every promise of +a fine and courageous disposition, and the old cavalier promised +himself that he would train him to be a soldier and a gentleman. + +When the lad was eight years old, the old vicar of the little +church at the village at the gates of the Chace died, and the +living being in the colonel's gift as master of the Chace, he +appointed a young man, freshly ordained, from Oxford, who was +forthwith installed as tutor to Rupert. + +Three years later, Colonel Holliday heard that a French emigre had +settled in Derby, and gave lessons in his own language and in +fencing. Rupert had already made some advance in these studies, for +Colonel Holliday, from his long residence in France, spoke the +language like a native; and now, after Mistress Dorothy's objection +having been overcome by the assurance that French and fencing were +necessary parts of a gentleman's education if he were ever to make +his way at court, Monsieur Dessin was installed as tutor in these +branches, coming out three times a week for the afternoon to the +Chace. + +A few months before our story begins, dancing had been added to the +subjects taught. This was a branch of education which Monsieur +Dessin did not impart to the inhabitants of Derby, where indeed he +had but few pupils, the principal portion of his scanty income +being derived from his payments from the Chace. He had, however, +acceded willingly enough to Mistress Dorothy's request, his consent +perhaps being partly due to the proposition that, as it would be +necessary that the boy should have a partner, a pony with a groom +should be sent over twice a week to Derby to fetch his little +daughter Adele out to the Chace, where, when the lesson was over, +she could amuse herself in the grounds until her father was free to +accompany her home. + +In those days dancing was an art to be acquired only with long +study. It was a necessity that a gentleman should dance, and dance +well, and the stately minuet required accuracy, grace, and dignity. +Dancing in those days was an art; it has fallen grievously from +that high estate. + +Between Monsieur Dessin and the old cavalier a cordial friendship +reigned. The former had never spoken of his past history, but the +colonel never doubted that, like so many refugees who sought our +shore from France from the date of the revocation of the edict of +Nantes to the close of the great revolution, he was of noble blood, +an exile from his country on account of his religion or political +opinions; and the colonel tried in every way to repay to him the +hospitality and kindness which he himself had received during his +long exile in France. Very often, when lessons were over, the two +would stroll in the garden, talking over Paris and its court; and +it was only the thought of his little daughter, alone in his dull +lodgings in Derby, that prevented Monsieur Dessin from accepting +the warm invitation to the evening meal which the colonel often +pressed upon him. During the daytime he could leave her, for Adele +went to the first ladies' school in the town, where she received an +education in return for her talking French to the younger pupils. +It was on her half holidays that she came over to dance with Rupert +Holliday. + +Mistress Dorothy did not approve of her son's devotion to fencing, +although she had no objection to his acquiring the courtly +accomplishments of dancing and the French language; but her +opposition was useless. Colonel Holliday reminded her of the terms +of their agreement, that she was to be mistress of the Chace, and +that he was to superintend Rupert's education. Upon the present +occasion, when the lad had left the room, she again protested +against what she termed a waste of time. + +"It is no waste of time, madam," the old cavalier said, more firmly +than he was accustomed to speak to his daughter-in-law. "Rupert +will never grow up a man thrusting himself into quarrels; and +believe me, the reputation of being the best swordsman at the court +will keep him out of them. In Monsieur Dessin and myself I may say +that he has had two great teachers. In my young days there was no +finer blade at the Court of France than I was; and Monsieur Dessin +is, in the new style, what I was in the old. The lad may be a +soldier--" + +"He shall never be a soldier," Madam Dorothy broke out. + +"That, madam," the colonel said courteously, "will be for the lad +himself and for circumstances to decide. When I was his age there +was nothing less likely than that I should be a soldier; but you +see it came about." + +"Believe me, Madam," Monsieur Dessin said deferentially, "it is +good that your son should be a master of fence. Not only may he at +court be forced into quarrels, in which it will be necessary for +him to defend his honour, but in all ways it benefits him. Look at +his figure; nature has given him health and strength, but fencing +has given him that light, active carriage, the arm of steel, and a +bearing which at his age is remarkable. Fencing, too, gives a +quickness, a readiness, and promptness of action which in itself is +an admirable training. Monsieur le colonel has been good enough to +praise my fencing, and I may say that the praise is deserved. There +are few men in France who would willingly have crossed swords with +me," and now he spoke with a hauteur characteristic of a French +noble rather than a fencing master. + +Madam Holliday was silent; but just as she was about to speak +again, a sound of horses' hoofs were heard outside. The silence +continued until a domestic entered, and said that Sir William +Brownlow and his son awaited madam's pleasure in the drawing room. + +A dark cloud passed over the old colonel's face as Mistress Dorothy +rose and, with a sweeping courtesy, left the room. + +"Let us go into the garden, monsieur," he said abruptly, "and see +how your daughter is getting on." + +Adele was talking eagerly with Rupert, at a short distance from +whom stood a lad some two years his senior, dressed in an attire +that showed he was of inferior rank. Hugh Parsons was in fact the +son of the tenant of the home farm of the Chace, and had since +Rupert's childhood been his playmate, companion, and protector. + +"Monsieur mon pere," Adele said, dancing up to her father, and +pausing for a moment to courtesy deeply to him and Colonel +Holliday, "Monsieur Rupert is going out with his hawks after a +heron that Hugh has seen in the pool a mile from here. He has +offered to take me on his pony, if you will give permission for me +to go." + +"Certainly, you may go, Adele. Monsieur Rupert will be careful of +you, I am sure." + +"Yes, indeed," Rupert said. "I will be very careful. + +"Hugh, see my pony saddled, and get the hawks. I will run in for a +cloth to lay over the saddle." + +In five minutes the pony was brought round, a cloth was laid over +the saddle, and Rupert aided Adele to mount, with as much deference +as if he had been assisting a princess. Then he took the reins and +walked by the pony's head, while Hugh followed, with two hooded +hawks upon his arm. + +"They are a pretty pair," Colonel Holliday said, looking after +them. + +"Yes," Monsieur Dessin replied, but so shortly that the colonel +looked at him with surprise. + +He was looking after his daughter and Rupert with a grave, +thoughtful face, and had evidently answered his own thought rather +than the old cavalier's remark. + +"Yes," he repeated, rousing himself with an effort, "they are a +pretty pair indeed." + +At a walking pace, Rupert Holliday, very proud of his charge, led +the pony in the direction of the pool in which the heron had an +hour before been seen by Hugh, the boy and girl chattering in +French as they went. When they neared the spot they stopped, and +Adele alighted. Then Rupert took the hawks, while Hugh went forward +alone to the edge of the pool. Just as he reached it a heron soared +up with a hoarse cry. + +Rupert slipped the hoods off the hawks, and threw them into the +air. They circled for an instant, and then, as they saw their +quarry rising, darting off with the velocity of arrows. The heron +instantly perceived his danger, and soared straight upwards. The +hawks pursued him, sailing round in circles higher and higher. So +they mounted until they were mere specks in the sky. + +At last the hawks got above the heron, and instantly prepared to +pounce upon him. Seeing his danger, the heron turned on his back, +and, with feet and beak pointed upwards to protect himself, fell +almost like a stone towards the earth; but more quickly still the +hawks darted down upon him. One the heron with a quick movement +literally impaled upon his sharp bill; but the other planted his +talons in his breast, and, rending and tearing at his neck, the +three birds fell together, with a crash, to the earth. + +The flight had been so directly upwards that they fell but a short +distance from the pool, and the lads and Adele were quickly upon +the spot. The heron was killed by the fall; and to Rupert's grief; +one of his hawks was also dead, pierced through and through by the +heron's beak. The other bird was with difficulty removed from the +quarry, and the hood replaced. + +Rupert, after giving the heron's plumes to Adele for her hat, led +her back to the pony, Hugh following with the hawk on his wrist, +and carrying the two dead birds. + +"I am so sorry your hawk is killed," Adele said. + +"Yes," Rupert answered, "it is a pity. It was a fine, bold bird, +and gave us lots of trouble to train; but he was always rash, and I +told him over and over again what would happen if he was not more +careful." + +"Have you any more?" Adele asked. + +"No more falcons like this. I have gerfalcons, for pigeons and +partridges, but none for herons. But I dare say Hugh will be able +to get me two more young birds before long, and it is a pleasure to +train them." + +Colonel Holliday and Monsieur Dessin met them as they returned to +the house. + +"What, Rupert! Had bad luck?" his grandfather said. + +"Yes, sir. Cavalier was too rash, and the quarry killed him." + +"Hum!" said the old man; "just the old story. The falcon was well +named, Rupert. It was just our rashness that lost us all our +battles. + +"What, Monsieur Dessin, you must be off? Will you let me have a +horse saddled for yourself; and the pony for mademoiselle? The +groom can bring them back." + +Monsieur Dessin declined the offer; and a few minutes later started +to walk back with his daughter to Derby. + + + +Chapter 2: Rupert to the Rescue. + +About a month after the day on which Rupert had taken Mademoiselle +Adele Dessin out hawking, the colonel and Mistress Dorothy went to +dine at the house of a county family some miles away. The family +coach, which was only used on grand occasions, was had out, and in +this Mistress Dorothy, hooped and powdered in accordance with the +fashion of the day, took her seat with Colonel Holliday. Rupert had +been invited, as the eldest son was a lad of his own age. + +It was a memorable occasion for him, as he was for the first time +to dress in the full costume of the period--with powdered hair, +ruffles, a blue satin coat and knee breeches of the same material, +with silk stockings. His greatest pleasure, however, was that he +was now to wear a sword, the emblem of a gentleman, for the first +time. He was to ride on horseback, for madam completely filled the +coach with her hoops and brocaded dress, and there was scarcely +room for Colonel Holliday, who sat beside her almost lost in her +ample skirts. + +The weather was cold, and Rupert wore a riding cloak over his +finery, and high boots, which were upon his arrival to be exchanged +for silver-buckled shoes. They started at twelve, for the dinner +hour was two, and there were eight miles to drive--a distance +which, over the roads of those days, could not be accomplished much +under two hours. The coachman and two lackeys took their places on +the box of the lumbering carriage, the two latter being armed with +pistols, as it would be dark before they returned, and travelling +after dark in the days of King William was a danger not to be +lightly undertaken. Nothing could be more stately, or to Rupert's +mind more tedious, than that entertainment. Several other guests of +distinction were present, and the dinner was elaborate. + +The conversation turned chiefly on county business, with an +occasional allusion to the war with France. Politics were entirely +eschewed, for party feeling ran too high for so dangerous a subject +to be broached at a gathering at which both whigs and tories were +present. + +Rupert sat near one end of the table, with the eldest son of the +host. As a matter of course they kept absolute silence in an +assembly of their elders, only answering shortly and respectfully +when spoken to. When dinner was over, however, and the ladies rose, +they slipped away to a quiet room, and made up for their long +silence by chatting without cessation of their dogs, and hawks, and +sports, until at six o'clock the coach came round to the door, and +Rupert, again donning his cloak and riding boots, mounted his +horse, and rode slowly off after the carriage. + +Slow as the progress had been in the daytime, it was slower now. +The heavy coach jolted over great lumps of rough stone, and bumped +into deep ruts, with a violence which would shake a modern vehicle +to pieces. Sometimes, where the road was peculiarly bad, the +lackeys would get down, light torches at the lanterns that hung +below the box, and show the way until the road improved. + +They had ridden about six miles, when some distance ahead the sound +of pistol shots, followed by loud shouts, came sharply on the ear. +Rupert happened to be in front, and with the love of adventure +natural to his age, he set spurs to his horse and dashed forward, +not hearing, or at any rate not heeding, the shouts of his +grandfather. Colonel Holliday, finding that Rupert was fairly off, +bade the lackeys get down, and follow him at a run with their +pistols, and urged the coachman to drive on with all possible +speed. Rupert was not long in reaching the scene of action; and +hurried the more that he could hear the clinking of sword blades, +and knew that the resistance of those assailed had not ceased. + +On arriving at the spot he saw, as he expected, a carriage standing +by the road. One or two figures lay stretched on the ground; the +driver lay back, a huddled mass, on his seat; a man held high a +torch with one hand, while with the other he was striving to +recharge a pistol. Four other men with swords were attacking a +gentleman who, with his back to the coach, was defending himself +calmly and valiantly. + +As he rode up Rupert unbuttoned his riding cloak, and threw it off +as he reined up his horse and dismounted. An execration broke from +the assailants at seeing this new arrival, but perceiving that he +was alone, one of the four men advanced to attack him. + +Just as Rupert leapt from his horse, the man holding the torch +completed the loading of his pistol, and levelling it at him, +fired. The ball knocked off his hat just as he touched the ground, +and the man shouted: + +"Kill him, Gervais. Spit him like a lark; he is only a boy." + +Rupert drew his sword as the highwayman advanced upon him, and was +in a moment hotly engaged. Never before had he fenced with pointed +rapiers; but the swords had scarcely crossed when he felt, with the +instinct of a good fencer, how different were the clumsy thrusts of +his opponent to the delicate and skillful play of his grandfather +and Monsieur Dessin. There was no time to lose in feints and +flourishes; the man with the torch had drawn his sword, and was +coming up; and Rupert parried a thrust of his assailant's, and with +a rapid lunge in tierce ran him right through the body. Then with a +bound he dashed through the men attacking the traveller, and took +his stand beside him, while the torchbearer, leaving his torch +against a stump of a tree, also joined the combat. + +Beyond a calm "I thank you, sir; your arrival is most opportune," +from the traveller, not a word passed as the swords clashed and +ground against each other. + +"Dash in, and finish him," shouted the man who appeared the leader +of the assailants, and three of them rushed together at the +traveller. The leader fell back cursing, with a sword thrust +through his shoulder, just at the moment when Rupert sent the sword +of the man who was attacking him flying through the air, and +turning at once, engaged one of the two remaining assailants of the +traveller. But these had had enough of it; and as the lackeys came +running up, they turned, and rushed away into the darkness. The +lackeys at Rupert's order discharged their pistols after them; but +a moment later the sound of four horses making off at full gallop, +showed that they had escaped. + +"By my faith," the traveller said, turning to Rupert, and holding +out his hand, "no knight errant ever arrived more opportunely. You +are a gallant gentleman, sir; permit me to ask to whom I am so +indebted?" + +"My name is Rupert Holliday, sir," the lad said, as the stranger +shook his hand warmly, and who, as the lackey approached with the +torch, exclaimed: + +"Why, by the king's head, you are but a stripling, and you have run +one of these fellows through the body, and disarmed the other, as +neatly as I ever saw it done in the schools. Why, young sir, if you +go on like this you will be a very Paladin." + +"I have had good masters, sir," Rupert said, modestly; "and having +been taught to use my sword, there is little merit in trouncing +such rascals as these." + +"By my faith, but there is though," the stranger said. "It is one +thing to fence in a school with buttoned foils, another to bear +oneself as calmly and as well as you did. But here are your +friends, or I mistake not." + +The coach came lumbering up, at a speed which for coaches in those +days was wonderful, and as it stopped Colonel Holliday leapt out, +sword in hand. + +"Is it all over?" he exclaimed. "Is Rupert hurt?" + +"It is all over, sir; and I have not so much as a scratch," Rupert +said. + +"Sir," the stranger said, uncovering, and making a courtly bow to +the old cavalier, and to Mistress Dorothy, who was looking from the +open door, "your son--" + +"My grandson," the colonel, who had also uncovered, corrected. + +"Your grandson arrived in time to save me from grievous peril. My +coachman and lackey were shot at the first fire, and I fancy one of +the horses. I disposed of one of the rascals, but four others +pressed me hard, while a fifth held a light to them. Your grandson +ran one through in fair fight, and disarmed another; I disabled a +third, and they ran. I have to thank him for my life; and, if you +will permit me to say so--and I have been many frays--no man ever +bore himself more coolly, or used his sword more skilfully, than +did this young gentleman." + +"I am very proud indeed to hear that the lad bore himself so well; +although I own that he caused some anxiety to his mother and +myself; by rushing forward alone to join in a fray of whose extent +he knew nothing. However, all is well that ends well. + +"And now, sir, as your servants are killed, and but one horse +remains to your carriage, will you permit me to offer you for the +night the hospitality of Windthorpe Chace? I am Colonel Holliday, +sir, an old servant of King Charles the First--" + +"I accept your offer, sir, as frankly as it is made. I have often +heard your name. I, sir, am George Churchill." + +"The Earl of Marlborough!" exclaimed Colonel Holliday. + +"The same," the earl said, with a smile. "I am not greatly loved, +sir; but my name will, I am sure, do me no ill service with one of +the men of Naseby." + +"No, indeed!" Colonel Holliday said, warmly; "it is at once a +pleasure and an honour to me to entertain so great a general at the +Chace." + +"And now," the earl said, "a truce to compliments. Pray resume your +seat in the coach, sir. I will cut loose the horse from the coach, +and will follow you in company with your grandson." + +Colonel Holliday in vain tried to persuade the earl to take his +place in the carriage. + +The latter, however, firmly declined, and the colonel took his +place in the coach, and drove off at once, to make preparation for +the reception of his guest. The earl had even declined the offer to +leave one or both of the lackeys behind. And when the carriage had +driven off, he said to Rupert, who had stood looking with +respectful admiration at the greatest general of the age: + +"Now, young sir, let us have a look at this carrion; maybe their +faces will throw some light upon this affair." + +So saying, he took the torch which had been left burning, and +turned over the body of the man he had slain before Rupert arrived +on the scene. + +"I do not know him," he said, looking steadily at the dead man's +face. + +"I know him," Rupert exclaimed in surprise. "He is a saddler of +Derby--a fierce nonconformist and whig, and a preacher at +conventicles. And to think of his being a highwayman!" + +"An assassin is a better term," the earl said contemptuously. "I +guessed from their number it was my life, and not my money, that +they sought. + +"Now let us look at the fellow you sent to his account." + +Rupert hung back as they approached the man he had killed. In those +days of rebellions, executions, and duels, human life was regarded +but lightly. Still, to a lad of little over fifteen the thought +that he had killed a man, even if in fair fight, was very painful. + +"Ah, I thought so," the earl said. "This is a creature of a +political enemy. I have seen him in his antechamber. So the order +came from London, and the tools were found here. That will do. Now +let us get this horse out of the traces. It is some years since I +have ridden barebacked. + +"No, I thank you," in answer to Rupert's offer of his own horse; "a +saddle matters not one way or the other. There, now for the Chace; +and I shall not be sorry to fall to on the supper which, I doubt +not, the good gentleman your grandfather will have prepared." + +So saying, he vaulted on his horse, and with Rupert rode quietly +along the road to the Chace. The great door opened as they +approached, and four lackeys with torches came out. Colonel +Holliday himself came down the steps and assisted the earl to +alight, and led the way into the house. + +They now entered the drawing room, where Mistress Dorothy was +seated. She arose and made a deep courtesy, in answer to the even +deeper bow with which the earl greeted her. + +"My lord," she said, "welcome to Windthorpe Chace." + +"Madam," the earl said, bowing over the hand she extended, until +his lips almost touched her fingers, "I am indeed indebted to the +fellows who thought to do me harm, in that they have been the means +of my making the acquaintance of a lady whose charms turned all +heads in London, and who left the court in gloom when she retired +to the country." + +Nowadays, such a speech as this would be thought to savour of +mockery, but gentlemen two hundred years since ordinarily addressed +women in the language of high-flown compliment. + +Mistress Holliday, despite her thirty-seven years, was still very +comely, and she smiled as she replied: + +"My lord, ten years' absence from court has rendered me unused to +compliments, and I will not venture to engage in a war, even of +words, with so great a general." + +Supper was now announced, and the earl offered his hand to lead +Mistress Dorothy to the dining hall. + +The meal passed off quietly, the conversation turning entirely upon +country matters. The earl did full justice to the fare, which +consisted of a stuffed carp, fresh from the well-stocked ponds of +the Chace, a boar's head, and larded capon, the two latter dishes +being cold. With these were served tankards of Burgundy and of +sherries. Rupert, as was the custom of the younger members of +families, waited upon the honoured guest. + +The meal over, Mistress Holliday rose. The earl offered her his +hand and led her to the door, where, with an exchange of +ceremonious salutes, she bade him goodnight. + +Then the earl accompanied Colonel Holliday to the latter's room, +hung with rapiers, swords, and other arms. There ceremony was laid +aside, and the old cavalier and the brilliant general entered into +familiar talk, the former lighting a long pipe, of the kind known +at present as a "churchwarden." + +The earl told Colonel Holliday of the discovery that had been made, +that the attack was no mere affair with highwaymen, but an attempt +at assassination by a political rival. + +"I had been down," he said, "at Lord Hadleigh's, where there was a +gathering of many gentlemen of our way of thinking. I left London +quietly, and thought that none knew of my absence; but it is clear +that through some spy in my household my enemies learned both my +journey and destination. I came down on horseback, having sent +forward relays. When I arrived last night at Hadleigh my horse was +dead lame. I misdoubt now 'twas lamed in the stable by one of the +men who dogged me. Lord Hadleigh offered me his coach, to take me +back the first stage--to the inn where I had left my servants and +had intended to sleep. I accepted--for in truth I sat up and talked +all last night, and thought to doze the journey away. Your +Derbyshire roads are, however, too rough, and I was wide awake when +the first shot was fired!" + +"Do you think of taking steps to punish the authors of this +outrage?" Colonel Holliday asked. + +"By no means," the earl answered. "I would ask you to send over a +man, with the horse I rode on and another, at daybreak. Let him put +them into the coach and drive back to Hadleigh, taking with him the +bodies of the lackey and coachman. With him I will send a note to +my lord, asking that no stir be made in the matter. We need not set +the world talking as to my visit to his house; but lest any +magistrate stir in the matter, I will leave a letter for him, +saying that the coach in which I travelled was attacked by +highwaymen, and that two of them, as well as the two servants, were +killed, and that no further inquisition need be made into the +matter. You may be sure that the other side will say naught, and +they will likely enough go back and carry off their dead tonight, +and bury them quietly." + +"Very well, sir," Colonel Holliday said. "My grandson will ride +over with you in the morning to Ashby-de-la-Zouche. Two well-armed +lackeys shall accompany you." + +"Oh, there is no fear of another attempt," the earl said, smiling. +"Besides, your grandson and I could fight a whole troop of +cutthroats by daylight. What a swordsman that boy is! And as cool +as a veteran! He is your pupil with the sword, I presume?" + +"Only partly; he owes most of his skill to a French emigre, who +calls himself Monsieur Dessin, but who had, I suspect, a far higher +title across the water. He is a magnificent swordsman; and as I was +able to teach the lad a few thrusts which in their time did me good +service, and the boy has a clear eye, a cool head, and a firm +wrist, he can, young as he is, hold his own, go where he will." + +"What do you mean to do with him? You ought to make a soldier of +him. It is the career of a gentleman, and we shall have a stirring +campaign on the Rhine next spring. He will have plenty of +opportunities to distinguish himself, and I need not say he will +have my best favour and protection!" + +"I thank you heartily," the colonel said, "and doubt not that one +day the lad may claim the fulfilment of your promise. At present +his mother dreams of his being a Parliament man, and shining at +court. But you might as well expect to teach a falcon to dance. +Besides, the lad is a soldier heart and soul, and has, saving your +presence, little of the whig in him; and his mother will find ere +long, that if he goes to Parliament it will not be to vote as she +wishes. + +"Besides," he said, moodily, "I foresee changes here which he, +young as he is, will not brook. If then at present I decline your +kind offer in his name, I think that the time is not far off when +he may remind you of it." + +"Let him do so," the earl said, "and a commission in horse, foot, +or artillery is at his service. And now, with your permission, I +will to bed, for my eyelids are consumedly heavy." + +Colonel Holliday rang a hand bell, and a lackey appeared with +lighted candles. Preceded by him the old cavalier accompanied his +guest to the door of his apartment, and seeing that a posset cup of +spiced cordial was steaming on the table, and that everything else +was properly prepared, left him to repose. + + + +Chapter 3: A Kiss and its Consequences. + +Three months have passed since the Earl of Marlborough's visit to +the Chace. Changes have taken place in England, for on the eighth +of March King William died from the effects of a fall from his +horse, and the Princess Anne ascended the throne. After her +accession, one of her first steps had been to shower honour upon +the Earl of Marlborough. A whig cabinet was formed, of which he and +Lord Godolphin were the leading spirits, two tories however--Harley +and Saint John--having seats in the ministry. + +The Earl of Marlborough was her most trusted adviser. He had during +the reign of the late monarch been always a firm friend of the +Princess Anne, and was at one time regarded almost as a tory. He +had indeed plotted for the restoration of the Stuarts, and had +entered into negotiation with the French king for that purpose. The +plot having been discovered, he had with other noblemen been sent +to the Tower, and had continued in disgrace until a year after the +death of William. + +Anne appointed him one of her ministers, and made the duchess her +most intimate friend. In fact, in politics the Duke of Marlborough +took no very strong part. He was attached to the Stuarts, for under +them he had at first risen to rank and honour; but he was a strong +Protestant, and therefore in favour of the maintenance of the Act +of Succession, fixing the reversion of the throne on the Elector of +Hanover, who, although not the nearest in the line of succession, +had been selected because the nearest heirs to the throne were +Catholics. + +At the Chace things have gone on as before. Rupert has worked hard +at his lessons and his fencing, and Monsieur Dessin allows that, +save for his extra length of reach, he should have no advantage now +over his pupil. In the afternoon the lad spent his time with his +hawks, or practised firing with pistol or carbine, or roamed over +the country with Hugh. + +Nevertheless, things had somehow changed. Colonel Holliday had +become gloomy and silent; and although he and his daughter-in-law +were studiously ceremonious and polite to each other, it was clear +that a cloud had risen between them. Rupert saw but little of this, +however, and was surprised one day when, as he was going out for a +ride, his grandfather said to him gravely: + +"Take a turn in the garden with me, Rupert. I want to have a talk +with you. + +"I think it well, Rupert," he said, after walking for some time in +silence, "to prepare you for what, if you have not guessed already, +you will be told ere long. Madam will no doubt herself inform you +of it; and it is as well, my lad, that you should be prepared, for +you might in your surprise say something hasty, and so cause a +breach which it would take long to heal." + +Rupert looked in astonishment at his grandfather. He had not the +most remote idea of what was coming. + +"You have doubtless noticed," Colonel Holliday went on, "the +frequency of Sir William Brownlow's visits here?" + +"Yes, sir, I have noticed that, but I do not often see him. I keep +out of his way, for in truth I like him not, nor that son of his, +who, on the strength of his three years' seniority, looks down upon +me, and gives himself as many airs as madam my mother's peacock." + +"And you have never even thought why he comes here so frequently?" + +"No, sir," Rupert said, surprised; "it was no business of mine, and +I gave no single thought to it." + +"He is a suitor for your lady mother's hand," Colonel Holliday +said, gravely. + +"What!" almost shouted Rupert; "What, sir! He, with his sneering +face, dares to think--" + +"My dear boy, he not only dares to think, but madam approves of the +thought, and has promised him her hand." + +Rupert stood motionless. + +"It shall not be," he burst out. "We must stop it, sir. Why do not +you?" + +"I have no shadow of authority over Mistress Holliday," the old +colonel said. "As far as I could go, for your sake I have +gone--farther, perhaps, than was wise. It has been a great blow for +me, Rupert. I had hoped that in the time to come you would be +master of the Chace, and of all the broad acres I owned when young; +now it will never be. This house and the home farm are mine, and +will be yours, lad; but the outlying land will never come back to +the Chace again, but will go to swell the Haugh estate on the other +side. My lady can leave it as she likes. I have begged her to have +it settled upon you, but she has declined. She may have another +family, and, infatuated as she is with her suitor, she is more +likely to leave it to them than to you, especially as I fear that +you will not take kindly to the new arrangement." + +"I will not submit to it, sir; I will not have it. I will insult +him, and force him to fight me," the lad gasped, his face white +with passion. + +"No, Rupert, it won't do, lad. Were you four or five years older +you might interfere; now he would laugh at you for a headstrong +boy. You would gain his hate, and forfeit your mother's favour +utterly. It was because I feared an outbreak like this that I told +you today what you will in a few hours learn from her." + +"What is to be done?" Rupert said, despairingly. + +"Nothing, my boy. At her marriage, your mother will of course live +at the Haugh with Sir William. This house is mine, and if you +cannot get on at the Haugh, it will be always open to you." + +"I will never set my foot inside the Haugh," Rupert said, firmly. +"My lady mother may leave her lands where she will; but if I am to +have them only at the price of being the humble servant of this new +father-in-law, I care not for them. He has an evil face, +grandfather, and I hated him before I knew what he came for." + +"My boy," Colonel Holliday said, "we have all many things to go +through in life that we like not. This is your trial, and I trust +that you will come out of it worthily. Your respect and duty are +due to your mother. If you will not feign gladness that you do not +feel, I do not blame you; but when she tells you the news, answer +her with that respect which you owe her. She has a clear right to +choose for herself. She is still a comely dame, and no one will +blame her for taking another husband. To me and to you the thing +may seem hard, even unnatural, but it is not so. I like Sir William +no more than you do. Report says that he has deeply dipped into his +estates over the dice box; and your lady mother's estates, and the +sum that many years of quiet living has enabled her to save, are +doubtless items which he has not overlooked." + +Rupert remained for some time silent. + +"I will be perfectly respectful to my mother," he said, "but I will +not disguise my feelings. If I did so at first, it would in the end +be useless, for Sir William I could never treat with respect. +Sooner or later a quarrel would come, and I may therefore as well +have it understood first as last. The estates I care for only +because they were part of the Chace, and I know that they will +never be mine if this match is made. You feel that yourself, do you +not, sir?" + +"Yes," the colonel said, reluctantly, "I have felt that all along." + +"Very well, sir," Rupert said; "in that case I have nothing to gain +by affecting a satisfaction at this match. I shall respectfully but +firmly warn my mother against it, and tell her that if she persists +in it I will never put my foot under the roof of Sir William +Brownlow." + +The next morning the servant brought word to Rupert, that Mistress +Holliday wished to speak to him in her room. Knowing what was +coming, Rupert went with slow steps and a heavy heart to the little +drawing room which was known as madam's room. + +"Rupert," she said, as he stood respectfully before her, "I have +sent for you to tell you that I have accepted the offer of marriage +of Sir William Brownlow. Sir William has much court influence, and +will be able to do you much service, and he has promised me to look +upon you as a son of his own." + +"Madam." Rupert said, calmly and respectfully, "that you should +marry Sir William Brownlow is a matter as to which, alas! I have no +right to say aught. I trust that the marriage will bring you +happiness, although my mind sorely misgives me as to whether it +will be so. As to myself, I decline Sir William's offer of +protection. It is enough for me that my fathers have for +generations owned Windthorpe Chace. Come what may, madam, I neither +acknowledge Sir William as my father, nor do I put a foot under his +roof." + +"Malapert boy!" Mistress Holliday said angrily, "this is the +teaching of Colonel Holliday." + +"Pardon me," Rupert said quietly. "Colonel Holliday begged me to +submit to what could not be helped; but I declined. This man is not +worthy of you, madam. Were you about to marry a good man, I would +gladly receive him as my father. I should be glad to know when out +in the world that you were cared for and happy; but this is not a +good man." + +"Hush, sir," Mistress Holliday said. "I will not suffer you to +speak thus. And know, Rupert, if you do not know it already, that I +have absolute power over the estates of the Chace, and that if you +defy me I can leave them where I will." + +"I know it, madam," Rupert said, sadly; "but this will in no way +alter my determination. If when you marry you give me your +permission to remain here with my grandfather, I will do so. If +not, I will go forth into the world to seek my fortune." + +"Insolent boy!" Mistress Holliday said, furiously, "I have a mind +to call the lackeys in and bid them beat you." + +"Madam," Rupert said, drawing himself up and touching his sword +lightly, "if you value your lackeys you will give no such order; +for the first man, lackey or lord, who lays his hand on me, I would +kill like a dog. With your permission, madam, I will retire, since +this morning I take my dancing lesson." + +So saying, with a ceremonious bow Rupert left his mother's +presence. Monsieur Dessin and his daughter were already with +Colonel Holliday when Rupert joined them, and he went through his +dancing lesson as usual. Then Adele went as usual out into the +garden, and the fencing lesson began. When it was half over, +Rupert's brow clouded angrily, for he heard horsemen ride up to the +door, and felt sure who they were. + +"Steady, my dear pupil, steady," Monsieur Dessin cried, as with +knitted brow Rupert pressed him hotly, fancying at the moment that +Sir William Brownlow stood in front of him. + +"Peste!" he exclaimed, as the lad lunged and touched him in the +chest, "you are terrible, Monsieur! + +"Colonel," he went on, dropping his sword, "I resign my post. I +have seen it coming for some time, and now it has arrived. Your +grandson is more than a match for me. He has all my skill, some of +yours, and has besides an activity and suppleness greater, I think, +than I ever had. You young islanders are trained to use hand and +eye; and although French lads may have as much activity, they have +far less strength, far less aptitude for such exercises. Besides, +there are other reasons. + +"Go, Monsieur Rupert, and take care of my daughter; I would talk +with monsieur your grandfather." + +Slowly, and brooding over the change which the late twenty-four +hours had made in his fortune, Rupert sought the garden. As he +sauntered along the walks he heard a cry, and looking up saw Adele +struggling in the arms of James Brownlow, who was trying to kiss +her, while a young fellow his own age stood by laughing. Rupert's +pent-up fury found a vent at last, and rushing forward, he struck +the aggressor so violent a blow between the eyes that, loosing his +hold of Adele, he fell to the ground. + +"Thunder and lightning," the other young man exclaimed, drawing his +sword, "what means this, young cockerel?" + +Rupert's sword flew from its sheath, but before he could cross it, +James Brownlow sprang to his feet and crying to his friend, "Stand +back! I will spit the saucy knave!" rushed upon Rupert. + +The swords clashed, and almost simultaneously Brownlow's weapon +flew far through the air. + +With a cry of fury he ran to fetch it, while his companion burst +into a coarse laugh. + +Rupert did not move from his position, but stood passive, until his +antagonist again rushed at him. + +"Mind this time," Rupert said, between his teeth, "for I will kill +you like a dog." + +Warned by the lesson, James Brownlow fought more carefully; but he +was too enraged to continue these tactics long, and after a short +bout he lunged furiously. Rupert turned aside the point and +straightened his arm, and his antagonist fell to the ground, run +completely through the body. + +"You are a witness that I killed him in fair fight," Rupert said, +turning to the young man, who gazed stupefied at the body of his +comrade, and then sheathing his sword bounded away to the stables. + +Hugh was there. + +"Quick, Hugh; saddle Ronald. I have just killed young Brownlow, and +must ride for it." + +Hugh stood for a moment astonished, and then calling a helper ran +into the stables. In a minute he came out with two horses saddled. +Without a word Rupert leapt on one, while he vaulted on the other, +and the two dashed off at full speed. + +"Where are you going, Master Rupert?" + +"To London," Rupert said. "This is no place for me now. I killed +him in fair fight, and after warning; still, what with Sir William +and my lady mother, there will be no stopping here. You had better +ride back, Hugh, and tell my grandfather, privately, that I am +going to the Earl of Marlborough, to ask him to give me the +cornetcy he promised me." + +"With your leave, Master Rupert, I shall do nothing of the sort. +Where you go, I go. My grandfather rode out with yours to Naseby, +and died there. My people have been the tenants of the Chace as +long as the Hollidays have been its lords, and have always followed +their master to the field. My old father would beat me out of the +house with a broom handle, if I went back and said I had let you go +to the wars alone. No, master Rupert, wherever you go, Hugh Parsons +goes too." + +Rupert held out his hand, which his companion grasped, and the two +galloped rapidly along the road towards London. + +In the meantime all was consternation at the Chace. + +Colonel Holliday and Monsieur Dessin were deeply engaged in +conversation when Adele burst in upon them. + +"Quick, quick!" she exclaimed, "Monsieur Rupert is fighting with a +wicked young man!" + +"Then," said Monsieur Dessin grimly, "it will be very bad for the +wicked young man, whoever he is." + +"Where are they?" exclaimed Colonel Holliday. + +"In the garden," the girl said, bursting into tears. "The wicked +young man was rude to me, and wanted to kiss me, and Monsieur +Rupert knocked him down, and then they began to fight, and I ran +away." + +Monsieur Dessin swore a very deep oath in French, and was about to +hurry out with Colonel Holliday. Then he stopped, and putting his +hand on the colonel's shoulder, said coldly: + +"Do not let us hurry, sir. Monsieur Rupert has taken the matter in +his hands. It is as well that he should kill this fellow as that I +should have to do so." + +Just at this moment they reached the door, and a young man came +running up to the house shouting: + +"Young Mr. Brownlow is killed. Help! help!" + +"I think, Monsieur Dessin," Colonel Holliday said, stopping, "it +would be as well if you and mademoiselle were for the present to +leave us. There will be trouble enough, and the fewer in it the +better. Sir William is a hot man, and you are not a cool one. +Enough mischief has been done." + +"You are right," Monsieur Dessin said. "Will you tell Monsieur +Rupert that so long as my arm can lift a sword it is at his +service, and that I am his debtor for life. + +"Come, Adele, let us leave by the front of the house." + +Colonel Holliday now hurried out into the garden, just as Sir +William Brownlow, accompanied by his son's friend, rushed out of +the house, followed by some lackeys with scared faces. + +Not a word was spoken as they ran to the spot where young Brownlow +was lying. + +Sir William and Colonel Holliday both knelt beside him, and the +latter put his finger to his pulse. + +"He is not dead," he said, after a moment. "Ralph, saddle a horse, +and ride with all speed to Derby for a doctor." + +"Ay," Sir William said, "and tell the chief magistrate that he is +wanted here, with one of his constables, for that murder has been +done." + +"You will do nothing of the sort," Colonel Holliday said. + +"Sir William Brownlow, I make every excuse for you in your grief, +but even from you I will permit no such word to be used. Your son +has been wounded in fair fight, and whether he dies or not, alters +the circumstances no whit. My grandson found him engaged in +offering a gross insult to a young lady in the garden of my house. +He did what I should have done had I so found him--he knocked him +down. They fought, and your son was worsted. I think, sir, that for +the credit of your house you had best be quiet over the matter. + +"Hush, sir," he went on sternly, seeing that the baronet was about +to answer furiously. "I am an old man, but I will put up with +bluster from no man." + +Colonel Holliday's repute as a swordsman was well known, and Sir +William Brownlow swallowed his passion in silence. A door was taken +off its hinges, and the insensible young man was carried into the +house. There he was received by Mistress Holliday, who was vehement +in her reproaches against Rupert, and even against Colonel +Holliday, who had, as she said, encouraged him in brawling. + +The colonel bent quietly before the storm; and leaving the wounded +man in the care of his daughter-in-law and the attendants, made his +way to the stables, to inquire what had become of Rupert. There he +found that a few minutes before, Rupert, accompanied by Hugh +Parsons, had ridden off at full speed, having placed valises and a +brace of pistols in the holsters on their saddles. The colonel was +glad to hear that Rupert had his humble friend with him, and +doubted not that he had made for London. With a somewhat lightened +heart he went back to the house. + +After galloping fast for the first two miles, Rupert drew rein, for +he had now time to think, and was assured that even should Sir +William at once send into Derby for a warrant for his apprehension, +he would be across the borders of the county long before he could +be overtaken. + +"Have you any money with you, Hugh?" he asked, suddenly; "for I +have not a penny with me." + +"I have only two shillings, Master Rupert. I got that yesterday in +Derby for a nest of young owlets I found in the copse." + +Rupert reined up his horse in dismay. + +"Two shillings between us, Hugh! And it is 126 miles to London. +What are we to do?" + +Hugh thought a moment. "We can't go on with that, sir. Do you take +these two shillings and ride on to the Red Dragon. You will be +outside the county there. I will ride back to father's. It's under +two miles, and I shall be back here in half-an-hour again. He will +give me any money he may have in the house. I may as well fill my +valise too, while I am about it; and he's got a pair of pistols, +too, that he will give me." + +It was clearly the best course to take, and Rupert trotted forward +on his way, while Hugh galloped back at full speed. In a quarter of +an hour the latter drew rein at his father's door. + +"Hullo, Hugh, lad," the farmer, a hearty man of some fifty years of age, +said, as he came to the door, "be'est thou? What art doing on the +squire's horse? He looks as if thou had ridden him unmercifully, surely?" + +In a few words Hugh related what had taken place, and told him of +his own offer to go to the wars with Rupert. + +"That's right, lad; that's right and proper. It's according to the +nature of things that when a Holliday rides to the war a Parsons +should ride behind him. It's always been so, and will always be so, +I hope. Mother will grieve, no doubt; but she won't want to fly in +the face of nature. + +"Here, mother, come out. Master Rupert's killed Sir William +Brownlow's son, and is off to the wars, and so our Hugh's, +natural-like, going with him." + +Mrs. Parsons after her first ejaculation of surprise burst into +tears, but, as her husband had predicted, offered no objection +whatever to what seemed to her, as to him, a matter of plain duty +on the part of her son. Hugh now explained the reason of his +return. + +"Ay, ay, lad; thou shalt have the money. I've got fifty pounds for +next quarter's rent. Colonel Holliday will be glad enough for some +of it to go to his grandson. I'll gin ye half o't, Hugh, and take +my chance of the colonel agreeing to it. I'll give'e as much more +out of my old stocking upstairs. Put it carefully by, lad. Money is +as useful in war as at other times, and pay ain't always regular; +maybe the time may come when the young master may be short of +money, and it may come in useful. Now put on thy riding coat; and +mother will put thy best clothes in a valise. + +"Bustle up, mother, there bain't no time to lose." + +Thus addressed, Mrs. Parsons dried her tears and hurried away. +Hugh, hitching the bridle over a hook, made his way to his room to +change his clothes. When he came down, all was ready. + +"Thy clothes are in the valise, Hugh. I have put on the holsters, +and the pistols are in them. They are loaded, boy. In the bottom of +one are the master's twenty-five pounds. Thy own money is in the +valise. Here, boy, is my father's sword; it hasn't been used since +Naseby, but it's a good blade. Thou art a deft hand at quarterstaff +and singlestick, though, and I doubt not that thy hands can guard +thy head. I need not say, Hugh Parsons, you will, if need be, die +for thy master, for I know thou will do it, lad. Now kiss thy +mother, boy; and God speed you." + +A long embrace with his father and mother, and then Hugh, blinded +by his tears, mounted his horse, and rode off in the track of +Rupert. + +After an hour's sharp riding he overtook him, at a wayside inn, +just across the boundary between Derby and Leicestershire. + +"Is it all right, Hugh?" he asked, as Hugh drew up at the door. + +"All right, Master Rupert. Father has sent thee twenty-five pounds +out of the rent that will be due at Lady day; and he doubts not +that the colonel will approve of what he has done. H ow long have +you been here?" + +"Only some five minutes, Hugh. We had best let the horses feed, and +then ride quietly into Leicester, it's only fifteen miles away. I +see you've got a sword." + +"A sword and pistols, Master Rupert; and as you have the same, +methinks any highwayman chaps we might meet would think twice ere +they venture to cry 'Stand and deliver.'" + +"You heard no word of whether James Brownlow was alive or dead, +Hugh? I should be very glad to hear that he is not killed." + +"No word of the matter had come to the farm when I came away," Hugh +said; "but I should not worry about it one way or the other, Master +Rupert. You'll kill lots more when you get to the wars; and the +country won't grieve over James Brownlow. Young as he was, he was a +bad one; I've heard more than one dark story whispered of him. +Folks say he took after his father, who was as wild and as bad as +any man in Derbyshire when he was young." + + + +Chapter 4: The Sedan Chair. + +"This is our last stage, Hugh, and tonight we shall be in London," +Rupert said, as they rode out of Watford. "Methinks we shall find +it very strange in that great city. I am glad I thought of asking +our host the name of an inn at which to put up. The Bell in +Bishopsgate Street, he said. It will seem less strange asking the +way there than it would be to be wandering about gazing for a place +at which to alight." + +"Ay, truly, Master Rupert; and I've heard say those London folk are +main fond of making game of strangers." + +"So I have heard, Hugh; any reasonable jest we had best put up with +with good temper. If they push it too far, we shall be able, I +doubt not, to hold our own. The first thing to do will be to get +clothes of the cut in vogue, for I have come away just as I stood; +and I fear that even your clothes will have a marvellously country +air about them in the eyes of the city folk. + +"There is London," he said, as they passed over the crest of +Hampstead Hill. "That great round dome that stands up so high must +be Saint Paul's; and look how many other church towers and spires +there are. And there, away to the right, those must be the towers +of Westminster." + +"It is a big place, surely, Master Rupert. How many people do you +think live there?" + +"I believe there are near 300,000 souls there, Hugh. It seems +wonderful, does it not?" + +"It's too big to think of, Master Rupert," Hugh said, and they +continued their journey southward. + +They entered the city at Aldersgate, but they had ridden some +distance through houses before they arrived at the boundary, for +the city was already spreading beyond its ancient limits. Once +inside the walls, the lads were astonished at the bustle and noise. + +Hugh inquired the way to Bishopsgate Street of a respectable +citizen, who directed them to follow the road until they came to a +broad turning to their left. This would be Chepeside, and they were +to follow this until they came to the Exchange, a large building +straight in front of them. Passing this, they would find themselves +in Bishopsgate Street. + +If Aldersgate Street had surprised them, much more were they +astonished at the din and turmoil of Chepeside, and Hugh, having +twice narrowly escaped riding over a citizen, and being soundly +rated for a country gawk, Rupert turned to him. + +"Look at your horse's head, Hugh, and pay no attention to aught +else. When we have reached our destination, we shall have plenty of +time to look at all these wonders." + +The advice was good, and without mischance they reached the Bell in +Bishopsgate Street, and rode into the yard. The host at once came +out, and after a momentary look of surprise at the youth of the new +arrivals, he asked Rupert courteously if he needed a room. + +"Two rooms if it please you," Rupert said, "and together." + +The host called a hostler, who at once took charge of the horses, +and led them to the stable, the lads first removing the valises and +holsters, which a servant carried up to their rooms. + +"We would have supper," Rupert said; "and while that is preparing +we would, if it is not too late, order some clothes more in the +mode than these. Can you direct us to a tailor?" + +"You cannot do better," the landlord said, "than visit my +neighbour, Master John Haliford. His shop is just opposite, and he +makes for many of our best city folk, and for more than one of the +gentry of the Court." + +Rupert thanked him, and they crossed the street to the shop +indicated. + +The landlord looked after them with a puzzled air. + +"It is not often that Joe Miles cannot guess the quality and errand +of his guests, but this time he is floored. Has that young spark +run away from home? I hardly think so, for he speaks gravely, and +without haste; lads who have run away may generally be known by +their speaking in a hurry, and as if anxious. They are both well +mounted; the younger is clearly of the higher estate, although but +meanly dressed; nor does the other seem like his lackey. What are +they talking about outside neighbour Haliford's shop, I wonder? I +would give a silver penny to know. I will walk over presently, and +smoke a pipe with him, and hear what he thinks of them." + +The conversation which the host of the Bell had wished he could +overhear was as follows: + +Hugh began it. + +"Look, Master Rupert, before we go into the shop, let us talk over +what you are going to order." + +"I am going to order a walking suit, Hugh, and a court suit for +myself, and a suit for you." + +"Yes, but what sort of a suit, Master Rupert?" + +"I should say a walking suit, Hugh, such as would become a modest +citizen." + +"That's just it, Master Rupert. So far you have treated me as a +friend; but now, sir, it must be different, for to do so any longer +would not be seemly. You are going to be an officer. I am going to +follow you as a trooper; but till we go to the war I must be +dressed as your retainer. Not a lackey, perhaps, but a sort of +confidential retainer. That will be best, Master Rupert, in every +way." + +Rupert was silent for a moment. + +"Well, Hugh, perhaps that would be best; but you must remember that +whatever we are before others, we are always friends when we are +alone." + +"Very well," Hugh said, "that is understood; but you know that +alone or before others, I shall always be your faithful servant." + +"What can I make you, sir?" the tailor asked, as the lads entered +his shop. + +Master Haliford was a small man; neat in his dress; a little fussy +in manner. He was very upright, and seemed to look under rather +than through the pair of horn spectacles which he wore. His look +changed from affability to doubt as he took a nearer look at his +intending customers. + +"I need a suit such as a gentleman might wear at court," Rupert +said, quietly, "and a walking or ordinary suit for myself; and a +suit such as would be worn by a trusted retainer for my friend +here." + +The tailor put his head on one side, and rubbed his chin +thoughtfully. + +"Have I had the honour of being recommended to you by the +honourable gentleman your father?" he asked. + +"No, indeed," Rupert said. "It was mine host at the Bell, who +advised me that I could not do better than come to your shop." + +"Ah, you are known to him, beyond doubt," John Haliford said, +brightening. + +"No, indeed," Rupert answered. "He was a stranger to me to within +five minutes back." + +"You must excuse my caution, young sir," John Haliford said, after +another minute's reflection; "but it is the custom of us London +tradesmen with those gentlemen who may honour us with their custom, +and whom we have not the honour of knowing, to require payment, or +at least a portion of payment, at the time of giving the order, and +the rest at the time of delivery of the goods. In your case, sir, I +am sure, an unnecessary piece of caution, but a rule from which I +never venture to go." + +"That is only fair and right," Rupert said. "I will pay half now, +and the other half when the garments are completed; or if it please +you, will pay the whole in advance." + +"By no means, by no means," the tailor said with alacrity; "one +third in advance is my rule, sir. And now, sir, what colour and +material do you affect?" + +"As sober both in hue and in material as may be," Rupert said, "and +yet sufficiently in the fashion for me to wear in calling upon a +nobleman of the court." + +"Pardon me," the tailor said, "but perhaps you would condescend to +take me into your confidence. There are noblemen, and noblemen. A +tory lord, for instance, is generally a little richer in his colour +than a whig nobleman, for these affect a certain sobriety of air. +With some again, a certain military cut is permitted, while with +others this would be altogether out of place." + +"I am going to the Earl of Marlborough," Rupert said briefly. + +"Dear me, dear me! Indeed now!" the little tailor said with an +instant and great accession of deference, for the Earl of +Marlborough was the greatest man in the realm. "Had your honour +mentioned that at first, I should not have ventured to hint at the +need for previous payment." + +"What!" Rupert said, with a smile. "You would have broken your +fixed rule! Surely not, Master Haliford." + +The tailor looked sharply at his young customer. Whoever he might +be, he was clearly no fool; and without more ado he brought forward +his patterns and bent himself to the work in hand. + +Having chosen the colours and stuffs for the suits of clothes, the +lads returned to the Bell, where a supper of cold chicken and the +remains of a fine sirloin awaited them, with two tankards of +home-brewed ale. The next morning, before sallying out to see the +town, Rupert wrote to his grandfather, asking his pardon for +running away, expressing his intention of applying to the Earl of +Marlborough for a cornetcy of horse, and giving his address at the +Bell; asking him also to make his humble excuse to his lady mother, +and to assure her of his devotion and respect, although +circumstances had caused his apparent disobedience to her wishes. + +Although there was a much greater amount of filial respect and +obedience expressed in those days than now, human nature has +differed but slightly in different ages of the world; and it is +probable that sons went their own way quite as much as they do now, +when there is very little talk either of obedience or respect. +Indeed, the implicit obedience, and almost servile respect, which +our forefathers expected from their sons, could not but in a great +number of cases drive the sons to be hypocrites as well as +undutiful; and our modern system of making our boys companions and +friends, of taking an interest in all they do, and in teaching them +to regard us as their natural advisers, has produced a generation +of boys less outwardly respectful, no doubt, but as dutiful, and +far more frank and truthful than those of the bygone times. + +Rupert, finding that few of the citizens wore swords, and feeling +that in his present attire he would attract attention by so doing, +left his sword at the inn, and bought for Hugh and himself a couple +of stout sticks--Hugh's a cudgel which would be useful in a hand +well accustomed to singlestick, his own a cane of a wood such as he +had never before seen--light, strong, and stiff. He chose it +because it was well balanced in the hand. Then they sallied out +into Cornhill, past the Exchange, erected by the worshipful citizen +Sir Thomas Gresham, and then into Chepeside, where they were +astonished at the wealth and variety of the wares displayed in the +shops. Gazing into the windows, they frequently got into the way, +and were saluted many times with the query, "Where are you going, +stupids?" a question which Hugh was largely inclined to resent, and +would have done so had not Rupert told him that evidently they did +get into the way of the hurrying citizens, and that it was more +wise to put up with rudeness than to embark in a series of +quarrels, in which, moreover, as strangers they were likely to get +the worst of the dispute. Saint Paul's Cathedral, then but newly +finished, astonished them vastly with its size and magnificence, +and they returned to the midday dinner at the Bell delighted with +all that they had seen. + +Asking the landlord how he would recommend them to pass the +afternoon, he said that they could do no better than take a boat at +London Bridge, and be rowed up to the village of Chelsea, where +many of the nobility did dwell, and then coming back to Westminster +might get out there, see the Abbey and the great Hall, and then +walk back along the Strand. + +The lads followed the advice, and were soon delighted and surprised +with the great river, then pure and limpid, and covered with boats +proceeding rapidly in all directions, for it was at that time the +great highway of London. Tide was flowing and the river nearly +full, and having given their waterman the intimation that time did +not press, he rowed them very gently along in the centre of the +stream, pointing out to them, when they had passed above the limits +of the city, the various noblemen's houses scattered along the +banks of the river. Off Westminster the waterman ceased rowing, to +allow them to view the grand old Abbey; and then as they went on +again, they marvelled at the contrast of the low, deserted marshes +of Lambeth and Bankside, which contrasted so strongly with the +magnificence and the life they had left behind. + +At Chelsea they admired the grand palace for the reception of old +soldiers, and then--for the tide was turning now--floated back to +Westminster. So long were they in going round the Abbey, and +examining the tombs of the kings, that it was getting dark when +they started eastward again, up past the Palace of Whitehall, and +then along the Strand. Already the distance between the city and +Westminster was connected with houses, and the junction of the two +cities had fairly taken place. + +Dim oil lamps were lighted here and there as they went along, foot +passengers bore lanterns to enable them to pick their way across +rough places, and link men carried torches in front of sedan +chairs, in which ladies were being taken to fashionable +entertainments, which then commenced at six o'clock. + +All this was new and amusing to the boys; and having gone into a +tavern near the Abbey, and partaken of some refreshment, they were +not pressed for time; and it was near eight before they seriously +thought of proceeding towards the city. + +When a few hundred yards from Temple Bar, they heard a shouting and +a scream down one of the streets leading to the river. The street +was deserted, but down at the farther end they could see the flash +of sword blades, in the light of an oil lamp. + +"Come along, Hugh; that is a woman's scream." + +"Better not interfere, Master Rupert," Hugh said. + +But Rupert had already darted off, and Hugh without a moment's +hesitation followed in his steps. + +At the end of the street they came upon a sedan chair. The two +porters stood surlily against the wall, menaced by the drawn swords +of two men standing over them; while two other men--evidently of +higher rank, but enveloped in cloaks--were forcibly dragging a lady +from the chair. They had thrown a cloak over her head to drown her +cries. + +As the lads came up, one of the men uttered a furious oath. + +"Rolf, Simon! leave those fellows and keep these springalls back. +They are but boys. I will whistle when I am in the boat. + +"Now, mistress!" and he began to carry the lady away. + +As the lads arrived, the servitors--for such they were by their +appearance--leaving the chairmen, turned upon them. One of the +chairmen at once ran off as fast as his legs could carry him; but +the other, a sturdy fellow, leaped on the back of the man who had +been guarding him, as the latter turned upon Rupert. Hugh was +attacked by the other. + +"Be careful, Hugh! keep out of reach of his point," Rupert cried; +and darting past, he struck the man who had hold of the lady a +sharp blow across the ankle, which brought him instantly to the +ground with his burden. + +The other gentleman drew his sword, and rushed upon Rupert. It was +fortunate for the latter that he had chosen his stick for lightness +and balance, for it moved as quickly and easily as a foil. Without +a thought of guarding, his assailant rushed at him to run him +through; but Rupert parried the thrust, and in turn drove the end +of his stick, with all his force, into his opponent's stomach. The +man instantaneously doubled up with a low cry, and fell on the +ground. + +Then the other man, who had by this time risen to his feet, in turn +rushed furiously at Rupert. A few times the sword and stick scraped +and rasped against each other, and then Rupert lunged full at the +other's face. + +There was a loud cry, an oath, and then, as the sound of the watch +running down the street, led by the chairman who had run away, was +heard, the man took to his feet and fled. The lackey who had +engaged Hugh, and who had in vain endeavoured to get to close +quarters with the lad, imitated his example; but the prostrate man +on the ground, and the fellow held by the chairman, were seized by +the watch. + +Rupert turned to the young lady, who, having now disencumbered +herself of the folds of the cloak over her head, was leaning, half +fainting, against the chair. + +Taking off his hat and bowing deeply, he expressed his hope that +she had suffered no harm through the unmannerly assault upon her. + +"I thank you greatly, sir," she said, speaking with a slightly +foreign accent. "I am unhurt, although somewhat breathless. I owe +you my deep gratitude for rescue from these evil-minded men." + +"What may be your name, mistress?" one of the watch asked. "You +will be needed tomorrow to testify against these men." + +"My name is Maria Von Duyk, and I reside at present with the worthy +alderman, Peter Hawkins, to whom I was returning in the chair, as +the chairmen will tell you, after a visit to Mistress Vanloct, +whose house we had just left when molested." + +"And yours, young sir?" the watchman asked. + +"My name is Rupert Holliday. I am staying at the Bell, in +Bishopsgate Street." + +"You will both have to be present tomorrow morning before the +worshipful magistrate Master Forman, at Westminster." + +The watch now secured the man on the ground, who was recovering +from the effect of the violent thrust in the stomach, and putting +handcuffs on him and the other, led them away. + +"You will permit me, I trust, to escort you to your door," Rupert +said, as he ceremoniously handed the young lady into her chair. + +"Yes, indeed, sir; and I trust that you will enter, and allow Dame +Hawkins to add her thanks to mine." + +Rupert bowed, and the chair being closed the chairmen lifted it, +and with Rupert and Hugh following, proceeded eastward. + +When they arrived at the house of Alderman Hawkins, in Lawrence +Pulteney, the young lady on alighting begged Rupert to enter; but +the latter excused himself on account of the hour, but said that he +would call next morning, and would, if allowed, accompany her and +the alderman to give evidence as to the assault. + +On arriving next morning, Rupert was overwhelmed with thanks by the +alderman, his wife, and Mistress Maria Von Duyk, all of whom were +much surprised at his youth, for in the dim light of the preceding +evening the young lady had not perceived that her rescuer was a +mere lad. + +Rupert found that there was no occasion to go before the +magistrate, for the alderman having sent down early to the watch +house to inquire at what hour their presence would be required, +found that the prisoners had been rescued, on their way to the +watch house, by a party of armed men. + +"We are," the alderman said, "well aware who was the leader of the +assailants, the man who escaped. Sir Richard Fulke is a ruined +gamester, and is a distant relation of Dame Vanloct, whom my young +friend was yesterday visiting. Knowing the wealth of Mistress Von +Duyk's good father, he has sought to mend his ruined fortune by a +match with her. At the urgent request of Mistress Von Duyk I wrote +to him, saying that his attentions were unpleasing to her, and that +they must be discontinued, or that she could no longer visit at +Dame Vanloct's where she usually had met him. This was a week +since. He replied courteously, regretting that the deep devotion he +felt was unrequited, but withdrawing from the undertaking of trying +to win her, and promising that henceforth she should be no longer +troubled with his presence when she visited Dame Vanloct. This was +of course done to lull our suspicion. When the chair was stopped +yesterday, Maria at once recognized his voice. As they dragged her +from the chair, he said: + +"'Quick! hurry her down to the boat.' + +"There is no doubt upon my mind that he intended to carry her off, +and to compel her to marry him. I bethought me at first of applying +to the secretary of state for a warrant for his arrest to answer +for this outrage, but Mistress Maria leaves us tomorrow for +Holland, and the process would delay her departure, and would cause +a scandal and talk very unpleasant to herself, and which would +greatly offend my good friend her father. Had the men in custody +been brought up this morning, there would have been no choice but +to have carried the matter through. It was then a relief to us to +find that they had escaped. I have told you this, young sir, as +your due after having rescued Mistress Von Duyk from so great a +peril. Now, as to yourself, believe me if my friendship and +assistance can in any way advantage you, they are at your service. +Even of your name I am yet in ignorance." + +Rupert thanked the worthy alderman, and then stated that he was the +grandson of Colonel Holliday, of Windthorpe Chace, in Derbyshire, +and had come up to London to wait upon the Earl of Marlborough, who +had promised him his protection and a cornetcy in a regiment of +horse for service in Holland. + +"In that case, sir," Mistress Von Duyk said, "it is like you may +come to Dort. If so, believe me that my father, whom I shall tell +how much we are indebted to you, will not be backward in +manifesting his gratitude for the great service that you have +rendered to his daughter." + +"How were you thinking of passing the day?" the alderman asked. + +"I had no plan," Rupert said. "In truth, I am waiting to call upon +the Earl of Marlborough until Master Haliford has fashioned me a +suit of clothes fitted for such an occasion; he has promised them +for this evening." + +"Would it please you to go down the river? I have a boat, and if +you would like to see the shipping of this great port, and the +palace at Greenwich for our seamen, my boatmen will take you down; +and you will, I trust, return and take your midday meal with us." + +And so it was arranged; and as Rupert and Hugh were rowed down the +river, lost in wonder at the numerous craft that lay there, Hugh +admitted that Rupert's interference in a business which was no +concern of his had turned out a fortunate occurrence. + + + +Chapter 5: The Fencing School. + +It was with no small trepidation that Rupert Holliday ascended the +steps of the Earl of Marlborough's residence in Pall Mall. Hugh +accompanied him thus far and stopped at the door, outside which, in +the courtyard and in the hall, were standing many lackeys who had +attended their masters. Rupert felt very young, and the somewhat +surprised looks of the servants in the hall at his appearance added +to his feeling of youth. He was shown into an antechamber, where a +number of officers of all ranks, of courtiers, and politicians, +were assembled, talking in groups. Rupert felt alone and +uncomfortable among this crowd of distinguished men, none of whom +did he know, and no one paid the smallest attention to him. He had +on entering written his name down in a book in the hall, whence it +would be taken in with others to the great man. + +Presently an officer in general's uniform came out from an inner +room, and an instant afterwards the earl himself appeared. Not only +was John Churchill one of the most handsome men in Europe, but he +was the most courtly and winning in manner; and Rupert, shrinking +back from observation, watched with admiration as he moved round +the room, stopping to say a few words here, shaking hands there, +listening to a short urgent person, giving an answer to a petition, +before presented, by another, giving pleasure and satisfaction +wherever he moved. + +Rupert saw, however, that even while speaking his eye was wandering +round the room, and directly he perceived him he walked straight +towards him, those standing between falling back as he advanced. + +"Ah, my young friend," he said warmly, holding out his hand to +Rupert, "I was expecting you. + +"Sir John Loveday, Lord Fairholm," he said, turning to two young +gentlemen near, "let me present to you Master Rupert Holliday, +grandson of Colonel Holliday, one of the bravest of our cavaliers, +and who I can guarantee has inherited the skill and courage of his +grandfather. He will make the campaign in Holland with you, +gentlemen, for his commission has been made out today in her +Majesty's fifth regiment of dragoons. + +"I will speak to you more, presently, Rupert." + +So saying, the earl moved away among his visitors, leaving Rupert +flushed with pleasure and confusion. The young gentlemen to whom +the earl had introduced him, much surprised at the flattering +manner in which the great general had spoken of the lad before +them, at once entered into conversation with him, and hearing that +he was but newly come to London, offered to show him the various +places where men of fashion resorted, and begged him to consider +them at his disposal. Rupert, who had been carefully instructed by +his grandfather in courtly expression and manner, returned many +thanks to the gentlemen for their obliging offers, of which, after +he had again spoken to the earl, and knew what commands he would +lay upon him, he would thankfully avail himself. + +It was nearly an hour before the Earl of Marlborough had made the +round of the antechamber, but the time passed quickly to Rupert. +The room was full of men whose names were prominent in the history +of the time, and these Sir John Loveday, and Lord Fairholm, who +were lively young men, twenty-two or twenty-three years old, +pointed out to him, often telling him a merry story or some droll +jest regarding them. There was Saint John, handsome, but delicate +looking, with a half sneer on his face, and dressed in the +extremity of fashion, with a coat of peach-coloured velvet with +immense cuffs, crimson leather shoes with diamond buckles; his +sword was also diamond hilted, his hands were almost hidden in lace +ruffles, and he wore his hair in ringlets of some twenty inches in +length, tied behind with a red ribbon. The tall man, with a haughty +but irritable face, in the scarlet uniform of a general officer, +was the Earl of Peterborough. There too were Godolphin and Orford, +both leading members of the cabinet; the Earl of Sutherland, the +Dukes of Devonshire and Newcastle, Lord Nottingham, and many +others. + +At last the audience was over, and the minister, bowing to all, +withdrew, and the visitors began to leave. A lackey came up to +Rupert and requested him to follow him; and bidding adieu to his +new friends, who both gave him their addresses and begged him to +call up on them, he followed the servant into the hall and upstairs +into a cosy room, such as would now be called a boudoir. There +stood the Earl of Marlborough, by the chair in which a lady of +great beauty and commanding air was sitting. + +"Sarah," he said, "this is my young friend, Rupert Holliday, who as +you know did me good service in the midlands." + +The countess held out her hand kindly to Rupert, and he bent over +it and touched it with his lips. + +"You must remember you are my friend as well as my husband's," she +said. "He tells me you saved his life; and although I can scarce +credit the tale, seeing how young you are, yet courage and skill +dwell not necessarily in great bodies. Truly, Master Holliday, I am +deeply indebted to you; and Sarah Churchill is true in her +friendships." + +"As in her hates, eh?" laughed the earl. + +Between the Earl of Marlborough and his wife there existed no +common affection. They were passionately attached to each other; +and the earl's letters show that at all times, even when in the +field surrounded by difficulties, harassed by opposition, menaced +with destruction by superior forces, his thoughts were turned +affectionately towards her, and he was ever wishing that the war +would end that he might return to her side. She on her part was +equally attached to him, but much as she strove to add to his power +and to forward his plans, her haughty and violent temper was the +main cause of the unmerited disgrace into which he fell with his +royal mistress, who owed so much to him personally, and whose reign +he did so much to render a brilliant and successful one. At the +present time, however, she stood upon the footing of the closest +intimacy and affection with Queen Anne. + +The earl then introduced Rupert to those other ladies who were +present; the eldest, his daughter Lady Harriet, recently married to +Mr. Godolphin; the second, Anne, married to Lord Spencer; and the +two daughters still unmarried, aged sixteen and seventeen +respectively. + +Rupert was so confused with the earl's kindness that he had +difficulty in finding words, but he made a great effort, and +expressed in proper set terms his thankfulness to the countess for +her great kindness to him, and of his own want of deserts. + +"There," the countess said, "that will do very nicely and prettily; +and now put it aside until we are in public, and talk in your own +natural way. So you have been fighting again, have you, and +well-nigh killing young Master Brownlow?" + +Rupert was completely astounded at this address; and the earl said, +laughing: + +"I told you that I expected you. The worthy colonel your +grandfather wrote me a letter, which I received this morning, +telling me the incident which had taken place, and your sudden +disappearance, stating that he doubted not you had made for London, +and begging--which indeed was in no way necessary--my protection on +your behalf." + +"Did my grandfather say, sir," Rupert asked anxiously, "aught of +the state of Master Brownlow?" + +"Yes; he said that the leech had strong hopes that he would +recover." + +"I am indeed glad of that," Rupert said; "for I had no ill will to +him." + +"We must be careful of you, Master Holliday," the countess said; +"for if you go on like this you will much diminish the number of +the queen's subjects." + +"I can assure your grace," Rupert said earnestly, "that I am no +brawler, and am not quarrelsome by nature, and that the thought of +shedding blood, except of the foes of my country in battle, pains +me much." + +"I'll warrant me you are the mildest-tempered boy alive," the earl +said. "Now tell me frankly: you have been in London some +forty-eight hours; have you passed that time without getting into a +fray or quarrel of any kind?" + +Rupert turned scarlet with confusion. + +"His looks betray him," the earl laughed. "Look, girls, at the +mild-tempered young gentleman. + +"Now, out with it. How was it?" + +Thus exhorted, Rupert very stammeringly gave an account of the fray +in which he had been engaged. + +"Von Duyk!" the earl said. "She must be a daughter of the great +merchant of Dort--a useful friend to have made, maybe, Master +Holliday; and it may be that your adventure may even be of service +to the state. Never speak now, Master Rupert, of your peaceful +intentions. You take after your namesake, the Prince, and are a +veritable knight errant of adventure. The sooner I have you over in +Holland fighting the queen's enemies, and not the queen's subjects, +the better. + +"Now tell me, where have you taken up your abode?" + +"At the Bell, at Bishopsgate Street," Rupert answered. + +"And your follower, for I know one accompanied you; where is he?" + +"He waits without, sir." + +The earl touched a hand bell. + +"Fetch in Master Holliday's retainer; you will find him without. +Make him at home in the servant's hall. Send a messenger down to +the Bell at Bishopsgate, fetch hither the mails of Master Holliday; +he will remain as my guest at present." + +Rupert now entered upon a life very different to that which he had +led hitherto. He received a letter from Colonel Holliday, enclosing +an order on a London banker for fifty pounds, and he was soon +provided with suits of clothes fit for balls and other occasions. +Wherever the earl went, Rupert accompanied him as one of his +personal followers; and the frank, straightforward manners of the +lad pleased the ladies of the court, and thus "Little Holliday," as +he was called, soon became a great favourite. + +It was about a fortnight after his arrival in town that, for the +first time, he accompanied his friends Sir John Loveday and Lord +Fairholm to the fencing school of Maitre Dalboy, the great fencing +master of the day. Rupert had been looking forward much to this +visit, as he was anxious to see what was the degree of proficiency +of the young court gallants in the art which he so much loved. + +Maitre Dalboy's school was a fashionable lounge of the young men of +the court and army. It was a large and lofty room, and some six +assistants were in the act of giving instructions to beginners, or +of fencing with more advanced students, when the trio entered. +Maitre Dalboy himself came up to greet them, for both Rupert's +friends had been his pupils. + +"You are strangers," he said reproachfully. "How are your muscles +to keep in good order, and your eye true, if you do not practise? +It is heart rending! I take every pains to turn out accomplished +swordsmen; and no sooner have my pupils learned something of the +business, than they begin to forget it." + +"We shall begin to put your teaching into effect before long, +Maitre Dalboy," Sir John Loveday said, with a smile, "for we are +going over to join the army in Holland in a few weeks, and we shall +then have an opportunity of trying the utility of the parries you +have taught us." + +"It is too bad," the Frenchman said, shrugging his shoulders, "that +my pupils should use the science I have taught them against my +countrymen; but what would you have? It is the fortune of war. Is +this young gentleman a new pupil that you have brought me?" + +"No, indeed," Lord Fairholm said; "this is Master Rupert Holliday, +a cornet in the 5th regiment of dragoons, who is also about to +start for Holland." + +"I have had the advantage of learning from a countryman of yours, +Monsieur Dalboy," Rupert said, "a Monsieur Dessin, who is good +enough to teach the noble art in the town of Derby." + +"Dessin! Dessin!" Maitre Dalboy said, thoughtfully "I do not +remember the name among our maitres d'escrime." + +"The Earl of Marlborough himself vouches for the skill of Master +Holliday with the sword. His grandfather, Colonel Holliday, was, I +believe, noted as one of the finest blades at the court of Saint +Germains." + +"I have heard of him," Monsieur Dalboy said, with interest. "Let me +think; he wounded the Marquis de Beauchamp, who was considered one +of the best swordsmen in France. Yes, yes, his fame as a swordsman +is still remembered. And he is alive yet?" + +"Alive and active," Rupert said; "and although, as he says himself, +he has lost some of his quickness of reposte, there are, Monsieur +Dessin says, few fencers who could even now treat him lightly." + +"And you have had the benefit of his instruction as well as that of +my countryman?" Monsieur Dalboy asked. + +"Yes," Rupert said, "my grandfather, although he cares not at his +age for prolonged exercise, has yet made a point of giving me for a +few minutes each day the benefit of his skill." + +"I should like to have a bout with you, Master Holliday," Monsieur +Dalboy said; "will you take a foil? I am curious to see what the +united teaching of my countryman and that noted swordsman Colonel +Holliday may have done. To me, as a master, it is interesting to +discover what is possible with good teachers, when the science is +begun young. What may your age be, Master Holliday?" + +"I am four months short of sixteen," Rupert said, "and I shall be +very proud of the honour of crossing swords with so famed a master +as yourself, if you think me worthy of so great a privilege." + +There was quite a sensation in the fencing school, round which were +gathered some forty or fifty of the young men of the day, when +Maitre Dalboy called for his plastron and foil, for it was seldom +indeed, and then only with swordsmen of altogether exceptional +strength, that Monsieur Dalboy condescended to fence, contenting +himself ordinarily with walking about the school and giving a hint +now and then to those fencing with his assistants, not, perhaps, +more than once a week taking a foil in his hand to illustrate some +thrust or guard which he was inculcating. At this call, therefore, +there was a general silence; and everyone turned to see who was the +fencer whom the great master thus signally deigned to honour. + +Great was the astonishment when, as Monsieur Dalboy divested +himself of his coat and vest, the lad who had entered with Lord +Fairholm and Sir John Loveday was seen similarly to prepare for the +contest. + +"Who is he? What singular freak is this of the maitre to take up a +foil with a boy!" was the question which ran round the room. + +Several of those present had met Rupert Holliday, and could give +his name; but none could account for the freak on the part of the +master. + +Fortunately Rupert was unacquainted with the fact that what seemed +to him a natural occurrence was an extraordinary event in the eyes +of all assembled, and he therefore experienced no feeling of +nervousness whatever. He knew that Colonel Holliday was a master of +the sword, and his grandfather had told him that Monsieur Dessin +was an altogether exceptional swordsman. As he knew himself to be +fully a match for the latter, he felt sure that, however perfect a +master Monsieur Dalboy might be, he need not fear discrediting his +master, even if his present opponent should prove more than his +match. + +There was a dead silence of curiosity at the singularity of the +affair, as Rupert Holliday took his post face to face with the +master; but a murmur of surprise and admiration ran round the room +at the grace and perfection of accuracy with which Rupert went +through the various parades which were then customary before the +combatants crossed swords. + +Rupert felt as calm and as steady as when fencing at home, and +determined to use all his caution as well as all his skill; for not +only did he feel that his own strength was upon trial, but that the +honour of the teachers who had taken such pains with him was +concerned in the result. The swords had scarcely crossed when an +expression of surprise passed across Maitre Dalboy's face. The +first few passes showed him that in this lad he had found an +opponent of no ordinary character, and that all his skill would be +needed to obtain a victory over him. + +For the first few minutes each fought cautiously, feeling each +other's strength rather than attempting to attack seriously. Then +the master dropped his point. + +"Ma foi! Young sir, you have done monsieur le colonel and my +compatriot justice. I offer you my congratulations." + +"They are premature, sir," Rupert said, smiling; "you have not as +yet begun." + +The silence in the school was even more profound when the swords +again crossed than it had been when the bout began, for wonder had +now taken the place of amused curiosity. The struggle now commenced +in earnest. Several times at first Rupert narrowly escaped being +touched, for the master's play was new to him. The thrusts and +feints, the various attacks, were all familiar; but whereas Colonel +Holliday had fought simply with his arm and his head, standing +immovably in one place, and Monsieur Dessin had, although quick to +advance and fall back, fought comparatively on the defensive, while +he himself had been the assailant from his superior activity, +Monsieur Dalboy was as quick and as active as himself, and the +rapidity of the attacks, the quick bounds, the swift rushes, at +first almost bewildered him; but gradually, as he grew accustomed +to the play, he steadied himself, and eluded the master's attacks +with an activity as great as his own. + +In vain Monsieur Dalboy employed every feint, every combination in +his repertoire. Rupert was always prepared, for from one or other +of his teachers he had learnt the defence to be employed against +each; and at last, as the master, exhausted with his exertions, +flagged a little, Rupert in turn took the offensive. Now Monsieur +Dalboy's skill stood him in equal stead to defend himself against +Rupert's rapid attacks and lightning-like passes and thrusts; and +although the combat had lasted without a second's interruption for +nearly a quarter of an hour, neither combatant had touched the +other. + +At last Rupert saw by his opponent's eye that a new and special +combination was about to be put into action against him, and he +instantly steadied himself to resist it. It came with the rapidity +of thought, but Rupert recognized it by the first pass as the very +last combination which Monsieur Dessin had taught him, assuring him +at the time that he would find it irresistible, for that there were +not three men in Europe acquainted with it. He met the attack then +with the defence which Monsieur Dessin had showed him to be the +sure escape, ending with a wrench which nearly tore the sword from +the hand of his opponent. + +Monsieur Dalboy sprang back on guard, with a look of profound +astonishment; and then throwing down his foil, he threw himself, in +the impetuous manner of his countrymen, on Rupert's neck, and +embraced him. + +"Mon dieu! mon dieu!" he exclaimed, "You are incroyable, you are a +miracle. + +"Gentlemen," he said, turning to those present, when the burst of +enthusiastic applause which greeted the conclusion of this +extraordinary contest subsided, "you see in this young gentleman +one of the finest swordsmen in Europe. I do not say the finest, for +he has not touched me, and having no idea of his force I extended +myself rashly at first; but I may say he is my equal. Never but +once have I crossed swords with such a fencer, and I doubt if even +he was as strong. His parry to my last attack was miraculous. It +was a coup invented by myself, and brought to perfection with that +one I speak of. I believed no one else knew it, and have ever +reserved it for a last extremity; but his defence, even to the last +wrench, which would have disarmed any other man but myself, and +even me had I not known that it should have come then, was perfect; +it was astounding. + +"This maitre of yours--this Monsieur Dessin," he went on, turning +to Rupert, "must be a wonder. + +"Ah!" he said suddenly, and as if to himself; "c'est bien possible! +What was he like, this Monsieur Dessin?" + +"He is tall, and slight except as to his shoulders, where he is +very broad." + +"And he has a little scar here, has he not?" the fencing master +said, pointing to his temple. + +"Yes," Rupert said, surprised; "I have often noticed it." + +"Then it is he," Monsieur Dalboy said, "the swordsman of whom I +spoke. No wonder you parried my coup. I had wondered what had +become of him. And you know him as Monsieur Dessin? And he teaches +fencing?" + +"Yes," Rupert said; "but my grandfather always said that Monsieur +Dessin was only an assumed name, and that he was undoubtedly of +noble blood." + +"Your grandfather was right," the master said. "Yes, you have had +wonderful masters; but unless I had seen it, I should not have +believed that even the best masters in the world could have turned +out such a swordsman as you at your age." + +By this time the various couples had begun fencing again, and the +room resounded with the talk of the numerous lookers on, who were +all discoursing on what appeared to them, as to Monsieur Dalboy, +the almost miraculous occurrence of a lad under sixteen holding his +own against a man who had the reputation of being the finest maitre +in Europe. Lord Fairholm, Sir John Loveday, and other gentlemen, +now came round. + +"I was rather thinking," Sir John said, with a laugh, "of taking +you under my protection, Master Holliday, and fighting your battles +for you, as an old boy does for a young one at school; but it must +even be the other way. And by my faith, if any German Ritter or +French swordsman should challenge the British dragoons to a trial +of the sword, we shall put you forth as our David." + +"I trust that that may not be," Rupert said; "for though in battle +I hope that I shall not be found wanting, yet I trust that I shall +have nought to do in private quarrels, but be looked upon as one of +a peaceful disposition." + +"Very peaceful, doubtless!" laughed Lord Fairholm. "Tell me, Master +Rupert, honestly now, didst ever use in earnest that sword that you +have just shown that you know so well how to wield?" + +Rupert flushed up crimson. + +"Yes," he said, with a shame-faced look, "I have twice used my +sword in self defence." + +"Ha, ha! Our peaceful friend!" laughed Lord Fairholm. "And tell me, +didst put an end to both unfortunates?" + +Rupert coloured still more deeply. + +"I had the misfortune to slay one, my lord; but there are good +hopes that the other will recover." + +A general shout of laughter greeted the announcement, which +together with Rupert's evident shame-faced look, was altogether too +much for their gravity. + +Just at this moment a diversion was caused by a young man dressed +in the extreme of fashion who entered the school. He had a +dissipated and jaded air. + +"Fulke, where hast been?" one of the group standing round Rupert +asked. "We have missed you these two weeks. Someone said you had +been roughly mauled, and had even lost some teeth. Is it so?" + +"It is," the newcomer said, with an angry scowl. "Any beauty I once +may have had is gone forever. I have lost three of my upper teeth, +and two of my lower, and I am learning now to speak with my lips +shut, so as to hide the gap." + +"But how came it about?" + +"I was walking down a side street off the Strand, when four men +sprang out and held my hands to my side, another snatched my watch +and purse, and as I gave a cry for the watch, he smote me with the +pommel of his rapier in my mouth, then throwing me on the ground +the villains took to their heels together." + +The exclamations of commiseration and indignation which arose +around, were abruptly checked by a loud laugh from Rupert. + +There was a dead silence and Sir Richard Fulke, turning his eyes +with fury towards the lad who had dared to jeer at his misfortune, +demanded why he laughed. + +"I could not help but laugh," Rupert said, "although doubtless it +was unmannerly; but your worship's story reminded me so +marvellously of the tale of the stout knight, Sir John Falstaff's +adventure with the men of buckram." + +"What mean you?" thundered Sir Richard. + +"I mean, sir," Rupert said quietly, "that your story has not one +word of truth in it. I came upon you in that side street off the +Strand, as you were trying to carry off by force, aided by a rascal +named Captain Copper, a lady, whose name shall not be mentioned +here. I had not my sword with me, but with a walking stick I +trounced your friend the captain, and then, with my stick against +your rapier, I knocked out those teeth you regret, with a fair +thrust. + +"If my word is doubted, gentlemen, Alderman Hawkins, who heard the +details of the matter from the young lady and her chairman, can +vouch for it." + +A cry of fury burst from Sir Richard Fulke; and drawing his sword +he would have sprung upon the lad, who had not only disfigured him +for life, but now made him the laughingstock of society, for the +tale would, he knew, spread far and wide. Several of the gentlemen +threw themselves between him and Rupert. + +"I will have his life's blood!" he exclaimed, struggling in the +arms of those who would hold him back. "I will kill the dog as he +stands." + +"Sir Richard Fulke," Lord Fairholm said, "Master Holliday is a +friend of mine, and will give you an honourable meeting when you +will; but I should advise you to smother your choler. It seems he +proved himself with a stick your superior, although armed with a +sword, and Master Dalboy will tell you that it is better to leave +him alone." + +Master Dalboy was standing by, and going up to Sir Richard, he +said: + +"Sir, if you will take my poor advice you will go your way, and +leave Master Holliday to himself. He has, as those here will tell +you, proved himself fully my equal as a swordsman, and could kill +you if only armed with a six-inch dagger against your sword. It +would be safer for you to challenge the whole of those in this +present company than to cross swords with him." + +A few words from those standing round corroborated a statement +which at first appeared fabulous; and then finding that an open +encounter with Rupert would be the worst possible method of +obtaining satisfaction for the injuries he had received, Sir +Richard Fulke flung himself out of the school, muttering deep vows +of future vengeance. + +"You have made a dangerous enemy," Lord Fairholm said, as the three +friends walked homeward. "He bears a bad character, and is a +reckless and ruined man. After what he has heard of your skill as a +swordsman he will, we may be sure, take no open steps against you; +but it is certain that he will scheme night and day for vengeance. +When the report gets abroad of his cock-and-bull story, and the +true history of the loss of his teeth, he will not be able to show +his face in public for some time; but he will be none the less +dangerous. Through that notorious ruffian, Captain Copper, he can +dispose of half the cutthroats about the town, and I should advise +you not to go out after dark until you have put the seas between +you and him, and even then you had better be cautious for a time." + +Rupert agreed with his friend's advice, and the next day begged his +patron to let him embark at once for Holland, in a ship that was to +sail with troops from London Bridge. He urged as his reason for +desiring to go at once, his wish to learn something at least of his +duties before the campaign began. + +As the earl had already heard a rumour of the scene in the fencing +school, he made no opposition to the plan, and the next day Rupert, +accompanied by Hugh, sailed down the Thames, bound for Rotterdam. + + + +Chapter 6: The War Of Succession. + +The war which was about to commence, and which Rupert Holliday +sailed for the Hague to take part in, was one of the grandest and +most extensive struggles that ever devastated Europe, embracing as +it did the whole of the central and western nations of the +continent. In fact, with the exception of Russia, still in the +depths of barbarism, and Italy, which was then a battlefield rather +than a nation, all the states of Europe were ranged on one side or +the other. + +As Charles the Second of Spain approached his end, the liveliest +interest was felt as to his succession. He had no children, and the +hopes and fears of all the continental nations were excited by the +question of the disposal of the then vast dominions of Spain. The +principal powers of Europe, dreading the consequences of this great +empire being added to the power of any one monarch, entered into a +secret treaty, which was signed at the Hague in 1698, by which it +was agreed that Spain itself should be ceded to the Electoral +Prince of Bavaria, with Flanders and the Low countries; Naples, +Sicily, Tuscany, and Guipuscoa were to fall to France; and the +Duchy of Milan to the archduke, son of the Emperor of Germany. +Holland was to gain a considerable accession of territory. England, +one of the signatories to the treaty, was to gain nothing by the +division. + +The contents of this treaty leaked out, and the king of Spain, +after a consultation with Austria, who was also indignant at the +secret treaty, made a will bequeathing all his dominions to the +Elector of Bavaria. Had that prince lived, all the complications +which ensued would probably have been avoided; but he died, the 9th +February, 1699, and the whole question was thereby again opened. +Another secret treaty was made, between England, France, and +Holland, and signed on the 13th March, 1700, at the Hague. By this +treaty it was agreed that France was to receive Naples, Sicily, +Guipuscoa, and Lorraine; the Archduke Charles Spain, the Low +Countries, and the Indies; and the Spanish colonies were to be +divided between Holland and England. As both England and Holland +were at the time in alliance with Spain, it must be admitted that +their secret arrangement for the partition of her territories was +of a very infamous character. + +Louis of France, while apparently acting with the other powers, +secretly communicated the contents of the treaty to Charles II. The +Spanish king was naturally dismayed at the great conspiracy to +divide his kingdom at his death, and he convened his council of +state and submitted the matter to them. It was apparent that +France, by far the most powerful of the other continental states, +could alone avert the division, and the states general therefore +determined to unite the interests of France and Spain by appointing +the Duc d'Anjou, grandson of the King of France, sole heir to the +vast empire of Spain. + +The news that Spain and France were henceforth to be united caused +the greatest consternation to the rest of the States, and all +Europe began to arm. Very shortly after signing the bequest, the +old King of Spain died, and the Duc d'Anjou ascended the throne. +The Spanish Netherlands, governed by the young Elector of Bavaria, +as Lieutenant General of Spain, at once gave in their adhesion to +the new monarch. The distant colonies all accepted his rule, as did +the great Spanish possessions in Italy; while the principal +European nations acknowledged him as successor of Charles the +Second. + +The new empire seemed indeed of preponderating strength. Bavaria +united herself in a firm alliance with France and Spain; and these +three countries, with Italy and Flanders, appeared capable of +giving the law to the world. England, less affected than the +continental powers by the dominance of this powerful coalition, +might have remained quiet, had not the French King thrown down the +gauntlet of defiance. On the 16th September, 1701, James the +Second, the exiled King of England, died, and Louis at once +acknowledged his son as King of Great Britain and Ireland. This act +was nothing short of a public declaration of war, not only against +the reigning monarch of England, but against the established +religion of our country. The exiled prince was Roman Catholic. +Louis was the author of the most terrible persecution of the +Protestants that ever occurred in Europe. Thus the action of the +French king rallied round William the Second all the Protestant +feeling of the nation. Both Houses of Parliament voted loyal +addresses, and the nation prepared for the great struggle before +it. The king laboured to establish alliances and a plan for common +action, and all was in readiness, when his sudden death left the +guidance of affairs in other hands. + +These hands were, happily for England, those of the Earl of +Marlborough, the finest diplomatist, as well as the greatest +soldier, of his time. + +The struggle which was approaching was a gigantic one. On one side +were France and Spain, open to attack on one side only, and holding +moreover Flanders, and almost the whole of Italy, with the rich +treasures of the Indies upon which to draw for supplies. The +alliance of Bavaria, with a valiant population, extended the +offensive power of the coalition into the heart of Austria. + +Upon the other hand were the troops of Austria, England, Holland, +Hanover, Hesse Cassel, and the lesser states of Germany, with a +contingent of troops, from Prussia and Denmark. In point of numbers +the nations ranged on either side were about equal; but while +France, Spain, and Bavaria formed a compact body under the guidance +of Louis, the allies were divided by separate, and often opposing +interests and necessities, while Austria was almost neutralized by +a dangerous Hungarian insurrection that was going on, and by the +danger of a Turkish invasion which the activity of French diplomacy +kept continually hanging over it. The coalition was weakened in the +field by the jealousies of the commanders of the various +nationalities, and still more by the ignorance and timidity of the +Dutch deputies, which Holland insisted on keeping at headquarters, +with the right of veto on all proceedings. + +On the side of the allies the following were the arrangements for +the opening of the campaign. A German army under Louis, Margrave of +Baden, was to be collected on the upper Rhine to threaten France on +the side of Alsace. A second corps, 25,000 strong, composed of +Prussian troops and Dutch, under the Prince of Saarbruck, were to +undertake the siege of Kaiserwerth, a small but very important +fortress on the right bank of the Rhine, two leagues below +Dusseldorf. The main army, 35,000 strong, under the Earl of +Athlone, was destined to cover the frontier of Holland, from the +Rhine to the Vecun, and also to cover the siege of Kaiserwerth; +while a fourth body, of 10,000 men, under General Cohorn, were +collected near the mouth of the Scheldt, and threatened the +district of Bruges. + +Upon the other side the French had been equally active. On the +Lower Rhine a force was stationed to keep that of Cohorn in check. +Marshal Tallard, with 15,000 men, came down from the Upper Rhine to +interrupt the siege of Kaiserwerth, while the main army, 45,000 +strong, under the Duke of Burgundy and Marshal Boufflers, was +posted in the Bishopric of Liege, resting on the tremendous chain +of fortresses of Flanders, all of which were in French possession, +and strongly garrisoned by French and Spanish soldiers. + +At the time, however, when the vessel containing Rupert Holliday +and Hugh Parsons sailed up the Scheldt, early in the month of May, +these arrangements were not completed, but both armies were waiting +for the conflict. + +The lads had little time for the examination of the Hague, now the +dullest and most quiet of European capitals, but then a bustling +city, full of life and energy; for, with the troops who had arrived +with them, they received orders to march at once to join the camp +formed at Breda. Accustomed to a quiet English country life, the +activity and bustle of camp life were at once astonishing and +delightful. The journey from the Hague had been a pleasant one. +Rupert rode one of the two horses with which the Earl of +Marlborough had presented him, Hugh the other; and as a portion of +the soldiers with them were infantry, the marches were short and +easy; while the stoppages at quaint Dutch villages, the solemn ways +of whose inhabitants, their huge breeches, and disgust at the +disturbance of their usual habits when the troops were quartered +upon them, were a source of great amusement to them. + +Upon reaching the camp they soon found their way to their regiment. +Here Rupert presented to Colonel Forbes the letter of recommendation +with which the Earl of Marlborough had provided him, and was at once +introduced by him to his brother officers, most of them young men, but +all some years older than himself. His frank, pleasant, boyish manner +at once won for him a cordial acceptance, and the little cornet, as he +was called in the regiment, soon became a general favourite. + +Hugh, who had formally enlisted in the regiment before leaving +England, was on arrival handed over to a sergeant; and the two lads +were, with other recruits, incessantly drilled from morning till +night, to render them efficient soldiers before the day of trial +arrived. + +Rupert shared a tent with the other two officers of his troop, +Captain Lauriston, a quiet Scotchman, and Lieutenant Dillon, a +young Irishman, full of fun and life. + +There were in camp three regiments of British cavalry and six of +infantry, and as they were far from the seat of war, there was for +the present nothing to do but to drill, and prepare for the coming +campaign. Rupert was delighted with the life, for although the work +for the recruits was hard, the weather was splendid, supplies +abundant--for the Dutch farm wives and their daughters brought +ducks, and geese, and eggs into the camp--and all were in high +spirits at the thought of the approaching campaign. Every night +there were gatherings round the fire, when songs were sung and +stories told. Most of the officers had before campaigned in +Holland, under King William, and many had fought in Ireland, and +had stirring tales of the Boyne, of the siege of Athlone, and of +fierce encounters with the brave but undisciplined Irish. + +At the end of a month's hard work, Rupert began to understand his +duties, for in those days the amount of drill deemed necessary for +a trooper was small indeed in proportion to that which he has now +to master. Rupert was already a good rider, and soon learnt where +was his proper place as cornet in each evolution, and the orders +that it behoved him to give. The foot drill was longer and more +difficult, for in those days dragoons fought far more on foot than +is now the case, although at this epoch they had already ceased to +be considered as mounted infantry, and had taken their true place +as cavalry. Rupert's broadsword drill lasted but a very short time; +upon the drill sergeant asking him if he knew anything of that +weapon, he said that he could play at singlestick, but had never +practised with the broadsword. His instructor, however, found that +a very few lessons were sufficient to enable him to perform the +required cuts and guard with sufficient proficiency, and very +speedily claimed the crown which Rupert promised him on his +dismissal from the class. + +Week after week passed in inactivity, and the troops chafed +mightily thereat, the more so that stirring events were proceeding +elsewhere. The siege of Kaiserwerth, by a body of 15,000 German +troops, had begun on the 18th of April, and the attack and defence +were alike obstinate and bloody. The Earl of Athlone with his +covering forces lay at Cleves, and a sharp cavalry fight between +1000 of the allied cavalry and 700 French horse took place on the +27th of April. The French were defeated, with the loss of 400 men; +but as the victors lost 300, it is clear that both sides fought +with extreme determination and bravery, such a loss--700 men out of +1700 combatants--being extraordinarily large. The spirit shown by +both sides in this the first fight of the war, was a portent of the +obstinate manner in which all the battles of this great war were +contested. For two months Kaiserwerth nobly defended itself. +Seventy-eight guns and mortars thundered against it night and day. +On the 9th of June the besiegers made a desperate assault and +gained possession of a covered way, but at a cost of 2000 killed +and wounded. A week later the place capitulated after a siege which +had cost the allies 5000 men. + +General Boufflers, with his army of 37,000 men, finding himself +unable to raise the siege, determined to make a dash against +Nimeguen, an important frontier fortress of Holland, but which the +supineness of the Dutch Government had allowed to fall into +disrepair. Not only was there no garrison there, but not a gun was +mounted on its walls. The expedition seemed certain of success, and +on the evening of the 9th of June Boufflers moved out from Xanten, +and marched all night. Next day Athlone obtained news of the +movement and started in the evening, his march being parallel with +the French, the hostile armies moving abreast, and at no great +distance from each other. + +The cavalry covered the British march, and these were in the +morning attacked by the French horse under the Duke of Burgundy. +The British were outnumbered, but fought with great obstinacy, and +before they fell back, with a loss of 720 men and a convoy of 300 +waggons, the infantry had pushed forward, and when the French army +reached Nimeguen its ramparts bristled with British bayonets. +Boufflers, disappointed in his aim, fell back upon the rich +district of Cleves, now open to him, and plundered and ravaged that +fertile country. + +Although Kaiserwerth had been taken and Nimeguen saved, the danger +which they had run, and the backward movement of the allied army, +filled the Dutch with consternation. + +The time, however, had come when Marlborough himself was to assume +the command, and by his genius, dash, and strategy to alter the +whole complexion of things, and to roll back the tide of war from +the borders of Holland. He had crossed from England early in May, a +few days only after Rupert had sailed; but hitherto he had been +engaged in smoothing obstacles, appeasing jealousies, healing +differences, and getting the whole arrangement of the campaign into +something like working order. At last, everything being fairly in +trim, he set out on the 2nd of July from the Hague, with full power +as commander-in-chief of the allied armies, for Nimeguen. There he +ordered the British troops from Breda, 8000 Germans from +Kaiserwerth, and the contingents of Hesse and Luneburg, 6000 +strong, under the Prince of Zell, to join him. + +As these reinforcements brought his army up to a strength superior +to that of the French, although Marshal Boufflers had hastily drawn +to him some of the garrisons of the fortresses, the Earl of +Marlborough prepared to strike a great blow. The Dutch deputies who +accompanied the army--and whose timidity and obstinacy a score of +times during the course of the war thwarted all Marlborough's +best-laid plans, and saved the enemy from destruction--interfered +to forbid an attack upon two occasions when an engagement would, as +admitted by French historians, have been fatal to their whole army. +Marlborough therefore was obliged to content himself by outflanking +the French, compelling them to abandon Cleves, to cross the Meuse, +and to fall back into Flanders, with some loss, and great haste and +disorder. + +In vain the French marshal endeavoured to take post so as to save +the Meuse fortresses, which stood at the gates of Flanders, and by +their command of the river prevented the allies from using the +chain of water communications to bring up supplies. Marlborough +crossed the line by which his siege train was coming up, and then +pounced upon Venloo, a very strong fortress standing across the +Meuse--that is to say, the town was on one side, the fort of Saint +Michael on the other. + +After this chapter, devoted to the necessary task of explaining the +cause and commencement of the great War of Succession, we can +return to the individual fortunes of our hero. + + + +Chapter 7: Venloo. + +Upon the 5th dragoons being, with the others lying with it in camp +at Breda, ordered up to join the main army at Nimeguen, Rupert was, +to his great delight, declared to be sufficiently advanced in his +knowledge of drill to take his place regularly in the ranks; and +Hugh and the other recruits also fell into their places in the +various troops among which they were divided, Hugh being, at +Rupert's request, told off to Captain Lauriston's troop. With drums +beating and colours flying, the column from Breda marched into the +allied camp at Duckenberg in front of Nimeguen, where the troops +crowded out to greet this valuable addition of eight infantry +regiments and three of cavalry. + +Scarcely were the tents pitched than Rupert heard himself heartily +saluted, and looking round, saw his friends Lord Fairholm and Sir +John Loveday, who being already in camp had at once sought him out. + +"By my faith, Master Holliday, the three months have done wonders +for you; you look every inch a soldier," Lord Fairholm said. + +"His very moustache is beginning to show," Sir John Loveday said, +laughing. + +Rupert joined in the laugh, for in truth he had that very morning +looked anxiously in a glass, and had tried in vain to persuade +himself that the down on his upper lip showed any signs of +thickening or growing. + +"Well, and how many unfortunate English, Dutch, and Germans have +you dispatched since we saw you?" + +"Oh, please hush," Rupert said anxiously. "No one knows that I have +any idea of fencing, or that I have ever drawn a sword before I +went through my course of the broadsword here. I would not on any +account that any one thought I was a quarrelsome swordster. You +know I really am not, and it has been purely my misfortune that I +have been thrust into these things." + +"And you have never told any of your comrades that you have killed +your man? Or that Dalboy proclaimed you in his salle to be one of +the finest blades in Europe?" + +"No, indeed," Rupert said. "Why should I, Sir John?" + +"Well, all I can say is, Rupert, I admire your modesty as much as +your skill. There are few fellows of your age, or of mine either, +but would hector a little on the strength of such a reputation. I +think that I myself should cock my hat, and point my moustache a +little more fiercely, if I knew that I was the cock of the whole +walk." + +Rupert smiled. "I don't think you would, Sir John, especially if +you were as young as I am. I know I have heard my tutor say that +the fellow who is really cock of a school, is generally one of the +quietest and best-tempered fellows going. Not that I mean," he +added hastily, as his companions both laughed, "that I am cock, or +that I am a quiet or very good-tempered fellow. I only meant that I +was not quarrelsome, and have indeed put up more than once with +practical jokings which I might have resented had I not known how +skillful with the sword I am, and that in this campaign I shall +have plenty of opportunities of showing that I am no coward." + +"Well spoken, Rupert," Sir John said. "Now we have kept you talking +in the sun an unconscionable time; come over to our tent, and have +something to wash the dust away. We have some fairly good Burgundy, +of which we bought a barrel the other day from a vintner in +Nimeguen, and it must be drunk before we march. + +"Are these the officers of your troop? Pray present me." + +Rupert introduced his friends to Captain Lauriston and Lieutenant +Dillon, and the invitation was extended to them. For the time, +however, it was necessary to see to the wants of the men, but later +on the three officers went across to the tents of the king's +dragoons, to which regiment Lord Fairholm and Sir John Loveday both +belonged, and spent a merry evening. + +Upon the following day the Earl of Marlborough sent for Rupert and +inquired of him how he liked the life, and how he was getting on; +and begged of him to come to him at any time should he have need of +money, or be in any way so placed as to need his aid. Rupert +thanked him warmly, but replied that he lacked nothing. + +The following day the march began, and Rupert shared in the general +indignation felt by the British officers and men at seeing the +splendid opportunities of crushing the enemy--opportunities gained +by the skill and science of their general, and by their own rapid +and fatiguing marches--thrown away by the feebleness and timidity +of the Dutch deputies. When the siege of Venloo began the main body +of the army was again condemned to inactivity, and the cavalry had +of course nothing to do with the siege. + +The place was exceedingly strong, but the garrison was weak, +consisting only of six battalions of infantry and 300 horse. +Cohorn, the celebrated engineer, directed the siege operations, for +which thirty-two battalions of infantry and thirty-six squadrons of +horse were told off, the Prince of Nassau Saarbruch being in +command. + +Two squadrons of the 5th dragoons, including the troop to which +Rupert belonged, formed part of the force. The work was by no means +popular with the cavalry, as they had little to do, and lost their +chance of taking part in any great action that Boufflers might +fight with Marlborough to relieve the town. The investment began on +the 4th? of September, the efforts of the besiegers being directed +against Fort Saint Michael at the opposite side of the river, but +connected by a bridge of boats to the town. + +On the 17th the breaches were increasing rapidly in size, and it +was whispered that the assault would be made on the evening of the +18th, soon after dusk. + +"It will be a difficult and bloody business," Captain Lauriston +said, as they sat in their tent that evening. "The garrison of Fort +Saint Michael is only 800, but reinforcements will of course pour +in from the town directly the attack begins, and it may be more +than our men can do to win the place. You remember how heavily the +Germans suffered in their attack on the covered way of Kaiserwerth." + +"I should think the best thing to do would be to break down the +bridge of boats before beginning the attack," Lieutenant Dillon +remarked. + +"Yes, that would be an excellent plan if it could be carried out, +but none of our guns command it." + +"We might launch a boat with straw or combustibles from above," +Rupert said, "and burn it." + +"You may be very sure that they have got chains across the river +above the bridge, to prevent any attempt of that kind," Captain +Lauriston said. + +Presently the captain, who was on duty, went out for his rounds, +and Rupert, who had been sitting thoughtfully, said, "Look here, +Dillon, I am a good swimmer, and it seems to me that it would be +easy enough to put two or three petards on a plank--I noticed some +wood on the bank above the town yesterday--and to float down to the +bridge, to fasten them to two or three of the boats, and so to +break the bridge; your cousin in the engineers could manage to get +us the petards. What do you say?" + +The young Irishman looked at the lad in astonishment. + +"Are you talking seriously?" he asked. + +"Certainly; why not?" + +"They'd laugh in your face if you were to volunteer," Dillon said. + +"But I shouldn't volunteer; I should just go and do it." + +"Yes, but after it was done, instead of getting praise--that is, if +you weren't killed--you'd be simply told you had no right to +undertake such an affair." + +"But I should never say anything about it," Rupert said. "I should +just do it because it would be a good thing to do, and would save +the lives of some of our grenadiers, who will, likely enough, lead +the assault. Besides, it would be an adventure, like any other." + +Dillon looked at him for some time. + +"You are a curious fellow, Holliday. I would agree to join you in +the matter, but I cannot swim a stroke. Pat Dillon cares as little +for his life as any man; and after all, there's no more danger in +it than in going out in a duel; and I could do that without +thinking twice." + +"Well, I shall try it," Rupert said quietly. "Hugh can swim as well +as I can, and I'll take him. But can you get me the petards?" + +"I dare say I could manage that," Dillon said, entering into the +scheme with all an Irishman's love of excitement. "But don't you +think I could go too, though I can't swim? I could stick tight to +the planks, you know." + +"No," Rupert said seriously, "that would not do. We may be +detected, and may have to dive, and all sorts of things. No, +Dillon, it would not do. But if you can get the petards, you will +have the satisfaction of knowing that you have done your share of +the work; and then you might, if you could, ride round in the +evening with my uniform and Hugh's in your valise. If you go on to +the bank half a mile or so below the town, every one will be +watching the assault, and we can get ashore, put on our clothes, +and get back home without a soul being the wiser." + +"And suppose you are killed?" + +"Pooh, I shall not be killed!" Rupert said. "But I shall leave a +letter, which you can find in the morning if I do not come back, +saying I have undertaken this adventure in hope of benefiting +her Majesty's arms; that I do it without asking permission; but +that I hope that my going beyond my duty will be forgiven, in +consideration that I have died in her Majesty's service." + +The next day at two o'clock, Lieutenant Dillon, who had been away +for an hour, beckoned to Rupert that he wanted to speak to him +apart. + +"I have seen my cousin Gerald, but he will not let me have the +petards unless he knows for what purpose they are to be used. I +said as much as I could without betraying your intentions, but I +think he guessed them; for he said, 'Look here, Pat, if there is +any fun and adventure on hand, I will make free with her gracious +Majesty's petards, on condition that I am in it.' He's up to fun of +every kind, Gerald is; and can, I know, swim like a fish. What do +you say, shall I tell him?" + +"Do, by all means," Rupert said. "I have warned Hugh of what I am +going to do, and he would never forgive me if I did not take him; +but if your cousin will go, all the better, for he will know far +better than I how to fix the petards. You can tell him I shall be +glad to act under his orders; and if it succeeds, and he likes to +let it be known the part which he has played in the matter--which +indeed would seem to be within the scope of his proper duties, he +being an engineer--I shall be glad for him to do so, it always +being understood that he does not mention my name in any way." + +Half-an-hour later Dillon entered, to say that his cousin agreed heartily +to take a part in the adventure, and that he would shortly come up to +arrange the details with Rupert. Rupert had met Gerald Dillon before, +and knew him to be as wild, adventurous, and harum-scarum a young officer +as his cousin Pat; and in half-an-hour's talk the whole matter was settled. + +Gerald would take two petards, which weighed some twenty pounds +each, to his tent, one by one. Hugh should fetch them in a basket, +one by one, to the river bank, at the spot where a balk of wood had +been washed ashore by some recent floods. At seven in the evening +Gerald should call upon his cousin, and on leaving, accompany +Rupert to the river bank, where Hugh would be already in waiting. +When they had left, Pat Dillon should start on horseback with the +three uniforms in his valise, the party hiding the clothes in which +they left the camp, under the bank at their place of starting. + +The plan was carried out as arranged, and soon after seven o'clock +Rupert Holliday and Gerald Dillon, leaving the camp, strolled down +to the river, on whose bank Hugh was already sitting. The day had +been extremely hot, and numbers of soldiers were bathing in the +river. It was known that the assault was to take place that night, +but as the cavalry would take no part in it, the soldiers, with +their accustomed carelessness, paid little heed to the matter. As +it grew dusk, the bathers one by one dressed and left, until only +the three watchers remained. Then Rupert called Hugh, who had been +sitting at a short distance, to his side; they then stripped, and +carefully concealed their clothes. The petards were taken out from +beneath a heap of stones, where Hugh had hid them, and were fixed +on the piece of timber, one end of which was just afloat in the +stream. By their side was placed some lengths of fuse, a brace of +pistols, a long gimlet, some hooks, and cord. Then just as it was +fairly dark the log was silently pushed into the water, and +swimming beside it, with one hand upon it, the little party started +upon their adventurous expedition. + +The log was not very large, although of considerable length, and +with the petards upon it, it showed but little above water. The +point where they had embarked was fully two miles above the town, +and it was more than an hour before the stream took them abreast of +it. Although it was very dark, they now floated on their backs by +the piece of timber, so as to show as little as possible to any who +might be on the lookout, for of all objects the round outline of a +human head is one of the most easily recognized. + +Presently they came, as they had expected, to a floating boom, +composed of logs of timber chained together. Here the piece of +timber came to a standstill. No talk was necessary, as the course +under these circumstances had been already agreed to. The petards +and other objects were placed on the boom, upon which Rupert, as +the lightest of the party, crept, holding in his hand a cord +fastened round the log. Hugh and Gerald Dillon now climbed upon one +end of the log, which at once sank into the water below the level +of the bottom of the boom, and the current taking it, swept it +beneath the obstacle. Rupert's rope directed its downward course, +and it was soon alongside the boom, but on the lower side. + +The petards were replaced, and the party again proceeded; but now +Hugh swam on his back, holding a short rope attached to one end, so +as to keep the log straight, and prevent its getting across the +mooring chains of the boats forming the bridge; while Rupert and +Gerald, each with a rope also attached to the log, floated down +some ten or twelve yards on either side of the log, but a little +behind it. The plan answered admirably; the stream carried the log +end-foremost between two of the boats, which were moored twelve +feet apart, while Gerald and Rupert each floated on the other side +of the mooring chains of the boats; round these chains they twisted +the ropes, and by them the log lay anchored as it were under the +bridge, and between two of the boats forming it. If there were any +sentries on the bridge, these neither saw nor heard them, their +attention being absorbed by the expectation of an attack upon the +breaches of Fort Saint Michael. + +The party now set to work. With the gimlet holes were made a couple +of feet above the water. In them the hooks were inserted, and from +these the petards were suspended by ropes, so as to lie against the +sides of the boats, an inch only above the water's level. The fuses +were inserted; and all being now in readiness for blowing a hole in +the side of the two boats, they regained the log, and awaited the +signal. + +The time passed slowly; but as the church clocks of the town struck +eleven, a sudden outburst of musketry broke out round Saint +Michael's. In an instant the cannon of the fort roared out, the +bells clanged the alarm, blue fires were lighted, and the dead +silence was succeeded by a perfect chaos of sounds. + +The party under the bridge waited quietly, until the noise as of a +large body of men coming upon the bridge from the town end was +heard. At the first outbreak Gerald Dillon had, with some +difficulty, lit first some tinder, and then a slow match, from a +flint and steel--all of these articles having been most carefully +kept dry during the trip, with the two pistols, which were intended +to fire the fuses, should the flint and steel fail to produce a +light. + +As the sound of the reinforcements coming on to the bridge was +heard, Gerald Dillon on one side, Rupert Holliday on the other, +left the log, and swam with a slow match in hand to the boats. In +another instant the fuses were lighted, and the three companions +swam steadily downstream. + +In twenty seconds a loud explosion was heard, followed almost +instantaneously by another, and the swimmers knew that their object +had been successful, that two of the boats forming the bridge would +sink immediately, and that, the connexion being thus broken, no +reinforcements from the town could reach the garrison of the Fort +Saint Michael. Loud shouts were heard upon the bridge as the +swimmers struck steadily down stream, while the roar of the +musketry from Fort Saint Michael was unremitting. + +Half an hour later the three adventurers landed, at a point where a +lantern had, according to arrangement, been placed at the water's +edge by Pat Dillon, who was in waiting with their clothes, and who +received them with an enthusiastic welcome. Five minutes later they +were on their way back to their camp. + +In the meantime the battle had raged fiercely round Fort Saint +Michael. The attack had been made upon two breaches. The British +column, headed by the grenadiers, and under the command of Lord +Cutts, attacked the principal breach. The French opposed a +desperate defence. With Lord Cutts as volunteers were Lord +Huntingdon, Lord Lorn, Sir Richard Temple, and Mr. Dalrymple, and +these set a gallant example to their men. + +On arriving at a high breastwork, Lord Huntingdon, who was weakened +by recent attack of fever, was unable to climb over it. + +"Five guineas," he shouted, "to the man who will help me over!" + +Even among the storm of balls there was a shout of laughter as the +nobleman held out his purse, and a dozen willing hands soon lifted +him over the obstacle. + +Then on the troops swept, stormed the covered way, carried the +ravelin, and forced their way up the breach. The French fought +staunchly; and well it was for the British that no reinforcements +could reach them from Venloo, and that the original 800 garrisoning +the fort were alone in their defence. As it was, the place was +stormed, 200 of the French made prisoners, and the rest either +killed or drowned in endeavouring to cross the river. + +The French in Venloo, upon finding that the fort had fallen, broke +up the rest of the bridge; and although there was some surprise in +the British camp that no reinforcements had been sent over to aid +the garrison, none knew that the bridge had been broken at the +commencement of the attack, consequently there were neither talk +nor inquiries; and those concerned congratulated themselves that +their adventure had been successful, and that, as no one knew +anything of it, they could, should occasion offer, again undertake +an expedition on their own account. + +The day after the capture of Saint Michael's, strong fatigue +parties were set to work, erecting batteries to play across the +river on the town. These were soon opened, and after a few days' +further resistance, the place surrendered, on the condition of the +garrison being free to march to Antwerp, then in French possession. + +The towns of Ruremond and Stevenswort were now invested, and +surrendered after a short resistance; and thus the Maas was opened +as a waterway for the supplies for the army. + +The Dutch Government, satisfied with the successes so far, would +have now had the army go into winter quarters; but Marlborough, +with great difficulty, persuaded them to consent to his undertaking +the siege of Liege, a most important town and fortress, whose +possession would give to the allies the command of the Meuse--or +Maas--into the very heart of Flanders. + +Marshal Boufflers, ever watching the movements of Marlborough, +suspected that Liege would be his next object of attack, and +accordingly reconnoitred the ground round that city, and fixed on a +position which would, he thought, serve admirably for the +establishment of a permanent camp. + +The news was, however, brought to Marlborough, who broke up his +camp the same night; and when the French army approached Liege, +they found the allies established on the very ground which the +Marshal had selected for their camp. All unsuspecting the presence +of the English, the French came on in order of march until within +cannon shot of the allies, and another splendid opportunity was +thus given to Marlborough to attack the main body of the enemy +under most advantageous circumstances. + +The Dutch deputies again interposed their veto, and the English had +the mortification of seeing the enemy again escape from their +hands. + +However, there was now nothing to prevent their undertaking the +siege of Liege, and on the 20th of October the regular investment +of the place was formed. + +The strength of Liege consisted in its citadel and the Fort of +Chatreuse, both strongly fortified. The town itself, a wealthy +city, and so abounding in churches that it was called "Little +Rome," was defended only by a single wall. It could clearly offer +no defence against the besiegers, and therefore surrendered at the +first summons, the garrison, 5000 strong, retiring to the citadel +and Fort Saint Chatreuse, which mounted fifty guns. Siege was at +once laid to the citadel, and with such extraordinary vigour was +the attack pushed forward, under the direction of General Cohorn, +that upon the 23rd of October, three days only after the investment +commenced, the breaches in the counter-scarp were pronounced +practicable, and an assault was immediately ordered. The allies +attacked with extreme bravery, and the citadel was carried by +storm--here as at Venloo, the British troops being the first who +scaled the breach. Thus 2000 prisoners were taken; and the garrison +of Fort Chatreuse were so disheartened at the speedy fall of the +citadel, that they capitulated a few days later. + +This brought the first campaign of the war to an end. It had been +very short, but its effect had been great. Kaiserwerth had been +taken, and the Lower Rhine opened; four fortified places on the +Meuse had been captured; the enemy had been driven back from the +borders of Holland; and the allied army had, in the possession of +Liege, an advanced post in the heart of Flanders for the +recommencement of the campaign in the spring. And all this had been +done in the face of a large French army, which had never ventured +to give battle even to save the beleaguered fortresses. + +The army now went into winter quarters, and Marlborough returned at +once to England. + +Upon the voyage down the Meuse, in company with the Dutch +commissioners, he had a very narrow escape. The boat was captured +by a French partisan leader, who had made an incursion to the +river. The earl had with him an old servant named Gill, who, with +great presence of mind, slipped into his master's hand an old +passport made out in the name of General Churchill. The French, +intent only upon plunder, and not recognizing under the name of +Churchill their great opponent Marlborough, seized all the plate +and valuables in the boat, made prisoners of the small detachment +of soldiers on board, but suffered the rest of the passengers, +including the earl and the Dutch commissioners, to pass unmolested. + +Thus, had it not been for the presence of mind of an old servant, +the Earl of Marlborough would have been taken a prisoner to France; +and since it was his genius and diplomatic power alone which kept +the alliance together, and secured victory for their arms, the +whole issue of the war, the whole future of Europe, would have been +changed. + + + +Chapter 8: The Old Mill. + +A considerable portion of the allied army were quartered in the +barracks and forts of Liege, in large convents requisitioned for +the purpose, and in outlying villages. The 5th dragoons had +assigned to them a convent some two miles from the town. The monks +had moved out, and gone to an establishment of the same order in +the town, and the soldiers were therefore left to make the best +they could of their quarters. There was plenty of room for the men, +but for the horses there was some difficulty. The cloisters were +very large, and these were transformed into stables, and boards +were fastened up on the open faces to keep out the cold; others +were stalled in sheds and outbuildings; and the great refectory, or +dining hall, was also strewn thick with straw, and filled with four +rows of horses. + +In the afternoon the officers generally rode or walked down into +the town. One day, Rupert Holliday with Pat Dillon had met their +friends Lord Fairholm and Sir John Loveday, whose regiment was +quartered in the town, at the principal wine shop, a large +establishment, which was the great gathering place of the officers +of the garrison. There an immense variety of bright uniforms were +to be seen; English, German, and Dutch, horse, foot, and artillery; +while the serving men hurried about through the throng with trays +piled with beer mugs, or with wine and glasses. + +"Who is that officer," Dillon asked, "in the Hessian cavalry +uniform? Methinks he eyes you with no friendly look." + +Rupert and his friends glanced at the officer pointed out. + +"It is that fellow Fulke," Sir John said. "I heard he had managed +to obtain a commission in the army of the Landgrave of Hesse. You +must keep a smart lookout, Master Rupert, for his presence bodes +you no good. He is in fitting company; that big German officer next +to him is the Graff Muller, a turbulent swashbuckler, but a famous +swordsman--a fellow who would as soon run you through as look at +you, and who is a disgrace to the Margrave's army, in which I +wonder much that he is allowed to stay." + +"Who is the fellow you are speaking of?" Dillon asked. + +"A gentleman with whom our friend Rupert had a difference of +opinion," Sir John Loveday laughed. "There is a blood feud between +them. Seriously, the fellow has a grudge against our friend, and as +he is the sort of man to gratify himself without caring much as to +the means he uses, I should advise Master Holliday not to trust +himself out alone after dark. There are plenty of ruined men in +these German regiments who would willingly cut a throat for a +guinea, especially if offered them by one of their own officers." + +"The scoundrel is trying to get Muller to take up his quarrel, or I +am mistaken," Lord Fairholm, who had been watching the pair +closely, said. "They are glancing this way, and Fulke has been +talking earnestly. But ruffian as he is, Muller is of opinion that +for a notorious swordsman like him to pick a quarrel with a lad +like our friend would be too rank, and would, if he killed him, +look so much like murder that even he dare not face it; he has +shaken his head very positively." + +"But why should not this Fulke take the quarrel in his own hands?" +Dillon asked, surprised. "Unless he is the rankest of cowards he +might surely consider himself a match for our little cornet?" + +"Our little cornet has a neat hand with the foils," Lord Fairholm +said drily, "and Master Fulke is not unacquainted with the fact." + +"Why, Rupert," Dillon said, turning to him, "you have never said +that you ever had a foil in your hand!" + +"You never asked me," Rupert said, smiling. "But I have practised +somewhat with the colonel my grandfather. And now it is time to be +off, Dillon; we have to walk back." + +Four days later, as Rupert Holliday was standing in the barrack +yard, his troop having just been dismissed drill, a trooper of the +1st dragoons rode into the yard, and after asking a question of one +of the men, rode up to him and handed him a note. + +Somewhat surprised he opened it, and read as follows: + +"My dear Master Holliday--Sir John Loveday and myself are engaged +in an adventure which promises some entertainment, albeit it is not +without a spice of danger. We need a good comrade who can on +occasion use his sword, and we know that we can rely on you. On +receipt of this, please mount your horse and ride to the old mill +which lies back from the road in the valley beyond Dettinheim. +There you will find your sincere friend, Fairholm. + +"P.S. It would be as well not to mention whither you are going to +ride." + +It was the first note that Rupert had received from Lord Fairholm, +and delighted at the thought of an adventure, he called Hugh, and +bade him saddle his horse. + +"Shall I go with you, Master Rupert?" Hugh asked, for he generally +rode behind Rupert as his orderly. + +Rupert did not answer for a moment. Lord Fairholm had asked him to +tell no one; but he meant, no doubt, that he should tell none of +his brother officers. On Hugh's silence, whatever happened, he +could rely, and he would be useful to hold the horses. At any rate, +if not wanted, he could return. + +"Ay, Hugh, you can come; and look you, slip a brace of pistols +quietly into each of our holsters." + +With a momentary look of surprise, Hugh withdrew to carry out his +instructions; and ten minutes later, Rupert, followed by his +orderly, rode out of the convent. + +The mill in question lay some three miles distant, and about half a +mile beyond the little hamlet of Dettinheim. It stood some distance +from the road, up a quiet valley, and was half hidden in trees. It +had been worked by a stream that ran down the valley. It was a +dark, gloomy-looking structure; and the long green weeds that hung +from the great wheel, where the water from the overshot trough +splashed and tumbled over it, showed that it had been for some time +abandoned. These things had been noticed by Rupert when riding past +it some time before, for, struck with the appearance of the mill, +he had ridden up the valley to inspect it. + +On his ride to Lord Fairholm's rendezvous, he wondered much what +could be the nature of the adventure in which they were about to +embark. He knew that both his friends were full of life and high +spirits, and his thoughts wandered between some wild attempt to +carry off a French officer of importance, or an expedition to +rescue a lovely damsel in distress. Hugh, equally wondering, but +still more ignorant of the nature of the expedition, rode quietly +on behind. + +The road was an unfrequented one, and during the last two miles' +ride they did not meet a single person upon it. The hamlet of +Dettinheim contained four or five houses only, and no one seemed +about. Another five minutes' riding took them to the entrance to +the little valley in which the mill stood. They rode up to it, and +then dismounted. + +"It's a lonesome dismal-looking place, Master Rupert. It doesn't +seem to bode good. Of course you know what you're come for, sir; +but I don't like the look of the place, nohow." + +"It does not look cheerful, Hugh; but I am to meet Lord Fairholm +and Sir John Loveday here." + +"I don't see any sign of them, Master Rupert. I'd be careful if I +were you, for it's just the sort of place for a foul deed to be +done in. It does not look safe." + +"It looks old and haunted," Rupert said; "but as that is its +natural look, I don't see it can help it. The door is open, so my +friends are here." + +"Look out, Master Rupert; you may be running into a snare." + +Rupert paused a moment, and the thought flashed across his mind +that it might, as Hugh said, be a snare; but with Lord Fairholm's +letter in his pocket, he dismissed the idea. + +"You make me nervous, Hugh, with your suggestions. Nevertheless I +will be on my guard;" and he drew his sword as he entered the mill. + +As he did so, Hugh, who was holding the horses' bridles over his +arm, snatched a brace of pistols from the holsters, cocked them, +and stood eagerly listening. He heard Rupert walk a few paces +forward, and then pause, and shout "Where are you, Fairholm?" + +Then he heard a rush of heavy feet, a shout from Rupert, a clash of +swords, and a scream of agony. + +All this was the work of a second; and as Hugh dropped the reins +and rushed forward to his master's assistance, he heard a noise +behind him, and saw a dozen men issue from behind the trees, and +run towards him. + +Coming from the light, Hugh could with difficulty see what was +taking place in the darkened chamber before him. In an instant, +however, he saw Rupert standing with his back to a wall, with a +dead man at his feet, and four others hacking and thrusting at him. +Rushing up, Hugh fired his two pistols. One of the men dropped to +the ground, the other with an oath reeled backwards. + +"Quick, sir! there are a dozen men just upon us." + +Rupert ran one of his opponents through the shoulder, and as the +other drew back shouted to Hugh, "Up the stairs, Hugh! Quick!" + +The two lads sprang up the wide steps leading to the floor above, +just as the doorway was darkened by a mass of men. The door at the +top of the steps yielded to their rush, the rotten woodwork giving, +and the door falling to the ground. Two or three pistol bullets +whizzed by their ears, just as they leapt through the opening. + +"Up another floor, Hugh; and easy with the door." + +The door at the top of the next ladder creaked heavily as they +pushed it back on its hinges. + +"Look about, Hugh, for something to pile against it." + +The shutters of the window were closed, but enough light streamed +through the chinks and crevices for them to see dimly. There was +odd rubbish strewn all about, and in one corner a heap of decaying +sacks. To these both rushed, and threw some on the floor by the +door, placing their feet on them to keep them firm, just as with a +rush the men came against it. This door was far stronger than the +one below, but it gave before the weight. + +"The hinges will give," Hugh exclaimed; but at the moment Rupert +passed his thin rapier through one of the chinks of the rough +boards which formed it, and a yell was heard on the outside. The +pressure against the door ceased instantly; and Rupert bade Hugh +run for some more sacks, while he threw himself prone on them on +the ground. + +It was well he did so, for, as he expected, a half-dozen pistol +shots were heard, and the bullets crashed through the woodwork. + +"Keep out of the line of fire, Hugh." + +Hugh did so, and threw down the sacks close to the door. Several +times he ran backwards and forwards across the room, the assailants +still firing through the door. Then Rupert leapt up, and the pile +of sacks were rapidly heaped against the door, just as the men +outside, in hopes that they had killed the defenders, made another +rush against it. + +This time, however, the pile of sacks had given it strength and +solidity, and it hardly shook under the assault. Then came volleys +of curses and imprecations, in German, from outside; and then the +lads could hear the steps descend the stairs, and a loud and angry +consultation take place below. + +"Open the shutters, Hugh, and let us see where we are." + +It was a chamber of some forty feet square, and, like those below +it, of considerable height. It was like the rest of the mill, built +of rough pine, black with age. It had evidently been used as a +granary. + +"This is a nice trap we have fallen into, Hugh, and I doubt me if +Lord Fairholm ever saw the letter with his name upon it which lured +me here. However, that is not the question now; the thing is how we +are to get out of the trap. How many were there outside, do you +think?" + +"There seemed to me about a dozen, Master Rupert, but I got merely +a blink at them." + +"If it were not for their pistols we might do something, Hugh; but +as it is, it is hopeless." + +Looking out from the window they saw that it was over the great +water wheel, whose top was some fifteen feet below them, with the +water running to waste from the inlet, which led from the reservoir +higher up the valley. + +Presently they heard a horse gallop up to the front of the mill, +and shortly after the sound of a man's voice raised in anger. By +this time it was getting dark. + +"What'll be the end of this, Master Rupert? We could stand a siege +for a week, but they'd hardly try that." + +"What's that?" Rupert said. "There's some one at the door again." + +They came back, but all was quiet. Listening attentively, however, +they heard a creaking, as of someone silently descending the +stairs. For some time all was quiet, except that they could hear +movements in the lower story of the mill. Presently Rupert grasped +Hugh's arm. + +"Do you smell anything, Hugh?" + +"Yes, sir, I smell a smoke." + +"The scoundrels have set the mill on fire, Hugh." + +In another minute or two the smell became stronger, and then +wreaths of smoke could be seen curling up through the crevices in +the floor. + +"Run through the other rooms, Hugh; let us see if there is any +means of getting down." + +There were three other rooms, but on opening the shutters they +found in each case a sheer descent of full forty feet to the +ground, there being no outhouses whose roofs would afford them a +means of descent. + +"We must rush downstairs, Hugh. It is better to be shot as we go +out, than be roasted here." + +Rapidly they tore away the barrier of sacks, and Rupert put his +thumb on the latch. He withdrew it with a sharp exclamation. + +"They have jammed the latch, Hugh. That was what that fellow we +heard was doing." + +The smoke was now getting very dense, and they could with +difficulty breathe. Rupert put his head out of the window. + +"There is a little window just over the wheel," he said. "If we +could get down to the next floor we might slip out of that and get +in the wheel without being noticed. + +"Look about, Hugh," he exclaimed suddenly; "there must be a +trapdoor somewhere for lowering the sacks. There is a wheel hanging +to the ceiling; the trap must be under that." + +In a minute the trap was found, and raised. The smoke rushed up in +a volume, and the boys looked with dismay at the dense murk below. + +"It's got to be done, Hugh. Tie that bit of sacking, quick, over +your nose and mouth, while I do the same. Now lower yourself by +your arms, and drop; it won't be above fifteen feet. Hold your +breath, and rush straight to the window. I heard them open it. Now, +both together now." + +The lads fell over their feet, and were in another minute at the +window. The broad top of the great wheel stretched out level with +them, hiding the window from those who might have been standing +below. The wheel itself was some thirty feet in diameter, and was +sunk nearly half its depth in the ground, the water running off by +a deep tail race. + +"We might lie flat on the top of the wheel," Hugh said. + +"We should be roasted to death when the mill is fairly in flames. +No, Hugh; we must squeeze through this space between the wall and +the wheel, slip down by the framework, and keep inside the wheel. +There is no fear of that burning, and we shall get plenty of fresh +air down below the level of the mill. + +"I will go first, Hugh. Mind how you go, for these beams are all +slimy; get your arm well round, and slip down as far as the axle." + +It was not an easy thing to do, and Rupert lost his hold and +slipped down the last ten feet, hurting himself a good deal in his +fall. He was soon on his feet again, and helped to break the fall +of Hugh, who lost his hold and footing at the axle, and would have +hurt himself greatly, had not Rupert caught him, both boys falling +with a crash in the bottom of the wheel. + +They were some little time before regaining their feet, for both +were much hurt. Their movements were, however, accelerated by the +water, which fell in a heavy shower from above, through the leaks +in the buckets of the wheel. + +"Are you hurt much, Master Rupert?" + +"I don't think I am broken at all, Hugh, but I am hurt all over. +How are you?" + +"I am all right, I think. It's lucky the inside of this wheel is +pretty smooth, like a big drum." + +The position was not a pleasant one. A heavy shower of water from +above filled the air with spray, and with their heads bent down it +was difficult to breathe. The inside planks of the wheel were so +slimy that standing was almost impossible, and at the slightest +attempt at movement they fell. Above, the flames were already +darting out through the windows and sides of the mill. + +"Do you not think we might crawl out between the wheel and the +wall, and make our way down the tail race, Master Rupert? This +water is chilling me to the bones." + +"I think it safer to stop where we are, Hugh. Those fellows are +sure to be on the watch. They will expect to see us jump out of the +upper window the last thing, and will wait to throw our bodies--for +of course we should be killed--into the flames, to hide all trace +of us. We have only to wait quietly here. It is not pleasant; but +after all the trouble we have had to save our lives, it would be a +pity to risk them again. And I have a very particular desire to be +even with that fellow, who is, I doubt not, at the bottom of all +this." + +Soon the flames were rushing out in great sheets from the mill, and +even in the wheel the heat of the atmosphere was considerable. +Presently a great crash was heard inside. + +"There is a floor fallen," Rupert said. "I think we may move now; +those fellows will have made off secure that-- + +"Hullo! What's that?" + +The exclamation was caused by a sudden creaking noise, and the +great wheel began slowly to revolve. The fall of the floor had +broken its connection with the machinery in the mill, and left +free, it at once yielded to the weight of the water in its buckets. +The supply of water coming down was small, and the wheel stiff from +long disuse, therefore it moved but slowly. The motion, however, +threw both lads from their feet, and once down, the rotatory motion +rendered it impossible for them to regain their feet. + +After the first cry of surprise, neither spoke; across both their +minds rushed the certainty of death. + +How long the terrible time that followed lasted, neither of them +ever knew. The sensation was that of being pounded to death. At one +moment they were together, then separated; now rolling over and +over in a sort of ball, then lifted up and cast down into the +bottom of the wheel with a crash; now with their heads highest, now +with their feet. It was like a terrible nightmare; but gradually +the sharp pain of the blows and falls were less vivid--a dull +sensation came over them--and both lost consciousness. + +Rupert was the first to open his eyes, and for a time lay but in +dreamy wonder as to where he was, and what had happened. He seemed +to be lying under a great penthouse, with a red glow pervading +everything. Gradually his thoughts took shape, and he remembered +what had passed, and struggling painfully into a sitting position, +looked round. + +The wheel no longer revolved; there was no longer the constant +splash of water. Indeed the wheel existed as a wheel no longer. + +As he looked round the truth lighted upon him. The burning mill had +fallen across the wheel, crushing, at the top, the sides together. +The massive timber had given no further, and the wheel formed a +sort of roof, sloping from the outer wall, built solidly up against +it, to the opposite foot. Above, the timber of this wall glared and +flickered, but the soddened timber of the wheel could have resisted +a far greater amount of heat. The leet had of course been carried +away with the fall, and the water would be flowing down the valley. +The heat was very great, but the rush of air up the deep cut of the +mill race rendered it bearable. + +Having once grasped the facts--and as he doubted not the fall must +have occurred soon after he lost consciousness, and so saved him +from being bruised to death--Rupert turned to Hugh. + +He was quite insensible, but his heart still beat. Rupert crawled +out of the wheel, and found pools of water in the mill race, from +which he brought double handfuls, and sprinkled Hugh's face. Then +as he himself grew stronger from fresh air and a copious dousing of +his face and head with water, he dragged Hugh out, and laying him +beside a pool dashed water on his face and chest. A deep sigh was +the first symptom of returning consciousness. He soon, to Rupert's +delight, opened his eyes. + +After a time he sat up, but was too much hurt to rise. After some +consultation, Rupert left him, and went alone down to the hamlet of +Dettinheim, where, after much knocking, he roused some of the +inhabitants, who had only a short time before returned from the +burning mill. Sodden and discoloured as it was, Rupert's uniform +was still recognizable, and by the authority this conveyed, and a +promise of ample reward, four men were induced to return with him +to the mill, and carry Hugh down to the village. + +This they reached just as the distant clock of Liege cathedral +struck two. A bed was given up to them, and in half an hour both +lads were sound asleep. + + + +Chapter 9: The Duel. + +Great was the excitement in the 5th Dragoons when, upon the arrival +of Rupert and Hugh--the former of whom was able to ride, but the +latter was carried by on a stretcher--they learned the attack which +had been made upon one of their officers. The "Little Cornet" was a +general favourite, short as was the time since he had joined; while +Hugh was greatly liked by the men of his own troop. Rupert's +colonel at once sent for him, to learn the particulars of the +outrage. Rupert was unable to give farther particulars as to his +assailants than that they were German soldiers; that much the dim +light had permitted him to see, but more than that he could not +say. He stated his reasons for believing Sir Richard Fulke was the +originator of the attack, since he had had a quarrel with him in +England, but owned that, beyond suspicions, he had no proof. The +colonel at once rode down to headquarters, and laid a complaint +before the Earl of Athlone, who promised that he would cause every +inquiry to be made. Then the general commanding the Hesse +contingent was communicated with, and the colonel of the cavalry +regiment to which Sir Richard Fulke belonged was sent for. + +He stated that Captain Fulke had been away on leave of absence for +three days, and that he had gone to England. The regiment was, +however, paraded, and it was found that five troopers were missing. +No inquiry, however, could elicit from any of the others a +confession that they had been engaged in any fray, and as all were +reported as having been in by ten o'clock, except the five missing +men, there was no clue as to the parties engaged. The five men +might have deserted, but the grounds for suspicion were very +strong. Still, as no proof could be obtained, the matter was +suffered to drop. + +The affair caused, however, much bad feeling between the two +regiments, and the men engaged in affrays when they met, until the +order was issued that they should only be allowed leave into the +town on alternate days. This ill feeling spread, however, beyond +the regiments concerned. There had already been a good deal of +jealousy upon the part of the Continental troops of the honour +gained by the British in being first in at the breaches of Venloo +and Liege, and this feeling was now much embittered. Duels between +the officers became matters of frequent occurrence, in spite of the +strict orders issued against that practice. + +As Rupert had anticipated, the letter by which he had been +entrapped turned out a forgery. Lord Fairholm was extremely +indignant when he heard the use that had been made of his name, and +at once made inquiries as to the trooper who had carried the note +to Rupert. This man he found without difficulty; upon being +questioned, he stated that he had just returned from carrying a +message when he was accosted by a German officer who offered him a +couple of marks to carry a letter up to an officer of the 5th +dragoons. Thinking that there was no harm in doing so, he had at +once accepted the offer. Upon being asked if he could recognize the +officer if he saw him, he replied that he had scarcely noticed his +face, and did not think that he could pick him out from others. + +The first three or four duels which took place had not been +attended with fatal result; but about three weeks after the +occurrence of the attack on Rupert, Captain Muller, who had been +away on leave, returned, and publicly announced his intention of +avenging the insult to his regiment by insulting and killing one of +the officers of the 5th dragoons. + +The report of the threat caused some uneasiness among the officers, +for the fellow's reputation as a swordsman and notorious duellist +was so well known, that it was felt that any one whom he might +select as his antagonist would be as good as a dead man. A +proposition was started to report the matter to the general, but +this was decisively negatived, as it would have looked like a +request for protection, and would so affect the honour of the +regiment. + +There was the satisfaction that but one victim could be slain, for +the aggressor in a fatal duel was sure to be punished by removal +into some corps stationed at a distance. + +Rupert was silent during these discussions, but he silently +determined that he would, if the opportunity offered, take up the +gauntlet, for he argued that he was the primary cause of the feud; +and remembering the words of Monsieur Dessin and Maitre Dalboy, he +thought that, skillful a swordsman as Muller might be, he would yet +have at least a fair chance of victory, while he knew that so much +could not be said for any of the other officers of his regiment. + +The opportunity occurred two days later. Rupert, with his friend +Dillon, went down to the large saloon, which was the usual +rendezvous with his friends Fairholm and Loveday. The place was +crowded with officers, but Rupert soon perceived his friends, +sitting at a small table. He and Dillon placed two chairs there +also, and were engaged in conversation when a sudden lull in the +buzz of talk caused them to look up. + +Captain Muller had just entered the saloon with a friend, and the +lull was caused by curiosity. As his boast had been the matter of +public talk; and as all noticed that two officers of the 5th were +present, it was anticipated that a scene would ensue. + +A glance at Dillon's face showed that the blood had left his cheek; +for, brave as the Irishman was, the prospect of being killed like a +dog by this native swordsman could not but be terrible to him, and +he did not doubt for a moment that he would be selected. Captain +Muller walked leisurely up to the bar, drank off a bumper of raw +Geneva, and then turned and looked round the room. As his eyes fell +on the uniform of the 5th, a look of satisfaction came over his +face, and fixing his eyes on Dillon, he walked leisurely across the +room. + +Rupert happened to be sitting on the outside of the table, and he +at once rose and as calmly advanced towards the German. + +There was now a dead silence in the room, and all listened intently +to hear what the lad had to say to the duellist. Rupert spoke +first; and although he did not raise his voice in the slightest, +not a sound was lost from one end of the room to the other. + +"Captain Muller," he said, "I hear that you have made a boast that +you will kill the first officer of my regiment whom you met. I am, +I think, the first, and you have now the opportunity of proving +whether you are a mere cutthroat, or a liar." + +A perfect gasp of astonishment was heard in the room. Dillon leapt +to his feet, exclaiming, "No, Rupert, I will not allow it! I am +your senior officer." + +And the gallant fellow would have pushed forward, had not Lord +Fairholm put his hand on his shoulder and forced him back, saying: + +"Leave him alone; he knows what he is doing." + +The German took a step back, with a hoarse exclamation of rage and +surprise at Rupert's address, and put his hand to his sword. Then, +making a great effort to master his fury, he said: + +"You are safe in crowing loud, little cockerel; but Captain Muller +does not fight with boys." + +A murmur of approval ran round the room; for the prospect of this +lad standing up to be killed by so noted a swordsman was painful +alike to the German and English officers present. + +"The same spirit appears to animate you and your friend Sir Richard +Fulke," Rupert said quietly. "He did not care about fighting a boy, +and so employed a dozen of his soldiers to murder him." + +"It is a lie!" the captain thundered, "Beware, young sir, how you +tempt me too far." + +"You know it is not a lie," Rupert said calmly. "I know he told you +he was afraid to fight me, for that I was more than his match; and +it seems to me, sir, that this seeming pity for my youth is a mere +cover of the fact that you would rather choose as your victim +someone less skilled in fence than I happen to be. Are you a +coward, too, sir, as well as a ruffian?" + +"Enough!" the German gasped. + +"Swartzberg," he said, turning to his friend, "make the +arrangements; for I vow I will kill this insolent puppy in the +morning." + +Lord Fairholm at once stepped forward to the Hessian captain. + +"I shall have the honour to act as Mr. Holliday's second. Here is +my card. I shall be at home all the evening." + +Rupert now resumed his seat, while Captain Muller and his friend +moved to the other end of the saloon. Here he was surrounded by a +number of German officers, who endeavoured to dissuade him from +fighting a duel in which the killing of his adversary would be +condemned by the whole army as child murder. + +"Child or not," he said ferociously, "he dies tomorrow. You think +he was mad to insult me. It was conceit, not madness. His head is +turned; a fencing master once praised his skill at fence, and he +thinks himself a match for me--me! the best swordsman, though I say +it, in the German army. No, I would not have forced a quarrel on +him, for he is beneath my notice; but I am right glad that he has +taken up the glove I meant to throw down to his fellow. In killing +him I shall not only have punished the only person who has for many +years ventured to insult Otto Muller, but I shall have done a +service to a friend." + +No sooner had Rupert regained his seat than Dillon exclaimed, +"Rupert, I shall never forgive myself. Others think you are mad, +but I know that you sacrifice yourself to save me. + +"You did me an ill service, my lord," he said, turning to Lord +Fairholm, "by holding me back when I would have taken my proper +place. I shall never hold up my head again. But it will not be for +long, for when he has killed Rupert I will seek him wherever he may +go, and force him to kill me, too." + +"My dear Dillon, I knew what I was doing," Lord Fairholm said. "It +was clear that either he or you had to meet this German cutthroat." + +"But," Dillon asked, in astonishment, "why would you rather that +your friend Rupert should be killed than I?" + +"You are not putting the case fairly," Lord Fairholm said. "Did it +stand so, I should certainly prefer that you should run this risk +than that Rupert should do so. But the case stands thus. In the +first place, it is really his quarrel; and in the second, while it +is certain that this German could kill you without fail, it is by +no means certain that he will kill Rupert." + +Dillon's eyes opened with astonishment. + +"Not kill him! Do you think that he will spare him after the way he +has been insulted before all of us?" + +"No, there is little chance of that. It is his power, not his will, +that I doubt. I do not feel certain; far from it, I regard the +issue as doubtful; and yet I feel a strong confidence in the +result; for you must know, Master Dillon, that Rupert Holliday, boy +as he is, is probably the best swordsman in the British army." + +"Rupert Holliday!" ejaculated Dillon, incredulously. + +Lord Fairholm nodded. + +"It is as I say, Dillon; and although they say this German is also +the best in his, his people are in no way famous that way. Had it +been with the best swordsman in the French army that Rupert had to +fight, my mind would be less at ease. + +"But come now, we have finished our liquor and may as well be off. +We are the centre of all eyes here, and it is not pleasant to be a +general object of pity, even when that pity is ill bestowed. +Besides, I have promised to be at home to wait for Muller's second. + +"I will come round to your quarters, Rupert, when I have arranged +time and place." + +The calm and assured manner of Rupert's two friends did more to +convince Dillon that they were speaking in earnest, and that they +really had confidence in Rupert's skill, than any asseveration on +their part could have done, but he was still astounded at the news +that this boy friend of his, who had never even mentioned that he +could fence, could by any possibility be not only a first-rate +swordsman, but actually a fair match for this noted duellist. + +Upon the way up to the barracks, Rupert persuaded his friend to say +nothing as to his skill, but it was found impossible to remain +silent, for when the officers heard of the approaching duel there +was a universal cry of indignation, and the colonel at once avowed +his intention of riding off to Lord Athlone to request him to put a +stop to a duel which could be nothing short of murder. + +"The honour of the regiment shall not suffer," he said, sternly, +"for I myself will meet this German cutthroat." + +Seeing that his colonel was resolute, Rupert made a sign to Dillon +that he might speak, and he accordingly related to his astonished +comrades the substance of what Lord Fairholm had told him. Rupert's +brother officers could not believe the news; but Rupert suggested +that the matter could be easily settled if some foils were brought, +adding that half-an-hour's fencing would be useful to him, and get +his hand into work again. The proposal was agreed to, and first one +and then another of those recognized as the best swordsmen of the +regiment, took their places against him, but without exerting +himself in the slightest, he proved himself so infinitely their +superior that their doubts speedily changed into admiration, and +the meeting of the morrow was soon regarded with a feeling of not +only hope, but confidence. + +It was late before Lord Fairholm rode up to the cornet's. + +"Did you think I was never coming?" he asked as he entered Rupert's +quarters. "The affair has created quite an excitement, and just as +I was starting, two hours back, a message came to me to go to +headquarters. I found his lordship in a great passion, and he rated +me soundly, I can tell you, for undertaking to be second in such a +disgracefully uneven contest as this. When he had had his say, of +course I explained matters, pointed out that this German bully was +a nuisance to the whole army, and that you being, as I myself could +vouch, a sort of phenomenon with the sword, had taken the matter up +to save your brother officer from being killed. I assured him that +I had the highest authority for your being one of the best +swordsmen in Europe, and that therefore I doubted not that you were +a match for this German. I also pointed out respectfully to him +that if he were to interfere to stop it, as he had intended, the +matter would be certain to lead to many more meetings between the +officers of the two nationalities. Upon this the general after some +talk decided to allow the matter to go on, but said that whichever +way it went he would write to the generals commanding all the +divisions of the allied army, and would publish a general order to +the effect that henceforth no duels shall be permitted except after +the dispute being referred to a court of honour of five senior +officers, by whom the necessity or otherwise of the duel shall be +determined; and that in the case of any duel fought without such +preliminary, both combatants shall be dismissed the service, +whether the wounds given be serious or not. I think the proposal is +an excellent one, and likely to do much good; for in a mixed army +like ours, causes for dispute and jealousy are sure to arise, and +without some stringent regulation we should be always fighting +among ourselves." + +At an early hour on the following morning a stranger would have +supposed that some great military spectacle was about to take +place, so large was the number of officers riding from Liege and +the military stations around it towards the place fixed upon for +the duel. The event had created a very unusual amount of +excitement, because, in the first place, the attempt to murder +Rupert at the mill of Dettinheim had created much talk. The +intention of Captain Muller to force a quarrel on the officers of +the 5th had also been a matter of public comment, while the manner +in which the young cornet of that regiment had taken up the gage, +added to the extraordinary inequality between the combatants, gave +a special character to the duel. + +It was eight in the morning when Rupert Holliday rode up to the +place fixed upon, a quiet valley some three miles from the town. On +the slopes of hills on either side were gathered some two or three +hundred officers, English, Dutch, and German, the bottom of the +valley, which was some forty yards across, being left clear. There +was, however, none of the life and animation which generally +characterize a military gathering. The British officers looked +sombre and stern at what they deemed nothing short of the +approaching murder of their gallant young countryman; and the +Germans were grave and downcast, for they felt ashamed of the +inequality of the contest. Among both parties there was earnest +though quiet talk of arresting the duel, but such a step would have +been absolutely unprecedented. + +The arrival of the officers of the 5th, who rode up in a body a few +minutes before Rupert arrived with Lord Fairholm and his friend +Dillon, somewhat changed the aspect of affairs, for their cheerful +faces showed that from some cause, at which the rest were unable to +guess, they by no means regarded the death of their comrade as a +foregone event. As they alighted and gave their horses to the +orderlies who had followed them, their acquaintances gathered round +them full of expressions of indignation and regret at the +approaching duel. + +"Is there any chance of this horrible business being stopped?" an +old colonel asked Colonel Forbes as he alighted. "There is a report +that the general has got wind of it, and will at the last moment +put an end to it by arresting both of them." + +"No, I fancy that the matter will go on," Colonel Forbes said. + +"But it is murder," Colonel Chambers said indignantly. + +"Not so much murder as you think, Chambers, for I tell you this lad +is simply a marvel with his sword." + +"Ah," the colonel said. "I had not heard that; but in no case could +a lad like this have a chance with this Muller, a man who has not +only the reputation of being the best swordsman in Germany, who now +has been in something like thirty duels, and has more than twenty +times killed his man." + +"I know the ruffian's skill and address," Colonel Forbes said; "and +yet I tell you that I regard my young friend's chance as by no +means desperate." + +Similar assurances had some effect in raising the spirits of the +English officers; still they refused to believe that a lad like a +recently joined cornet could have any real chance with the noted +duellist, and their hopes faded away altogether when Rupert rode +up. He was, of course, a stranger to most of those present, and his +smooth boyish face and slight figure struck them with pity and +dismay. + +Rupert, however, although a little pale, seemed more cheerful than +anyone on the ground, and smiled and talked to Lord Fairholm and +Dillon as if awaiting the commencement of an ordinary military +parade. + +"That is a gallant young fellow," was the universal exclamation of +most of those present, whatever their nationality. "He faces death +as calmly as if he were ignorant of his danger." + +Five minutes later Captain Muller rode up, with his second; and the +preparations for the conflict at once began. + +All except the combatants and their seconds retired to the slopes. +Lord Fairholm and Captain Swartzberg stood in the middle of the +bottom. Rupert stood back at a short distance, talking quietly with +Dillon and his colonel; while Captain Muller walked about near the +foot of the slope, loudly saluting those present with whom he was +acquainted. + +There was but little loss of time in choosing the ground, for the +bottom of the valley was flat and smooth, and the sun was concealed +beneath a grey bank of clouds, which covered the greater part of +the sky, so that there was no advantage of light. + +When all was arranged the length of the swords was measured. Both +had come provided with a pair of duelling rapiers, and as all four +weapons were of excellent temper and of exactly even length, no +difficulty was met with here. Then a deep hush fell upon the +gathering as the seconds returned to their principals. + +It had been arranged by the seconds that they should not fight in +uniform, as the heavy boots impeded their action. Both were +accordingly attired in evening dress. Rupert wore dark puce satin +breeches, white stockings, and very light buckled shoes. His +opponent was in bright orange-coloured breeches, with stockings to +match. Coats and waistcoats were soon removed, and the shirt +sleeves rolled up above the elbow. + +As they took stand face to face, something like a groan went +through the spectators. Rupert stood about five feet nine, slight, +active, with smooth face, and head covered with short curls. The +German stood six feet high, with massive shoulders, and arms +covered with muscle. His huge moustache was twisted upwards towards +his ears; his hair was cropped short, and stood erect all over his +head. It was only among a few of the shrewder onlookers that the +full value of the tough, whipcordy look of Rupert's frame, and the +extreme activity promised by his easy pose, were appreciated. The +general opinion went back to the former verdict, that the disparity +was so great that, even putting aside the German's well-known +skill, the duel was little short of murder. + +Just before they stood on guard, Captain Muller said, in a loud +voice, "Now, sir, if you have any prayer to say, say it; for I warn +you, I will kill you like a dog." + +A cry of "Shame!" arose from the entire body of spectators; when it +abated Rupert said, quietly but clearly, "My prayers are said, +Captain Muller. If yours are not, say them now, for assuredly I +will kill you--not as a dog, for a dog is a true and faithful +animal, but as I would kill a tiger, or any other beast whose +existence was a scourge to mankind." + +A cheer of approbation arose from the circle; and with a groan of +rage Captain Muller took his stand. Rupert faced him in an instant, +and their swords crossed. For a short time the play was exceedingly +cautious on both sides, each trying to find out his opponent's +strength. Hitherto the German had thought but little of what Fulke +had told him that he had heard, of Rupert's skill; but the calm and +confident manner of the young Englishman now impressed him with the +idea that he really, boy as he was, must be something out of the +common way. The thought in no way abated his own assurance, it +merely taught him that it would be wiser to play cautiously at +first, instead of, as he had intended, making a fierce and rapid +attack at once, and finishing the struggle almost as soon as it +began. + +The lightning speed with which his first thrusts were parried and +returned soon showed him the wisdom of the course he had adopted; +and the expression of arrogant disdain with which he had commenced +the fight speedily changed to one of care and determination. This +insolent boy was to be killed, but the operation must not be +carelessly carried out. + +For a time he attempted by skillful play to get through Rupert's +guard, but the lad's sword always met him; and its point flashed so +quickly and vengefully forward, that several times it was only by +quick backward springs that he escaped from it. + +The intense, but silent excitement among the spectators increased +with every thrust and parry; and every nerve seemed to tingle in +unison with the sharp clink of the swords. The German now +endeavoured to take advantage of his superior height, length of +arm, and strength, to force down Rupert's guard; but the latter +slipped away from him, bounding as lightly as a cat out of range, +and returning with such rapid and elastic springs, that the German +was in turn obliged to use his utmost activity to get back out of +reach. + +So far several slight scratches had been given on both sides, but +nothing in any way to affect the combatants. As the struggle +continued, gaining every moment in earnestness and effort, a look +of anxiety gradually stole over the German's face, and the +perspiration stood thick on his forehead. He knew now that he had +met his match; and an internal feeling told him that although he +had exerted himself to the utmost, his opponent had not yet put out +his full strength and skill. + +Rupert's face was unchanged since the swords had crossed. His mouth +was set, but in a half smile; his eye was bright; and his demeanour +rather that of a lad fencing with buttoned foils than that of one +contending for his life against a formidable foe. + +Now thoroughly aware of his opponent's strength and tactics, Rupert +began to press the attack, and foot by foot drove his opponent back +to the spot at which the combat had commenced. Then, after a fierce +rally, he gave an opening; the German lunged, Rupert threw back his +body with the rapidity of lightning, lunging also as he did so. His +opponent's sword grazed his cheek as it passed, while his own ran +through the German's body until the hilt struck it. Muller fell +without a word, an inert mass; and the surgeon running up, +pronounced that life was already extinct. + +The crowd of spectators now flocked down, the English with +difficulty repressing their exclamations of delight, and +congratulated Rupert on the result, which to them appeared almost +miraculous; while the senior German officer present came up to him, +and said: + +"Although Captain Muller was a countryman of mine, sir, I rejoice +in the unexpected result of this duel. It has rid our army of a man +who was a scourge to it." + +Plasters and bandages were now applied to Rupert's wounds; and in a +few minutes the whole party had left the valley, one German orderly +alone remaining to watch the body of the dead duellist until a +party could be sent out to convey it to the town for burial. + + + +Chapter 10: The Battle Of The Dykes. + +For some time after his duel with Captain Muller, it is probable +that the little cornet was, after Marlborough himself, the most +popular man in the British army in Flanders. He, however, bore his +honours quietly, shrinking from notice, and seldom going down into +the town. Any mention of the duel was painful to him; for although +he considered that he was perfectly justified in taking up the +quarrel forced upon his regiment, yet he sincerely regretted that +he should have been obliged to kill a man, however dangerous and +obnoxious, in cold blood. + +Two days after the duel he received a letter from his grandfather. +It was only the second he had received. In the previous letter +Colonel Holliday alluded to something which he had said in a prior +communication, and Rupert had written back to say that no such +letter had come to hand. The answer ran as follows: + +"My dear Grandson--Your letter has duly come to hand. I regret to +find that my first to you miscarried, and by comparing dates I +think that it must have been lost in the wreck of the brig Flora, +which was lost in a tempest on her way to Holland a few days after +I wrote. This being so, you are ignorant of the changes which have +taken place here, and which affect yourself in no slight degree. + +"The match between your lady mother and Sir William Brownlow is broken +off. This took place just after you sailed for the wars. It was brought +about by our friend, Monsieur Dessin. This gentleman--who is, although +I know not his name, a French nobleman of title and distinction--received, +about the time you left, the news that he might shortly expect to hear +that the decree which had sent him into exile was reversed. Some little +time later a compatriot of his came down to stay with him. Monsieur +Dessin, who I know cherished ill feeling against Sir William for the +insult which his son had passed upon his daughter, and for various +belittling words respecting that young lady which Sir William had +in his anger permitted himself to use in public, took occasion when +he was riding through the streets of Derby, accompanied by his +friends, Lord Pomeroy and Sir John Hawkes, gentlemen of fashion and +repute, to accost him. Sir William swore at him as a French dancing +master; whereupon Monsieur Dessin at once challenged him to a duel. +Sir William refused with many scornful words to meet a man of such +kind, whereupon Monsieur Dessin, drawing Lord Pomeroy to him, in +confidence disclosed his name and quality, to which his +compatriot--also a French nobleman--testified, and of which he +offered to produce documents and proofs. They did then adjourn to a +tavern, where they called for a private room, to talk the matter +over out of earshot of the crowd; and after examining the proofs, +Lord Pomeroy and Sir John Hawkes declared that Sir William Brownlow +could not refuse the satisfaction which Monsieur Dessin demanded. + +"It has always been suspected that Sir William was a man of small +courage, though of overbearing manner, and he was mightily put to +when he heard that he must fight with a man whom he justly regarded +as being far more than his match. So craven did he become, indeed, +that the gentlemen with him did not scruple to express their +disgust loudly. Monsieur Dessin said that, unless Sir William did +afford him satisfaction, he would trounce him publicly as a coward, +but that he had one other alternative to offer. All were mightily +surprised when he stated that this alternative was that he should +write a letter to Mistress Holliday renouncing all claim to her +hand. This Sir William for a time refused to do, blustering much; +but finally, having no stomach for a fight, and fearing the +indignity of a public whipping, he did consent so to do; and +Monsieur Dessin having called for paper and pens, the letter was +then written, and the four gentlemen signed as witnesses. The party +then separated, Lord Pomeroy and Sir John Hawkes riding off without +exchanging another word with Sir William Brownlow. + +"Your lady mother was in a great taking when she received the +letter, and learned the manner in which it had come to be written. +Monsieur Dessin left the town, with his daughter, two days later. +He came over to take farewell of me, and expressed himself with +great feeling and heartiness as to the kindness which he was good +enough to say that I had shown him. I assured him, as you may +believe, that the action he had forced Mistress Holliday's suitor +to take left me infinitely his debtor. + +"He promised to write to me from France, whither he was about to +return. He said that he regretted much that a vow he had sworn to +keep his name unknown in England, save and except his honour should +compel him to disclose it, prevented him from telling it; but that +he would in the future let me know it. After it was known that he +had left, Sir William Brownlow again attempted to make advances to +your lady mother; but she, who lacks not spirit, repulsed him so +scornfully that all fear of any future entanglement in that quarter +is at an end; at the which I have rejoiced mightily, although the +Chace, now that you have gone, is greatly changed to me. + +"Farmer Parsons sends his duty to you, and his love to Hugh. I +think that it would not be ill taken if, in a short time, you were +to write to Mistress Holliday. Make no mention of her broken +espousal, which is a subject upon which she cares not to touch. The +Earl of Marlborough has been good enough to write me a letter +speaking in high terms of you. This I handed to her to read, and +although she said no word when she handed it back, I could see that +she was much moved. + +"My pen runs not so fast as it did. I will therefore now conclude. + +"YOUR LOVING GRANDFATHER." + +This letter gave great pleasure to Rupert, not because it restored +to him the succession of the estates of the Chace, for of that he +thought but little, but because his mother was saved from a match +which would, he felt sure, have been an unhappy one for her. + +The winter passed off quietly, and with the spring the two armies +again took the field. The campaign of 1803 was, like its +predecessor, marred by the pusillanimity and indecision of the +Dutch deputies, who thwarted all Marlborough's schemes for bringing +the French to a general engagement, and so ruined the English +general's most skillful plans, that the earl, worn out by +disappointment and disgust, wrote to the Queen, praying to be +relieved of his command and allowed to retire into private life, +and finally only remained at his post at his mistress's earnest +entreaty. + +The campaign opened with the siege of Bonn, a strongly fortified +town held by the French, and of great importance to them, as being +the point by which they kept open communication between France and +their strong army in Germany. Marlborough himself commanded the +siege operations, having under him forty battalions, sixty +squadrons, and a hundred guns. General Overkirk, who, owing to the +death of the Earl of Athlone, was now second in command, commanded +the covering army, which extended from Liege to Bonn. + +The siege commenced on the 3rd of May, and with such vigour was it +carried on that on the 9th the fort on the opposite side of the +Rhine was carried by storm; and as from this point the works +defending the town could all be taken in reverse, the place +surrendered on the 5th; the garrison, 3600 strong, being permitted +by the terms of capitulation to retire to Luxemburg. + +Marshal Villeroi, who commanded the French army on the frontier, +finding that he could give no aid to Bonn, advanced against +Maestrich, which he hoped to surprise, before Overkirk could arrive +to its aid. On the way, however, he had to take the town of +Tangres, which was held by two battalions of infantry only. These, +however, defended themselves with astonishing bravery against the +efforts of a whole army, and for twenty-eight hours of continuous +fighting arrested the course of the enemy. At the end of that time +they were forced to surrender, but the time gained by their heroic +defence afforded time for Overkirk to bring up his army, and when +Villeroi arrived near Maestrich, he found the allies already there, +and so strongly posted that although his force was fully twice as +strong as theirs, he did not venture to attack. + +Marlborough, upon the fall of Bonn, marched with the greatest +expedition to the assistance of his colleague. His cavalry reached +Maestrich on the 21st, his infantry three days later. On the 26th +of May he broke up the camp and advanced to undertake the grand +operation of the siege of Antwerp. The operation was to be +undertaken by a simultaneous advance of several columns. +Marlborough himself with the main wing was to confront Marshal +Villeroi. General Spaar was to attack that part of the French lines +which lay beyond the Scheldt. Cohorn was to force the passage of +that river in the territory of Hulst, and unite Spaar's attack with +that of Obdam, who with twenty-one battalions and sixteen squadrons +was to advance from Bergen op Zoom. + +The commencement of this operation was well conducted. On the night +of the 26th Cohorn passed the Scheldt, and the next morning he and +Spaar made a combined attack on that part of the French lines +against which they had been ordered to act, and carried them after +severe fighting and the loss of 1200 men. Upon the following day +the Earl of Marlborough, riding through the camp, saw Rupert +Holliday, standing at the door of his tent. Beckoning him to him, +he said: + +"Would you like a ride round Antwerp, Master Holliday? I have a +letter which I desire carried to General Obdam, whose force is at +Eckeron on the north of the city." + +Upon Rupert saying that he should like it greatly, the earl bade +him be at his quarters in an hour's time. + +"There is the dispatch," he said, when Rupert called upon him. "You +will give this to the general himself. I consider his position as +dangerous, for Marshal Villeroi may throw troops into the town, and +in that case the Marquis Bedmar may fall in great force upon any of +our columns now lying around him. I have warned Obdam of his +danger, and have begged him to send back his heavy baggage, to take +up a strong position, and if the enemy advance in force to fall +back to Bergen op Zoom. Should the general question you, you can +say that you are aware of the terms of the dispatch, and that I had +begged you to assure the general that my uneasiness on his account +was considerable." + +The general then pointed out to Rupert on a map the route that he +should take so as to make a sweep round Antwerp, and warned him to +use every precaution, and to destroy the dispatch if there should +be danger of his being captured. + +"Am I to return at once, sir?" + +"No," the earl said. "If all goes well we shall in three days +invest the place, advancing on all sides, and you can rejoin your +corps when the armies unite." + +Rupert's horse was already saddled on his return, and Hugh was in +readiness to accompany him as his orderly. + +It was a thirty miles ride, and it was evening before he reached +Eckeron, having seen no enemy on his line of route. + +He was at once conducted to the quarters of the Dutch general, who +received him politely, and read the dispatch which he had brought. +It did not strike Rupert that he was much impressed with its +contents, but he made no remark, and simply requested one of his +staff to see to Rupert's wants, and to have a tent pitched for him. + +He spent a pleasant evening with the Dutch general's staff, most of +whom could talk French, while Hugh was hospitably entertained by +the sergeants of the staff. + +The next morning the tents were struck, and the heavy baggage was, +in accordance with Lord Marlborough's orders, sent to the fortress +of Bergen op Zoom. But, to Rupert's surprise and uneasiness, no +attempt was made to carry out the second part of the instruction +contained in the dispatch. + +The day passed quietly, and at night the party were very merry +round a campfire. At eight o'clock next morning a horseman rode +into camp with the news that the French were attacking the rear, +and that the army was cut off from the Scheldt! + +The Earl of Marlborough's prevision had proved correct. The French +marshals had determined to take advantage of their central +position, and to crush one of their enemy's columns. On the evening +of the 29th, Marshal Villeroi detached Marshal Boufflers with +thirty companies of grenadiers and thirty squadrons of horse. These +marching all night reached Antwerp at daybreak without interruption, +and uniting with the force under the Marquis Bedmar, issued out +30,000 strong to attack Obdam. Sending off detached columns, who +moved round, and--unseen by the Dutch, who acted with as great +carelessness as if their foes had been 500 miles away--he took +possession of the roads on the dykes leading not only to Fort Lille +on the Scheldt, but to Bergen op Zoom, and fell suddenly upon the +Dutch army on all sides. + +Scarcely had the messenger ridden into Eckeron, when a tremendous +roar of musketry broke out in all quarters, and the desperate +position into which the supineness of their general had suffered +them to fall, was apparent to all. + +In a few minutes the confusion was terrible. Rupert and Hugh +hastily saddled their horses, and had just mounted when General +Obdam with twenty troopers rode past at full gallop. + +"Where can he be going?" Rupert said. "He is not riding towards +either of the points attacked." + +"It seems to me that he is bolting, Master Rupert, just flying by +some road the French have not yet occupied." + +"Impossible!" Rupert said. + +But it was so, and the next day the runaway general himself brought +the news of his defeat to the League, announcing that he had +escaped with thirty horse, and that the rest of his army was +destroyed. It is needless to say that General Obdam never +afterwards commanded a Dutch army in the field. + +The second part of the news which he brought the Hague was not +correct. General Schlangenberg, the second in command, at once +assumed the command. The Dutch rallied speedily from their +surprise, and the advancing columns of the enemy were soon met with +a desperate resistance. In front General Boufflers attacked with +twenty battalions of French troops, headed by the grenadiers he had +brought with him, while a strong Spanish force barred the retreat. +Under such circumstances many troops would at once have laid down +their arms; but such a thought never occurred to the Dutchmen of +Schlangenberg's army. + +While a portion of this force opposed Boufflers' troops pressing on +their front, the rest threw themselves against those who barred +their retreat to Fort Lille. Never was there more desperate +fighting. Nowhere could ground have been selected more unsuited for +a battlefield. + +It was by the roads alone running upon the dykes above the general +level of the country the troops could advance or retreat, and it +was upon these that the heads of the heavy columns struggled for +victory. + +There was little firing. The men in front had no time to reload, +those behind could not fire because their friends were before them. +It was a fierce hand-to-hand struggle, such as might have taken +place on the same ground in the middle ages, before gunpowder was +in use. Bayonets and clubbed muskets, these were the weapons on +both sides, while dismounted troopers--for horses were worse than +useless here, mixed up with the infantry--fought with swords. On +the roads, on the sides of the slopes, waist deep in the water of +the ditches, men fought hand-to-hand. Schlangenberg commanded at +the spot where the Dutchmen obstinately and stubbornly resisted the +fury of the French onslaught, and even the chosen grenadiers of +France failed to break down that desperate defence. + +All day the battle raged. Rupert having no fixed duty rode +backwards and forwards along the roads, now watching how went the +defence against the French attack, now how the Dutch in vain tried +to press back the Spaniards and open a way of retreat. Late in the +afternoon he saw a party of the staff officers pressing towards the +rear on foot. + +"We are going to try to get to the head of the column," one said to +Rupert. "We must force back the Spaniards, or we are all lost." + +"I will join you," Rupert said, leaping from his horse. + +"Hugh, give me my pistols and take your own; leave the horses, and +come with me." + +It took upwards of an hour to make their way along the dyke, +sometimes pushing forward between the soldiers, sometimes wading in +the ditch, but at last they reached the spot where, over ground +high heaped with dead, the battle raged as fiercely as ever. With a +shout of encouragement to the men the party of officers threw +themselves in front and joined in the fray. Desperate as the +fighting had been before, it increased in intensity now. The Dutch, +cheered by the leading of their officers, pressed forward with +renewed energy. The Spaniards fought desperately, nor indeed could +they have retreated, from the crowd of their comrades behind. The +struggle was desperate; bayonet clashed against bayonet, heavy +muskets descended with a showering thud on head and shoulders, +swords flashed, men locked together struggled for life. Those who +fell were trampled to death, and often those in front were so +jammed by the pressure, that their arms were useless, and they +could do nought but grasp at each other's throats, until a blow or +a bayonet thrust from behind robbed one or other of his adversary. +Slowly, very slowly, the Dutch were forcing their way forward, but +it was by the destruction of the head of their enemy's column, and +not by any movement of retreat on their part. + +After a few minutes of desperate struggles, in which twice Hugh +saved his life by shooting a man on the point of running him +through with a bayonet, Rupert found himself on the edge of the +road. He drew out of the fight for an instant, and then making his +way back until he came to a Dutch colonel, he pointed out to him +that the sole hope was for a strong body of men to descend into the +ditch, to push forward there, and to open fire on the flank of the +enemy's column, so as to shake its solidity. + +The officer saw the advice was good; and a column, four abreast, +entered the ditches on each side, and pressed forward. The water +was some inches above their waists, but they shifted their pouches +to be above its level, and soon passing the spot where the struggle +raged as fiercely as ever on the dyke above, they opened fire on +the flanks of the Spaniards. These in turn fired down, and the +carnage on both sides was great. Fresh Dutchmen, however, pressed +forward to take the place of those that fell; and the solidity of +the Spaniards' column being shaken, the head of the Dutch body +began to press them back. + +The impetus once given was never checked. Slowly, very slowly the +Dutch pushed forward, until at last the Spaniards were driven off +the road, and the line of retreat was open to the Dutch army. Then +the rear guard began to fall back before the French; and fighting +every step of the way, the last of the Dutch army reached Fort +Lille long after night had fallen. + +Their loss in this desperate hand-to-hand fighting had been 4000 +killed and wounded, besides 600 prisoners and six guns. The French +and Spaniards lost 3000 killed and wounded. + +It was well for Rupert that Hugh kept so close to him, for nearly +the last shot fired by the enemy struck him, and he fell beneath +the water, when his career would have been ended had not Hugh +seized him and lifted him ashore. So much had the gallantry of the +little cornet attracted the attention and admiration of the Dutch, +that plenty of volunteers were glad to assist Hugh to carry him to +Fort Lille. There during the night a surgeon examined his wound, +and pronounced that the ball had broken two ribs, and had then +glanced out behind, and that if all went well, in a month he would +be about again. + +The numbers of wounded were far beyond the resources of Fort Lille +to accommodate, and all were upon the following day put into boats, +and distributed through the various Dutch riverine towns, in order +that they might be well tended and cared for. This was a far better +plan than their accumulation in large military hospitals, where, +even with the greatest care, the air is always impure, and the +deaths far more numerous than when the men are scattered, and can +have good nursing and fresh air. + +Rupert, with several other officers, was sent to Dort, at that time +one of the great commercial cities of Holland. Rupert, although +tightly bandaged, and forbidden to make any movement, was able to +take an interest in all that was going on. + +"There is quite a crowd on the quay, Hugh." + +"Yes, sir; I expect most of these Dutch officers have friends and +acquaintances here. Besides, as yet the people here cannot tell who +have fallen, and must be anxious indeed for news." + +The crowd increased greatly by the time the boat touched the quay; +and as the officers stepped or were carried ashore, each was +surrounded by a group of anxious inquirers. + +Hugh, standing by his master's stretcher, felt quite alone in the +crowd--as, seeing his British uniform, and the shake of his head at +the first question asked, none tried to question him--and looked +round vaguely at the crowd, until some soldiers should come to lift +the stretcher. + +Suddenly he gave a cry of surprise, and to Rupert's astonishment +left his side, and sprang through the crowd. With some difficulty +he made his way to a young lady, who was standing with an elderly +gentleman on some steps a short distance back from the crowd. She +looked surprised at the approach of this British soldier, whose +eyes were eagerly fixed on her; but not till Hugh stepped in front +of her and spoke did she remember him. + +"Mistress Von Duyk," he said, "my master is here wounded; and as he +has not a friend in the place, and I saw you, I made bold to speak +to you." + +"Oh! I am sorry," the girl said, holding out her hand to Hugh. + +"Papa, this is one of the gentlemen who rescued me, as I told you, +when Sir Richard Fulke tried to carry me off." + +The gentleman, who had looked on in profound astonishment, seized +Hugh's hand. + +"I am indeed glad to have an opportunity of thanking you. + +"Hasten home, Maria, and prepare a room. I will go and have this +good friend brought to our house." + + + +Chapter 11: A Death Trap. + +Never did a patient receive more unremitting care than that which +was lavished upon Rupert Holliday in the stately old house at Dort. +The old housekeeper, in the stiffest of dresses and starched caps, +and with the rosiest although most wrinkled of faces, waited upon +him; while Maria von Duyk herself was in and out of his room, +brought him flowers, read to him, and told him the news; and her +father frequently came in to see that he lacked nothing. As for +Hugh, he grumbled, and said that there was nothing for him to do +for his master; but he nevertheless got through the days pleasantly +enough, having struck up a flirtation with Maria's plump and pretty +waiting maid, who essayed to improve his Dutch, of which he had by +this time picked up a slight smattering. Then, too, he made himself +useful, and became a great favourite in the servants' hall, went +out marketing, told them stories of the war in broken Dutch, and +made himself generally at home. Greatly astonished was he at the +stories that he heard as to the land around him; how not +infrequently great subsidences, extending over very many square +miles, took place; and where towns and villages stood when the sun +went down, there spread in the morning a sea very many fathoms +deep. Hugh could hardly believe these tales, which he repeated to +Rupert, who in turn questioned Maria von Duyk, who answered him +that the stories were strictly true, and that many such great and +sudden catastrophes had happened. + +"I can't understand it," Rupert said. "Of course one could imagine +a sea or river breaking through a dyke and covering low lands, but +that the whole country should sink, and there be deep water over +the spot, appears unaccountable." + +"The learned believe," Maria said, "that deep down below the +surface of the land lies a sort of soil like a quicksand, and that +when the river deepens its bed so that its waters do enter this +soil it melts away, leaving a great void, into which the land above +does sink, and is altogether swallowed up." + +"It is a marvellously uncomfortable feeling," Rupert said, "to +think that one may any night be awoke with a sudden crash, only to +be swallowed up." + +"Such things do not happen often," Maria said; "and the districts +that suffer are after all but small in comparison to Holland. So I +read that in Italy the people do build their towns on the slopes of +Vesuvius, although history says that now and again the mountain +bubbles out in irruption, and the lava destroys many villages, and +even towns. In other countries there are earthquakes, but the +people forget all about them until the shock comes, and the houses +begin to topple over their heads." + +"You are right, no doubt," Rupert said. "But to a stranger the +feeling, at first, of living over a great quicksand, is not +altogether pleasant. + +"Tomorrow the doctor says I may leave my room. My own idea is that +I need never have been kept there at all." + +"If there had been any great occasion for you to have moved about, +no doubt you might have done so," Maria said; "but you might have +thrown back your cure, and instead of your bones knitting well and +soundly, as the leech says they are in a fair way to do, you might +have made but a poor recovery. Dear me, what impatient creatures +boys are!" + +"No, indeed I am not impatient," Rupert said. "You have all made me +so comfortable and happy, that I should indeed be ungrateful were I +to be impatient. I only want to be about again that I may spare you +some of the trouble which you bestow upon me." + +"Yes, that is all very well and very pretty," Maria said, laughing; +"but I know that you are at heart longing to be off to join your +regiment, and take part in all their marching and fighting. Do you +know, an officer who came here with you after that terrible fight +near Antwerp, told me that you covered yourself with glory there?" + +"I covered myself with mud," Rupert laughed. "Next day, when I had +dried a little, I felt as if I had been dipped in dough and then +baked. I am sure I looked like a pie in human shape when you first +saw me, did I not?" + +"It would have been difficult to tell the colour of your uniform, +certainly," Maria smiled. "Fortunately, neither cloth nor tailors +are scarce in our good town of Dort, and you will find a fresh suit +in readiness for you to attire yourself in tomorrow." + +"Oh, that is good of you," Rupert said, delighted; for he had been +thinking ruefully of the spectacle he should present the next day. + +As to Hugh, he had been fitted out in bourgeois clothes since he +came, and had said no word as to uniform. + +In another fortnight Rupert was thoroughly restored to health. His +wound had healed, his bones had perfectly set, and he was as fit +for work as ever. Even his host could not but allow that there was +no cause for his further detention. During this time Rupert had +talked much with the Burgomaster, who spoke French fluently, and +had told him frequently and earnestly of the grievous harm that was +done to the prospects of the war by the mischievous interference +with the general's plans by the Dutch deputies, who, knowing +nothing whatever of war, yet took upon themselves continually to +thwart the plans of the greatest general of the age. Van Duyk +listened with great attention, and promised that when he went +shortly to Haarlem he would use all his influence to abbreviate the +powers which the deputies so unwisely used. + +Two or three days before the date fixed for Rupert's departure, he +was walking in the town with Mynheer Von Duyk and his daughter, +when he observed a person gazing intently at him from the entrance +to a small bylane. He started, and exclaimed: + +"There is that rascal, Sir Richard Fulke!" + +"Where?" exclaimed both his companions. + +"He has gone now," Rupert said. "But he stood there in shadow, at +the entrance to that lane." + +So saying, he hurried forward, but no sign of his enemy was +visible. + +"Are you sure it was he?" Mynheer Von Duyk asked. "What can he be +doing in Holland?" + +Rupert then in a few words recounted their meeting in Liege, the +subsequent attempt to murder him at the mill, and the disappearance +of Sir Richard Fulke, and his exchange into some other regiment. + +Von Duyk was much disturbed. + +"This touches me nearly," he said. "It is from your interference on +behalf of my daughter that you have incurred this fellow's enmity, +and it is clear that he will shrink at nothing to gratify it. +Moreover, I cannot consider my daughter to be in safety, as long as +so reckless a man as this is in the town. I will go at once to the +magistrates, and urge that my daughter goes in danger of him, and +so obtain an order to search for and arrest him. In a few hours we +will have him by the heels, and then, after a while in prison, we +will send him packing across the frontier, with a warning that if +he comes back he will not escape so lightly." + +The search, however, was not successful; and Mynheer Von Duyk was +beginning to think that Rupert must have been mistaken, when the +officer of the magistracy discovered that a man answering to the +description given had been staying for three days at a small tavern +by the water, but that he had hastily taken a boat and sailed, +within a half hour of being seen by Rupert. + +"It is a low resort where he was staying," Von Duyk said, "A tavern +to which all the bad characters of the town--for even Dort has some +bad characters--do resort. If he came here to do you harm, or with +any fresh design upon my daughter, he would find instruments there. +I had intended to have left Maria behind, when I travelled to the +Hague next week; but I will now take her with me, with two or three +stout fellows as an escort. + +"As for you, friend Rupert, you have but two more evenings here in +Dort, but I pray you move not out after dusk, for these long wars +have made many men homeless and desperate, and it is not good for +one who has an enemy to trust himself abroad at night, alone." + +The next morning Hugh went down to the quay with one of the clerks +of Von Duyk, and struck a bargain with some boatmen to carry Rupert +and himself to Bergen op Zoom. It was a craft of some four or five +tons burden, with a good sized cabin. + +The next day Hugh went down early to the boat with the bans +containing Rupert's luggage and his own, and a servant of Von Duyk +accompanied him, bearing some provisions and a few choice bottles +of wine for their use on the way. + +"Do you know, Master Rupert," he said on his return, "I don't much +like the look of that boatman chap. When we got down to the quay +this morning, he was talking with two men whose faces I did not +see, for they walked suddenly and hastily away, but who seemed to +me to flavour much of the two men we disturbed that evening when +they were carrying off Miss Von Duyk. I could not swear to them, +for I did not get a fair sight of them before, but they were about +the same size and height, and it was clear that they did not wish +to be recognized." + +Rupert made no reply for a while, but thought the matter over. + +"Well, Hugh, I wish it had not been so, for I hate quarrels and +brawls, but I do not think that we need be uneasy, especially now +that we are warned. The boat carries but three men, and as we shall +have our pistols and swords, I imagine that we are a match for +these Dutch boatmen. See that the pistols are loaded, and say +naught to our kind friends here as to your suspicions. I would not +make them uncomfortable." + +Before taking leave of their friends, Rupert was drawn aside by +Mynheer Von Duyk, who begged to know if he had any necessity for +money, and assured him that then or at any other time he should be +glad to honour any drafts that Rupert might draw upon him. + +"I am not a man of many words," he said, "but in saving my daughter +from that ruffian you have laid me under an obligation which I +should be glad to discharge with half my fortune. I am, as you +know, a rich man--I may say a very rich man. Had you been a few +years older, I would gladly have given my daughter to you did your +inclination and hers jump that way. As it is, I can only regard you +as a younger brother of hers, and view you as a sort of son by +adoption. Young men in cavalry regiments require horses and have +many expenses, and you will really pain me much if you refuse to +allow me to act as your banker. I have, believing that you would +not take it wrongly, paid in to your account with the paymaster of +your regiment the sum of two hundred pounds, and have told him that +the same sum would be paid to your account annually so long as the +regiment might be in Flanders, and that he may further cash any +order drawn by you upon my house. + +"There now, my daughter is waiting, and the hour for sailing is at +hand. Do not let us say any more about it." + +So saying he hurried Rupert out into the hall where Maria Von Duyk +was waiting, before he could have raised any objection, had he +wished to do so. But in truth Rupert felt that he could not refuse +the kind offer without giving pain, and he knew moreover that this +allowance, which to the rich merchant was a mere trifle, would add +greatly to his comfort, and enable him to enter more freely than he +had yet done in the plans and pursuits of his brother officers, who +were for the most part young men of fortune. With a word or two of +sincere thanks therefore, he accompanied the worthy Dutchman, and +twelve minutes later the party were on their way down to the quay. + +"A surly looking knave is your captain," Mynheer Von Duyk said as +they stood by the boat while the men prepared for a start. "I see +he belongs not to this town, but to Bergen. However, the voyage is +not a long one, and as you know but little of our language it will +matter but slightly whether his temper be good or bad. + +"There, I see he is ready. Goodbye, Master Holliday. Goodbye, my +good Hugh. All fortune attend you, and God keep you both from +harm." + +Maria added her affectionate adieux to those of her father, and in +a few minutes the boat was moving down the river under full sail. + +"Hugh, you may as well overhaul the cabin at once," Rupert said; +"we have paid for its sole use during the voyage. Cast your eye +carefully round, and see if there is anything that strikes you as +being suspicious. I see no arms on deck; see that none are hidden +below." + +Hugh returned on deck in a few minutes. + +"It seems all right, Master Rupert. There are some provisions in a +locker, and in another are a cutlass, a couple of old pistols, and +a keg half full of powder; I should say by its weight there are ten +pounds in it. The arms are rusted, and have been there some time, I +should say. There is also a bag of heavy shot, and there is a long +duck gun fastened to the beam; but all these things are natural +enough in a boat like this. No doubt they fire a charge or two of +shot into a passing flight of wildfowl when they get the chance." + +"That's all right then, Hugh, especially as they evidently could +not go down into the cabin without our seeing them; and as with our +pistols and swords we could make short work of them even if they +did mean mischief, we need not trouble ourselves any further in the +matter. It's going to be a wet night, I am afraid; not that it +makes much difference, but one would rather have stayed on deck as +long as one could keep awake, for the smells of the cabin of a +Dutch fishing boat are not of the sweetest." + +Rupert was not mistaken. As the darkness came on a thick heavy mist +began to fall steadily; and he and Hugh descended through the half +door from the cockpit into the cabin. + +"Now let us have supper, Hugh; there are plenty of good things; and +I have a famous appetite." + +The thoughtfulness of Mynheer von Duyk's housekeeper had placed two +candles in the basket together with two drinking glasses; and the +former were soon lighted, and by the aid of a drop or two of their +own grease, fixed upright on the rough table. Then a splendid pie +was produced; the neck was knocked off a bottle; the lads drew out +their clasp knives, and set to work. + +"Here is a bottle of schnapps," Hugh said, examining the basket +when they had finished a hearty meal. + +"You may as well give that to the boatman, Hugh. I expect the good +frau had him in her thoughts when she put it in, for she would +hardly give us credit for such bad taste as to drink that stuff +when we could get good wine." + +Hugh handed out the bottle to the boatman, who took it with a surly +grunt of satisfaction. It was raining steadily, and the wind had +almost dropped. An hour later the lads agreed that they were ready +for sleep. Hitherto the door had been slightly open to admit air. + +"Shall I shut the door, Master Rupert?" + +"Well, perhaps you had better, Hugh. We have got into the way of +sleeping heavily at Dort, without any night guard or disturbance. I +doubt not that these Dutchmen mean us no harm. Still it is well to +be on the safe side." + +"There is no fastening to it, Master Rupert." + +"Well, take your sword out of its scabbard, Hugh, and put the +scabbard against the door, so that it will fall with a crash if the +door is opened. Then, if we have a pistol close to hand, we can +sleep in security." + +Hugh obeyed his instructions; and in a few minutes, wrapped in +their military cloaks, they were fast asleep on the lockers, which +served as benches and beds. How long they slept they knew not; but +both started up into a sitting attitude, with their hands on their +pistols. + +"Who's there?" both shouted; but there was no answer. + +The darkness was intense; and it was clear that whoever had tried +to open the door had shut it again. + +"Have you your tinderbox handy, Hugh? If so, let us have a light. + +"Those fellows are moving about overhead, Hugh; but we had better +stay where we are. The scabbard may have shaken down, for the wind +has got up, and the boat is feeling it; and if they mean foul play +they could knock us on the head as we go out from under the low +door. + +"Hallo! What's that?" + +The "that" was the falling of some heavy substance against the +door. + +"Those are the coils of cable, Hugh; they have blocked us in. Go on +striking that light; we can't push the door open now." + +Some more weight was thrown against the door, and then all was +still. + +Presently Hugh succeeded in striking a light--no easy task in the +days of flint and steel--and the candles being lighted, they sat +down to consider the position. + +"We are prisoners, Master Rupert; no doubt about that." + +"None at all, Hugh. The question is what do they mean to do with +us. We've got food enough here to last us with ease for a week; and +with our pistols and swords, to say nothing of the duck gun, we +could hold this cabin against any number." + +Presently they heard the men on deck hailing another boat. + +"I suppose that is that rascal Fulke," Rupert said. "I hope that I +am not quarrelsome by disposition, Hugh; but the next time I meet +that fellow I will, if time and place be suitable, come to a +reckoning with him." + +There was a movement above, and then a bump came against the side. +The other boat had come up. + +"Now we shall see what they are up to." + +Nothing, however, came of it. There was some low talking above, and +some coarse laughter. + +"Master Rupert," Hugh exclaimed suddenly, "I am standing in water!" + +Rupert had half lain down again, but he leapt up now. + +"They have scuttled the boat, Hugh, and mean to drown us like rats; +the cowards." + +"What's to be done now, Master Rupert?" Hugh asked. + +"Let us try the door, Hugh." + +A single effort showed that they were powerless here. The door was +strong, it was fastened outside, and it was heavily weighted with +coils of rope and other substances. + +"The water rises fast. It's over our ankles," Hugh said quietly. + +The bumping of a boat was again heard outside, then a trampling of +feet, and all was still again. + +"They have taken to the boats." + +Not all, however, for through the door there came a shout, +"Goodbye, Master Holliday," and a loud, jeering laugh. + +"Au revoir, Sir Richard Fulke," Rupert shouted back; "and when we +meet next, beware!" + +"Ha, ha! it won't be in this world;" and they heard their enemy get +into the boat. + +"Now, Hugh, we must set to work; we have got the boat to +ourselves." + +"But what are we to do, Master Rupert?" + +Rupert was silent for a minute. + +"There is but one way, Hugh. We must blow up the boat." + +"Blow up the boat!" Hugh repeated, in astonishment. + +"Yes, Hugh. At least, blow the deck up. Give me that keg of +powder." + +Hugh opened the locker. It was, fortunately, still above water. + +"Now, Hugh, put it in that high locker there, just under the deck. +Knock its head out. + +"Now tie a pistol to those hooks just above, so that its muzzle +points at the powder. + +"Now for a piece of cord." + +"But it will blow us into smash, Master Rupert." + +"I hope not, Hugh; but we must take our chance. I would rather that +than be drowned gradually. But look, the water is up nearly to our +waists now; and the boat must be pretty nearly sinking. I will take +hold of the cord. Then both of us throw ourselves down to the +floor, and I will pull the string. Three feet of water over us +ought to save us; but mind, the instant you feel the shock, jump up +and rush for the opening, for it is pretty sure to sink her. + +"Now!" + +The lads dived under water, and the instant afterwards there was a +tremendous explosion. The deck of the boat was blown into the air +in a hundred fragments, and at the same moment the boat sank under +the water. + +A few seconds later Rupert and Hugh were swimming side by side. For +a while neither spoke--they were shaken and half stunned by the +shock. + +"It is a thick fog, Hugh. All the better; for if those scoundrels +come back, as is likely enough, there is no chance of their finding +us, for I can hardly see you, though I am touching you. Now we must +paddle about, and try to get hold of a spar or a bit of plank." + + + +Chapter 12: The Sad Side Of War. + +Before firing the keg of powder, Rupert and Hugh had rid themselves +of their jackboots, coats, and vests, and they therefore swam +easily and confidently. + +"Listen, Hugh! Here is the boat coming back again," Rupert +exclaimed. "This thick mist is fortunate, for they can't see twenty +yards. We can always dive when they come near. Mind you go down +without making a splash. We are all right at present; the boat is +going to our right, let us swim quietly in the other direction." + +Presently they heard a voice in English say, "It is no use our +troubling ourselves. It's a mere waste of time. The young rascals +are dead. Drowned or blown up, what matters it? They will never +trouble you again." + +"You don't know the villains as well as I do. They have as many +lives as cats. I could have sworn that they were burned at that +mill, for I watched till it fell, and not a soul came out; and to +this moment I don't know how they escaped, unless they flew away in +the smoke. Then I thought at any rate the chief rogue was done for, +when Muller wrote to tell me he was going to finish him for me the +next day. Then they both got through that day's fighting by the +Scheldt, though I hear they were in the front of it. And now, when +I leave them fastened up like puppies in a basket, in a sinking +boat, comes this explosion, and all is uncertain again." + +"Not a bit of it," the other voice said; "they simply preferred a +sudden death to a slow one. The matter is simple enough." + +"I wish I could think so," the other said. "But I tell you, after +this night's work I shall never feel my life's safe for one hour, +till I hear certain news of their death. + +"Stop rowing," he said, in Dutch. "There is a bit of a plank; we +must be just on the place where she blew up! Listen, does anyone +hear anything?" + +There was a long silence, and then he said, "Row about for half an +hour. It's as dark as a wolf's mouth, but we may come upon them." + +In the meantime, the two lads were swimming steadily and quietly +away. + +Presently Hugh said, "I must get rid of my sword, Master Rupert, it +seems pulling me down. I don't like to lose it, for it was my +grandfather's." + +"You had better lose the grandfather's sword, Hugh, than the +grandson's life. Loose your belt, Hugh, and let it go. Mine is no +weight in comparison. I'll stick to it as long as I can, for it may +be useful; but if needs be, it must follow yours." + +"Which way do you think the shore lies?" Hugh asked, after having, +with a sigh of regret, loosed his sword belt and let it go. + +"I have no idea, Hugh. It's no use swimming now, for with nothing +to fix our eyes on, we may be going round in a circle. All we need +do is to keep ourselves afloat till the mist clears up, or daylight +comes." + +For an hour they drifted quietly. + +Hugh exclaimed, "I hear a voice." + +"So do I, Hugh. It may be on shore, it may be in a boat. Let us +make for it in either case." + +In five minutes they saw close ahead of them a large boat, which, +with its sail hanging idly by the mast, was drifting downstream. +Two boatmen were sitting by the tiller, smoking their pipes. + +"Heave us a rope," Hugh said in Dutch. "We have had an upset, and +shall be glad to be out of this." + +The boatmen gave a cry of surprise, but at once leapt to their +feet, and would have thrown a rope, but by this time the lads were +alongside, and leaning over they helped them into the boat. Then +they looked with astonishment at their suddenly arrived guests. + +"We are English soldiers," Hugh said, "on our way to Bergen op +Zoom, when by some carelessness a keg of powder blew up, our boat +went to the bottom, and we have been swimming for it for the last +couple of hours." + +"Are you the English officer and soldier who left Dort this +afternoon?" one of the men said. "We saw you come down to the quay +with Mynheer Von Duyk and his daughter. Our boat lay next to the +boat you went by." + +"That is so," Hugh said. "Are you going to Bergen? We have enough +dollars left to pay our passage." + +"You would be welcome in any case," the boatman said. "Hans +Petersen is not a man to bargain with shipwrecked men. But go +below. There is a fire there. I will lend you some dry clothes, and +a glass of hot schnapps will warm your blood again." + +Arrived at Bergen, one of the boatmen, at Rupert's request, went up +into the town, and returned with a merchant of ready-made clothes, +followed by his servant bearing a selection of garments such as +Rupert had said that they would require, and in another half hour, +after a handsome present to the boatmen, Rupert and Hugh landed, +dressed in the costume of a Dutch gentleman and burgher +respectively. Their first visit was to an armourer's shop, where +Hugh was provided with a sword, in point of temper and make fully +equal to that with which he had so reluctantly parted. Then, hiring +horses, they journeyed by easy stages to Huy, a town on the Meuse, +six leagues above Liege, which Marlborough, again forbidden by the +Dutch deputies to give battle when he had every prospect of a great +victory, was besieging. + +The capture of the fortress, and subsequently of Limberg, was all +the campaign of 1703 effected; whereas, had the English commander +been allowed to have his way, the great results which were not +obtained until after three years' further fighting might at once +have been gained. + +Rupert was greeted with enthusiasm by his comrades on his return. +After the battle before Antwerp the duke had caused inquiries to be +made as to the fate of his young friend, and had written to Dort, +and had received an answer from Rupert announcing his convalescence +and speedy return to duty. + +Upon hearing his tale of the fresh attempt upon his life by Sir +Richard Fulke, the commander-in-chief wrote to the States General, +as the government of Holland was called, and requested that orders +should be issued for the arrest of Sir Richard Fulke, wherever he +might be found, upon a charge of attempt at murder. Nothing was, +however, heard of him, and it was supposed that he had either +returned to England or passed into Germany. + +After the capture of Limberg the army went into winter quarters, +and the 5th dragoons were allotted their old quarters near Liege. + +During the campaign of 1703, although slight advantages had been +gained by the allies in Flanders, it was otherwise in Germany and +Italy, where the greatest efforts of the French had been made. +Beyond the Rhine the French and Bavarians had carried all before +them, and Villars, who commanded their armies here, had almost +effected a junction across the Alps with Vendome, who commanded the +French troops in Italy. Had success crowned their efforts, the +armies could have been passed at will to either one side or the +other of the Alps, and could have thrown themselves with +overwhelming force either upon Austria, or upon Prince Eugene, who +commanded the imperial troops in Italy. The mountaineers of the +Tyrol, however, flew to arms, and held their passes with such +extreme bravery that neither the Bavarians on the north, nor the +French on the south, could make any progress, and the design had +for a time been abandoned. + +Austria was paralyzed by the formidable insurrection of Hungary, +and it appeared certain that Vienna would in the ensuing campaign +fall into the hands of the French. + +During the Winter Marlborough laboured earnestly to prepare for the +important campaign which must take place in the spring, and after +the usual amount of difficulties, arising from private and +political enemies at home and in Holland, he succeeded in carrying +out his plan, and in arranging that the Dutch should hold their +frontier line alone, and that he should carry the rest of his army +into Germany. + +The position there seemed well-nigh desperate. Marshal Tallard, +with 45,000 men, was posted on the Upper Rhine, in readiness to +advance through the Black Forest and join the advanced force and +the Bavarians--who also numbered 45,000 men, and the united army +was to advance upon Vienna, which, so weakened was the empire, was +defended only by an army of 20,000 men, placed on the frontier. + +On the 8th of May, Marlborough set out with his army, crossed the +Meuse at Maestricht, and arrived at Bonn on the 28th of that month. +Marching up the Rhine, he crossed it at Coblentz on the 26th, and +pushed on to Mundlesheim, where he met Prince Eugene, who now +commanded the allied force there. Next only to Marlborough himself, +Eugene was the greatest general of the age--skillful, dashing yet +prudent, brave to a fault--for a general can be too brave--frank, +sincere, and incapable of petty jealousy. + +Between him and Marlborough, from the date of their first meeting, +the most cordial friendship, and the most loyal cooperation +prevailed. Each was always anxious to give the other credit, and +thought more of each other's glory than their own. So rapidly had +Marlborough marched, that only his cavalry had come up; and Prince +Eugene, reviewing them, remarked that they were the finest body of +men he had ever seen. + +A few days later the Prince of Baden came down from the Austrian +army of the Danube to meet him. Eugene and Marlborough wished the +prince to take the command of the army of the Rhine, leaving the +army of the Danube to their joint command. The prince, however, +stood upon his rank; and it was finally arranged that Eugene should +command the army of the Rhine, and that Marlborough and the Prince +of Baden should command the army of the Danube on alternate +days--an arrangement so objectionable that it is surprising it did +not terminate in disaster. + +Marlborough at once marched with his force, and making his way with +great difficulty through the long and narrow defile of Gieslingen, +effected a junction with the Prince of Baden's army; and found +himself on the 2nd of July at the head of an army of 96 battalions, +202 squadrons of horse, and 48 guns; confronting the French and +Bavarian army, consisting of 88 battalions, 160 squadrons, 90 guns, +and 40 mortars, in a strong position on the Danube. + +The bulk of the army was on the right bank. On the left bank was +the height of Schellenberg, covering the passage of the river at +Donauwoerth, and held by 12,000 men, including 2500 horse. Along +the front of this hill was an old rampart, which the French were +engaged in strengthening when the allied army arrived. The latter +were not when they came up, according to the ordinary military +idea, in a condition to attack. Their camp had been broken up at +three in the morning, and it was two in the afternoon before they +arrived, after a long and fatiguing march, in front of the enemy's +position. + +Thinking that it was probable that he would be forced to fight +immediately upon arriving, Marlborough had selected 530 picked men +from each battalion, amounting to 6000 men, together with thirty +squadrons of horse, as an advance guard; and close behind them +followed three regiments of Imperial grenadiers, under Prince +Louis. The total strength of this force was 10,500 men. + +The French and Bavarian generals did not expect an attack, knowing +the distance that the troops had marched, and therefore quietly +continued their work of strengthening the entrenchments. The Duke +of Marlborough, seeing the work upon which they were engaged, +determined to attack at once, for, as he said to the Prince of +Baden, who wished to allow the men a night's rest, "Every hour we +delay will cost us a thousand men." Orders were therefore given for +an instant assault upon the hill of Schellenberg. Not only was the +position very strong in itself, but in front of it was a wood, so +thick that no attack could be made through it. It was necessary, +therefore, to attack by the flanks of the position, and one of +these flanks was covered by the fire of the fortress of +Donauwoerth. + +"This is as bad as a siege," Rupert said, discontentedly, to his +friend Dillon, for their squadron formed part of the advance. "We +are always out of it." + +"You are in a great hurry to get that bright cuirass of yours +dented, Rupert; but I agree with you, the cavalry are always out of +it. There go the infantry." + +In splendid order the 6000 picked men moved forward against the +face of the enemy's position, extending from the wood to the +covered way of the fortress; but when they arrived within range of +grape, they were swept by so fearful a storm of shot that the line +wavered. General Goor and his bravest officers were struck down, +and the line fell into confusion. + +The Bavarians seeing this, leapt from their entrenchment; and +pursued their broken assailants with the bayonet; but when +disordered by their rush, a battalion of English guards, which had +kept its ground, poured so tremendous a fire into their flank that +they fell back to their entrenchments. + +"This looks serious," Dillon said, as the allies fell back. "The +enemy are two to our one, and they have got all the advantage of +position." + +"There is the duke," Rupert exclaimed, "reforming them. There they +go again, and he is leading them himself. What a terrible fire! +Look how the officers of the staff are dropping! Oh, if the duke +should himself be hit! See, the infantry are slackening their +advance in spite of the shouts of their officers. They are +wavering! Oh, how dreadful; here they come back again." + +"The duke is going to try again, Rupert. See how he is waving his +hand and exhorting the men to a fresh attack. + +"That's right, lads, that's right. + +"They have formed again; there they go." + +Again the troops wavered and broke under the terrible rain of +bullets; and this time the Bavarians in great force leapt from +their entrenchments, and pounced down upon the broken line. + +"Prepare to charge!" shouted General Lumley, who commanded the +cavalry. "Forward, trot, gallop, charge!" + +With a cheer the cavalry, chafed at their long inaction while their +comrades were suffering so terribly, dashed forward, and threw +themselves furiously upon the Bavarians, driving them headlong back +to their lines, and then falling back under a tremendous fire, +which rolled over men and horses in numbers. + +At this moment a cheer broke from the dispirited infantry, as the heads +of the three regiments of Imperial grenadiers, led by the Prince of +Baden, arrived on the ground. These, without halting, moved forward +towards the extreme left of the enemy's position--which had been left +to some extent unguarded, many of the troops having been called off to +repulse Marlborough's attack--pushed back two battalions of French +infantry, and entered the works. + +General D'Arco, the French commanding officer, withdrew some of his +men from the centre to hold the Prince of Baden in check; and +Marlborough profited by the confusion so caused to endeavour, for +the fourth time, to carry the hill. His force was however, now +fearfully weakened; and General Lumley, after conferring with him +for a moment, rode back to the cavalry. + +"The 5th dragoons will dismount and join the infantry," he said. + +In a moment every soldier was on his feet; and five minutes later +the regiment, marching side by side with the infantry, advanced up +the hill. + +This time the assault was successful. The enemy, confused by the +fact that the allies had already forced their line on the left, +wavered. Their fire was wild and ineffectual; and with a tremendous +cheer the allies scaled the height and burst into the works. Close +behind them General Lumley led his cavalry, who made their way +through the gaps in the entrenchments, and fell upon the fugitives +with dreadful slaughter. The French and Bavarians fled to a bridge +across the Danube below Donauwoerth, which, choked by their weight, +gave way, and great numbers were drowned. The rest retreated +through Donauwoerth, their rear being gallantly covered by General +D'Arco, with a small body of troops who held together. Sixteen guns +and thirteen standards fell into the victors' hands. + +The loss of the allies, considering the force that they brought +into the field--for the main army had not arrived when the victory +was decided--was extraordinary, for out of a total of 10,500 men, +including cavalry, they lost 1500 killed, and 4000 wounded, or more +than half their force; and the greater part of these were English, +for upon them fell the whole brunt of the fighting. + +The enemy suffered comparatively little in the battle, but great +numbers were killed in the pursuit or drowned in the Danube. Still +greater numbers of Bavarians scattered to their homes; and out of +12000 men, only 3000 joined the army on the other side of the +Danube. + +The Elector of Bavaria fell back with his army to Augsburg, under +the cannon of which fortress he encamped, in a position too strong +to be attacked. His strong places all fell into the hands of the +allies; and every effort was made to induce him to break off from +his alliance with France. The elector, however, relying upon the +aid of Marshal Tallard, who was advancing with 45,000 men to his +assistance, refused to listen to any terms; and the allied powers +ordered Marlborough to harry his country, and so force him into +submission by the misery of his subjects. + +Such an order was most repugnant to the duke, who was one of the +most humane of men, and who by the uniform kind treatment of his +prisoners, not only did much to mitigate the horrors of the war in +which he was engaged, but set an example which has since his time +been followed by all civilized armies. He had, however, no resource +but to obey orders; and the cavalry of the allies were sent to +carry fire through Bavaria. No less than 300 towns and villages +were destroyed in this barbarous warfare. + +This duty was abhorrent to Rupert, who waited on the duke, and +begged him as the greatest of favours to attach him for a short +time to the staff, in order that he might not be obliged to +accompany his regiment. The duke--who had already offered Rupert an +appointment on his staff, an offer he had gratefully declined, as +he preferred to do duty with his regiment--at once acceded to his +request, and he was thus spared the horror of seeing the agony of +the unhappy peasantry and townspeople, at the destruction of their +houses. Rupert, in his rides with messages across the country, saw +enough to make him heartsick at the distress into which the people +of the country were plunged. + +One day when riding, followed by Hugh, he came upon a sad group. By +a hut which had recently been burned, after some resistance, as was +shown by the dead body of a Hessian trooper, a peasant knelt by the +body of his wife. A dead child of some five years old lay by, and a +baby kicked and cried by the side of its mother. The peasant looked +up with an air of bewildered grief, and on seeing the British +uniform sprang to his feet, and with a fierce but despairing +gesture placed himself as if to defend his children to the last. + +Rupert drew his rein. + +"I would not hurt you, my poor fellow," he said in Dutch. + +The man did not understand, but the gentleness of the tone showed +him that no harm was meant, and he again flung himself down by his +wife. + +"I do not think that she is dead, Hugh," Rupert said. "Hold my +horse, I will soon see." + +So saying, he dismounted and knelt by the woman. There was a wound +on her forehead, and her face was covered with blood. Rupert ran to +a stream that trickled by the side of the road, dipped his +handkerchief in water, and returning, wiped the blood from the face +and wound. + +"It is a pistol bullet, I imagine," he said to him; "but I do not +think the ball has entered her head; it has, I think, glanced off. +Fasten the horses up to that rail, Hugh, get some water in your +hands, and dash it in her face." + +The peasant paid no attention to what was being done, but sat +absorbed in grief; mechanically patting the child beside him. + +"That's it, Hugh. Now another. I do believe she is only stunned. +Give me that flask of spirits out of my holster." + +Hugh again dashed water in the woman's face, and Rupert distinctly +saw a quiver in her eyelid as he did so. Then forcing open her +teeth, he poured a little spirit into her mouth, and was in a +minute rewarded by a gasping sigh. + +"She lives," he exclaimed, shaking the peasant by the shoulder. + +The man looked round stupidly, but Rupert pointed to his wife, and +again poured some spirits between her lips. This time she made a +slight movement and opened her eyes. The peasant gave a wild scream +of delight, and poured forth a volume of words, of which Rupert +understood nothing; but the peasant kneeling beside him, bent his +forehead till it touched the ground, and then kissed the lappet of +his coat--an action expressive of the intensity of his gratitude. + +Rupert continued his efforts until the woman was able to sit up, +and look round with a frightened and bewildered air. When her eye +caught her husband, she burst into tears; and as Hugh raised the +baby and placed it in her arms she clasped it tightly, and rocked +to and fro, sobbing convulsively. + +"Look, Hugh, see if you can find something like a spade in that +little garden. Let us bury this poor little child." + +Hugh soon found a spade, and dug a little grave in the corner of a +garden under the shade of an old tree. + +Then the lads returned to the spot where the husband and wife, +quiet now, were sitting hand in hand crying together. Rupert made a +sign to him to lift the body of his little girl, and then led the +way to the little grave. The father laid her in, and then fell on +his knees by it with his wife, and prayed in a loud voice, broken +with sobs. Rupert and Hugh stood by uncovered, until the peasant +had finished. Then the little grave was filled in; and Rupert, +pointing to the ruined house, placed five gold pieces in the +woman's hand. Then they mounted their horses again and rode on, the +man and his wife both kneeling by the roadside praying for +blessings on their heads. + +A week later, Rupert again had occasion to pass through the +village, and dismounted and walked to the little grave. A rough +cross had been placed at one end, and some flowers lay strewn upon +it. Rupert picked a few of the roses which were blooming neglected +near, and laid them on the grave, and then rode on, sighing at the +horrors which war inflicts on an innocent population. + +This time their route lay through a thickly wooded mountain, to a +town beyond, where one of the cavalry regiments had its +headquarters. Rupert was the bearer of orders for it to return to +headquarters, as a general movement of the army was to take place. +The road was a mere track, hilly and wild, and the lads rode with +pistols cocked, in case of any sudden attack by deserters or +stragglers from the Bavarian army. The journey was, however, +performed without adventure; and having delivered their orders, +they at once started on their homeward way. + + + +Chapter 13: Blenheim. + +Although the sun had not set when Rupert and Hugh rode into the +forest on their return journey, they had not been long among the +trees when the light began to fade. The foliage met overhead, and +although above the sky seemed still bright, the change was +distinctly felt in the gloom of the forest. The ride had been a +long one, and Rupert feared to press his horse, consequently they +wound but slowly up the hill, and by the time they reached its +crest, it was night. + +"This is unpleasant, Hugh, for I can scarcely see my horse's head; +and as there are several tracks crossing this, we are likely enough +to go wrong." + +"I think, Master Rupert, we had better dismount and lead our +horses. We shall break our necks if they tread on a stone on this +rocky path." + +For half an hour they walked on in silence, then Hugh said, "I +think we are going wrong, Master Rupert, for we are not descending +now; and we ought to have been at the foot of the hill, if we had +been right, by this time." + +"I am afraid you are right, Hugh. In that case we had better make +up our minds to halt where we are till morning. It is no use +wandering on, and knocking up the horses. It seems rather lighter +just ahead, as if the trees opened a little; we may find a better +place to halt." + +In another minute they stood in a small clearing. The stars were +shining brightly; and after the dense darkness of the forest, they +were able to see clearly in the open. It was a clearing of some +sixty feet diameter, and in the middle stood, by the path, a hut. + +"Stay where you are, Hugh, with the horses. I will go quietly +forward. If the place is occupied, we will go back. We can't expect +hospitality in Bavaria." + +The hut proved to be empty. The door hung loosely on its hinges, +and clearly the place was deserted. + +Rupert called Hugh up, and fastening the horses outside, the lads +entered. + +"Shall we light a fire, Master Rupert?" + +"No, Hugh; at any rate unless we see that the shutters and door +will close tightly. There may be scores of deserters in the wood, +and we had better run no risk. The night is not cold. We will just +sit down against the wall till morning. Before we do, though, we +will look round, outside the hut. If it has been lately inhabited, +there may be a few vegetables or something the horses can munch." + +Nothing, however, was found. + +"We will take it by turns to watch, Hugh. I will take first watch; +when I am sleepy I will wake you." + +Without a word Hugh unstrapped his cloak, felt for a level piece of +ground in the hut, and with his cloak for his pillow, was soon +asleep. + +Rupert sat down on the log of a tree, that lay outside the hut, and +leaned against its wall. For two hours he sat, and thought over the +adventures and the prospects of the war, and then gradually a +drowsiness crept over him, and he fell fast asleep. + +His waking was not pleasant. Indeed, he was hardly aware that he +was awake; for he first came to the consciousness that he was lying +on the ground, with a number of wild-looking figures around him, +some of whom bore torches, while Hugh, held by two of them, was +close by. + +It was Hugh's voice, indeed, that first recalled him to a +consciousness of what had happened. + +"Master Rupert, Master Rupert!" he exclaimed. "Tell me that you are +not killed!" + +"No, I am not killed, Hugh," Rupert said, raising himself on his +elbow. "But it would have served me right if I had been, for going +to sleep on my watch." + +One of their captors now stooped down, seized Rupert by the +shoulder, and gave him a rough kick to intimate that he was to get +up. + +"I am sorry, Hugh, that I have sacrificed your life as well as my +own by my folly, for I have no doubt these fellows mean to kill us. +They are charcoal burners, as rough a lot as there exists in +Europe, and now naturally half mad at the flames they see all over +the land." + +In the meantime, a dialogue was going on between their captors as +to the best and most suitable method of putting them to death. + +"They are fond of burning houses," one said at last, "let them try +how they like it. Let us make a blaze here, and toss them in, and +let them roast in their own shells." + +The proposal was received with a shout of approval. Some of them +scattered in the forest, and soon returned laden with dry branches +and small logs, which were piled up in a great heap against the +hut, which was itself constructed of rough-hewn logs. The heap of +dry wood was then lighted, and ere long a great sheet of flame +arose, the logs and the shingles of the roof caught, and ere many +minutes the hut was a pile of fire. + +"They're going to throw us in there, Hugh." + +"God's will be done, Master Rupert; but I should like to have died +sword in hand." + +"And I too, Hugh. I wish I could snatch at a weapon and die +fighting; but this man holds my hands like a vise, and those heavy +axes of theirs would make short work of us. Well, the fire will not +take an instant, Hugh; it will be a momentary death to be thrown +into that mass of flame. Say a prayer to God, Hugh, for those at +home, for it is all up with us now." + +The blaze of fire had attracted other bodies of charcoal burners +and others, and their captors only delayed to obtain as large a +number of spectators as possible for their act of vengeance. + +The fire was now at its height, and even the savage charcoal +burners felt a grudging admiration for the calm demeanour, and +fearless, if pale faces, with which these lads faced death. There +was, however, no change of purpose. The horrors that had been +perpetrated on the plains had extinguished the last spark of pity +from their breasts, and the deed that they were about to do seemed +to them one of just and praiseworthy retribution. + +The man who acted as leader gave the word, and the powerful +woodsmen lifted the two lads as if they had been bundles of straw, +and advanced towards the hut. + +"Goodbye, Master Rupert!" + +"Goodbye, Hugh. May God receive"--when a terrible scream rent the +air, and a wild shout. + +Then from the back of the crowd, two figures who had just arrived +at the spot burst their way. With piercing cries a woman with a +baby in her arms flung herself down on the ground on her knees, +between Rupert and the flames, and clasping the legs of the men who +held him, arrested their movement; while the man, with a huge club +swinging round his head, planted himself also in the way, shouting +at the top of his voice. + +A mighty uproar arose; and then the leader obtained silence enough +to hear the cause of the interruption. + +Then the man began, and told the tale of the restoration to life +and consciousness of his wife, and of the burial of his child, with +an eloquence and pathos that moved many of his rough audience to +tears; and when he had finished, his wife, who had been sobbing on +her knees while he spoke, rose to her feet, and told how that +morning, as she went down from the wood towards her little one's +grave, she saw Rupert ride up and dismount, and how when she +reached the place she found fresh-gathered flowers laid on her +darling's grave. + +A dead hush fell upon the whole assembly. Without a word the leader +of the charcoal burners strode away into the forest, and returned +in another minute with the two horses. Rupert and Hugh wrung the +hands of the peasants to whom they owed their lives, and leapt into +the saddle. + +The leader took a torch and strode on ahead along the path, to show +them their way; and the crowd, who had hitherto stood still and +silent, broke into a shout of farewell and blessing. + +It was some time before either Rupert or Hugh spoke. The emotion had been +too great for them. That terrible, half hour facing death--the sudden +revulsion at their wonderful deliverance--completely prostrated them, +and they felt exhausted and weak, as if after some great exertion. On +the previous occasions in which they had seen great danger together--at +the mill of Dettingheim, the fight on the Dykes, the scuttling of the +boat--they had been actively engaged. Their energies were fully +employed, and they had had no time to think. Now they had faced +death in all his terrors, but without the power of action; and both +felt they would far rather go through the three first risks again, +than endure five minutes of that terrible watching the fire burn up. + +Hugh was the first to speak when, nearly an hour after starting, +they emerged from the wood into the plain at the foot of the hill. + +"My mother used to say, Master Rupert, that curses, like chickens, +came home to roost, and surely we have proved it's the case with +blessings. Who would have thought that that little act of kindness +was to save our lives?" + +"No, indeed, Hugh. Let it be a lesson to us to do good always when +we can." + +At this moment they reached the main road from which that over the +hill branched off. Their guide paused, pointed in the direction +they were to go, and with a "Godspeed you," in his own language, +extinguished his torch on the road, turned, and strode back by the +path that they had come by. + +The lads patted their horses, and glad to be again on level ground, +the animals went on at a sharp canter along the road. Two hours +later they reached camp. + +The Duke of Marlborough had already laid siege to the fortress of +Ingoldstadt, the siege operations being conducted by Prince Louis +of Baden with a portion of his troops, while the main army covered +the siege. But early in August the Elector of Bavaria left Augsburg +with his army, and, altogether abandoning his dominions, marched to +join Marshal Tallard, who was now coming up. + +Marlborough at once broke up his camp, leaving Prince Louis to +continue the siege of Ingoldstadt, and collecting as many of his +troops as he could, marched with all speed in the same direction; +as Prince Eugene, who, with his army, had marched in a parallel +line with the French, now ran the risk of being crushed by their +united force. + +By dint of great exertion, Marlborough joined the prince with his +cavalry on the tenth of August, and the infantry came up next day. + +The two great armies now faced each other, their numerical force +being not unequal, the French being about 60,000 strong; and the +allies 66,000. In other respects, however, the advantage lay wholly +with the enemy. They had ninety guns, while the allies had but +fifty-one; while out of the 60,000 troops under Marshal Tallard +45,000 were the best troops France could produce. The allied army +was a motley assembly, composed of nearly equal numbers of English, +Prussians, Danes, Wurtemburghers, Dutch, Hanoverians, and Hessians. +But although not more numerous than the troops of other +nationalities, it was felt by all that the brunt of the battle +would fall upon the British. + +These had, throughout the three campaigns, shown fighting qualities +of so high a character, that the whole army had come to look upon +them as their mainstay in battle. The heavy loss which had taken +place among these, the flower of his troops, at the assault of +Schlessingen greatly decreased the fighting power of Marlborough's +army. + +The weakness caused by the miscellaneous character of the army was +so much felt, that Marlborough was urged to draw off, and not to +tempt fortune under such unfavourable circumstances. + +Marshal Villeroi was, however, within a few days march with a large +force, and Marlborough felt that if he effected a junction with +Tallard, Austria was lost. It was therefore necessary, at all +hazards, to fight at once. + +The French position was an exceedingly strong one. Their right +rested on the Danube; and the village of Blenheim, close to its +bank, was held by twenty-six battalions and twelve squadrons, all +native French troops. + +Their left was equally protected from attack by a range of hills, +impregnable for guns or cavalry. In the centre of their line, +between their flanks, was the village of Oberglau, in and around +which lay thirty battalions of infantry, among whom was the fine +Irish regiments. + +From Blenheim to Oberglau, and thence on to Lutzingen, at the foot +of the hills, the French line occupied somewhat rising ground, in +front of them was the rivulet of the Nebel running through low +swampy ground, very difficult for the passage of troops. + +Prince Maximilian commanded the French left, where the Bavarians +were posted, Marshal Marsin the line on to Oberglau and the village +itself, Marshal Tallard the main body thence to the Danube. + +The French marshals, strong in the belief of the prowess of their +troops, equal in number, greatly superior in artillery, and +possessing an extremely strong position, scarcely paid sufficient +attention to what would happen in the event of a defeat. The +infantry being posted very strongly in the three villages, which +were very carefully entrenched and barricaded, insufficient +attention was paid to the long line of communications between them, +which was principally held by the numerous cavalry. This was their +weak point, for it was clear that if the allies should get across +the rivulets and swamps and break through the cavalry line, the +infantry would be separated and unable to reunite, and the strong +force in Blenheim would run a risk of being surrounded without a +possibility of retreat, as the Danube was unfordable. + +Upon the side of the allies the troops were divided into two +distinct armies. That under Prince Eugene, consisting of eighteen +battalions of infantry and seventy-four squadrons of horse, was to +attack the French left. The main army under the duke, consisting of +forty-eight battalions and eighty-six squadrons, was to attack the +centre and right. + +The British contingent of fourteen battalions and fourteen +squadrons formed part of Marlborough's command. + +It was arranged that Prince Eugene should commence the attack, and +that when he had crossed the rivulets in front of the French left, +Marlborough should advance and attempt to carry out the plan he had +laid out, namely, to cut the French line between Oberglau and +Blenheim. + +Prince Eugene's advance took the French by surprise. So confident +were the marshals in the strength of their position and the belief +of the superiority of their troops over the polyglot army of +Marlborough, that they had made up their minds that he was about to +retreat. + +The morning was misty, and Eugene's advance reached the French +pickets before they were perceived. + +Their difficulties now began. The rivulets were deep, the ground +treacherous; fascines had to be laid down, and the rivulets filled +up, before guns could get over; and even when across they could but +feebly answer the French artillery, which from the higher ground +commanded their whole line; thus the allies lost 2000 men before +Eugene got the army he commanded across the marshes. Then at half +past twelve he sent word to Marlborough that he was ready. + +While the cannon roar had been incessant on their right, the main +army remained motionless, and divine service was performed at the +head of every regiment and squadron. + +The moment the aide-de-camp arrived with the news that Prince +Eugene was in readiness, the artillery of Marlborough's army opened +fire, and the infantry, followed closely by their cavalry, advanced +to the attack. + +The British division, under Lord Cutts, as the most trustworthy, +had assigned to them a direct attack upon the strong position of +Blenheim, and they advanced unwaveringly under a storm of fire, +crossed the swamps and the Nebel, and advanced towards Blenheim. + +General Rowe led the front line, consisting of five English +battalions and four Hessians, and he was supported by Lord Cutts +with eleven battalions and fifteen squadrons. + +Advancing through a heavy artillery fire, General Rowe's troops had +arrived within thirty yards of the palisade before the French +infantry opened fire. Then a tremendous volley was poured into the +allies, and a great number of men and officers fell. Still they +moved forward, and Rowe, marching in line with his men, struck the +palisade with his sword before he gave the order to fire. Then +desperately the British strove to knock down the palisade and +attack their enemy with the bayonet, but the structure was too +strong, and the gallant force melted away under the withering fire +kept up by the great force of French infantry which occupied the +village. + +Half Rowe's force fell, he himself was badly wounded, most of his +officers down, when some squadrons of French horse fell upon their +flank, threw them into confusion, and took the colours of the +regiment. + +The Hessians, who so far had been in reserve, fell upon the French, +and retook the colours. + +Fresh squadrons of French cavalry came up, and General Lumley sent +some squadrons of cavalry across to Rowe's assistance. Then, with a +cheer, the dragoons rode at the French, who were twice their +strength. In an instant every one was engaged in a fierce conflict, +cutting, slashing, and using their points. + +The French gave way under the onslaught, but fresh squadrons came +up from their side, a heavy musketry fire broke out from the +enclosure round Blenheim, and leaving many of their number behind +them, the British horse and foot fell back to the stream. + +Marlborough, seeing that Blenheim could not be taken, now resolved +upon making his great effort to break the French line midway +between Oberglau and Blenheim. + +On the stream at this part stood the village of Unterglau, having a +stone bridge across the Nebel. This was but weakly held by the +French, who, upon seeing the allies advancing at full speed, fired +the village to check the advance, and then fell back. + +General Churchill's division rushed through the burning village, +crossed the bridge, and began to open out on both sides. Then the +duke gave the order for the whole cavalry to advance. Headed by the +English dragoons, they came down in good order through the +concentrated fire of the enemy's batteries to the edge of the +stream; but the difficulties here were immense. The stream was +divided into several branches, with swampy meadows between them, +and only by throwing down fascines could a footing be obtained for +the horses. + +"I don't call this fighting, Master Rupert," Hugh said, as they +floundered and struggled through the deep marshes, while the +enemy's shell burst in and around the ranks; "it's more like +swimming. Here come the French cavalry, and we've not even formed +up." + +Had the French charge been pressed home, the dragoons must have +been crushed; but Churchill's infantry on their right opened such a +heavy fire that the French cavalry at that end of the line paused. +On their left, however, near Blenheim, the dragoons, suffering +terribly from the artillery and musketry fire from that village, +were driven back by the French cavalry to the very edge of the +swamp. + +Marlborough, however, anxiously watching the struggle, continued to +send fresh bodies of horse across to their assistance, until the +Dutch and Hanoverian squadrons were all across, and the allied +cavalry formed in two long lines. + +While this had been going on, a serious fight had been raging in +front of Oberglau; and here, as at Blenheim, the allies suffered +disaster. Here the Hanoverians, led by the Prince of Holstein, had +attacked. The powerful body of French and Irish infantry did not, +however, wait for the assault, but, 9000 strong, charged down the +slope upon the 5000 Hanoverians before they had formed up after +crossing the river, repulsed them with great loss, and took the +prince himself prisoner. + +This was a serious disaster, as, by the rout of the Hanoverians the +connexion between Marlborough's army and that of Prince Eugene was +broken. + +Marlborough's eye, however, was everywhere; and galloping to the +spot, he put himself at the head of some squadrons of British +cavalry, and, closely followed by three battalions of fresh +infantry, charged the Irish battalions, who, in the impetuosity of +their pursuit, had fallen into disorder. The cavalry charge +completed their confusion, and the infantry opening fire in flank +on the lately victorious column, drove it back with immense +slaughter. Thus the battle was restored at this point. + +All this time the fight had raged between Eugene's array and the +Bavarians and French opposed to them. At first the prince had been +successful, and the Danes and Prussians under his orders captured a +battery of six guns. His cavalry, however, while advancing in some +disorder, were charged by the French, driven back across the Nebel, +and the guns were retaken. Twice the prince himself rallied his +cavalry, and brought them back to the charge, but each time the +Bavarian horse, led by the elector, drove them back, defeated and +broken, across the river. The Prussian and Danish infantry stood +their ground nobly, although the enemy charged them over and over +again; but, cheered by the presence of Prince Eugene, who took his +place amongst them, they beat off all attacks. + +The Duke of Marlborough, after restoring the battle at Oberglau, +rode back to his centre, and prepared for the grand attack by his +cavalry. Marshal Tallard, in preparation for the attack he saw +impending, brought up six battalions of infantry, and placed them +in the centre of the ridge. Marlborough brought up three battalions +of Hessians to front them, placed the rest of his infantry to cover +the left of the cavalry from the attack of the strong battalions in +Blenheim, and then, drawing his sword, placed himself in front of +his troops, and ordered the trumpets to sound the advance. + +This grand and decisive charge is thus described by Allison in his +"Life of Marlborough:" + +"Indescribably grand was the spectacle that ensued. In compact +order, and in the finest array, the allied cavalry, mustering 8000 +sabres, moved up the gentle slope in two lines--at first slowly, as +on a field day, but gradually more quickly as they drew near, and +the fire of the artillery became more violent. The French horse, +10,000 strong, stood their ground at first firmly. The choicest and +bravest of their chivalry were there; the banderolls of almost all +the nobles of France floated over the squadrons. + +"So hot was the fire of musketry and cannon when the assailants +drew near, that their advance was checked. They retired sixty +paces, and the battle was kept up for a few minutes only by a fire +of artillery. Gradually, however, the fire of the artillery +slackened; and Marlborough, taking advantage of the pause, led his +cavalry again to the charge. With irresistible vehemence the line +dashed forward at full speed, and soon the crest of the ridge was +passed. The French horsemen discharged their carbines at a +considerable distance with little effect, and immediately wheeled +about and fled. + +"The battle was gained. The allied horse rapidly inundated the open +space between the two villages. The six battalions in the middle +were surrounded, cut to pieces, or taken. They made a noble +resistance; and the men were found lying on their backs in their +ranks as they had stood in the field." + +Thus at one blow the whole French line of defence was broken up. +Blenheim was entirely cut off; and the rear of their left beyond +Oberglau threatened. + +General Marsin's cavalry, seeing the defeat of their main body, +fell back to avoid being taken in rear; and Prince Eugene, seeing +the Bavarian infantry left unsupported, called up all his reserves, +and advanced at the head of the Danes and Prussians against them. +The Bavarian infantry fought stubbornly, but the battle was lost, +their line of retreat threatened by the allied horse, who were now +masters of the field, and, setting fire to the villages of Oberglau +and Lutzingen, they fell back sullenly. + +In the meantime, Marshal Tallard was striving bravely to avert the +defeat. He brought up his last reserves, rallied his cavalry, and +drew them up in line stretching towards Blenheim in hopes of +drawing off his infantry from that village. Marlborough brought up +his whole cavalry force, and again charging them, burst through +their centre, and the French cavalry, divided into two parts, fled +in wild disorder--the one portion towards the Danube, the other +towards Hochstadt. Marlborough at the head of fifty squadrons +pursued the first body. Hanpesch with thirty followed the second. +Marlborough drove the broken mass before him to the Danube, where +great numbers were drowned in attempting to cross; the rest were +made prisoners. Marshal Tallard himself, with a small body of +cavalry who still kept their ranks, threw himself into the village +of Sonderheim, and was there captured by the victorious squadrons. +Hanpesch pursued the flying army as far as Hochstadt, captured +three battalions of infantry on the way, and halted not until the +French were a mere herd of fugitives, without order, riding for +their lives. + +There now remained only the garrison of Blenheim to dispose of, and +the infantry were brought up to attack them. So strong were the +defences, however, so desperate the resistance offered by the brave +body of Frenchmen, who were now alone against an army, that the +infantry attack was beaten back. The guns were then brought up, and +opened fire, and the French, whose case was now hopeless, +surrendered. + +The battle of Blenheim was over. In this great battle Marlborough's +army lost 5000 men, Eugene's 6000. In all 11,000 men. The French +and Bavarians lost in killed and wounded 12,000, together with 1200 +officers and 13,000 privates made prisoners, and 47 cannon. Their +total loss, including desertions in their retreat through the Black +Forest, was estimated by their own historians at 40,000 men--a +defeat as complete and disastrous as that of Waterloo. + + + +Chapter 14: The Riot at Dort. + +The Duke of Marlborough lost no time in utilizing the advantages +gained by the victory of Blenheim. He at once raised the siege of +Ingoldstadt, which, when all the country was in his power, must +sooner or later surrender, and detached a portion of the force +which had been there engaged to besiege Ulm, an important fortress +on the Danube. Then with the bulk of his army he marched to the +Rhine, crossed at Philipsburg on the 6th of September, and advanced +towards Landau. + +Marshal Villeroi had constructed an entrenched camp to cover the +town; but on the approach of the victor of Blenheim he fell back, +leaving Landau to its fate. Marlborough followed him, and made +every effort to bring the French to a battle; but Villeroi fell +back behind the Lauter, and then behind the Motter, abandoning +without a blow one of the strongest countries in Europe. + +On the 11th of September Ulm surrendered, with 250 pieces of +cannon; and upon the following day, Landau was invested. The Prince +of Baden with 20,000 men conducted the siege, and Marlborough and +Eugene with 30,000 covered the operations. Marlborough, however, +determined on ending the campaign, if possible, by driving the +French beyond the Moselle, and leaving Prince Eugene with 18,000 +men, marched with 12,000 men on the 14th of October. + +After a tremendous march through a wild and desolate country, he +arrived with his exhausted troops at Treves on the 29th, one day +before the arrival of 10,000 French, who were advancing to occupy +it. The garrison of 600 men in the citadel evacuated it at his +approach. He immediately collected and set to work 6000 peasants to +restore the fortifications. Leaving a garrison, he marched against +the strong place of Traesbach. Here he was joined by twelve Dutch +battalions from the Meuse; and having invested the place, he left +the Prince of Hesse to conduct the siege--which speedily ended in +the surrender of the place--and marched back with all haste to +rejoin Prince Eugene. + +Leaving Eugene to cover the siege of Landau, Marlborough now +hurried away to Hanover and Berlin, to stimulate the governments of +Hanover and Prussia to renewed exertion; and by his address and +conciliatory manner succeeded in making arrangements for 8000 fresh +Prussian troops to be sent to the imperial armies in Italy, as the +Duke of Savoy had been reduced to the last extremity there by the +French. + +The Electress of Bavaria, who had been regent of that country since +her husband left to join the French, had now no resource but +submission, and she accordingly agreed to disband her remaining +troops, and to make peace. + +The Hungarian insurrection was suppressed by Austria, now able to +devote all its attention to that point: and Landau surrendered +towards the end of November, when its garrison was reduced from +7000 to 3500, who became prisoners of war. + +All these decisive results arose from the victory of Blenheim. Had +the British Government during the winter acceded to Marlborough's +request, and voted men and money, he would have been able to march +to Paris in the next campaign, and could have brought the war to an +end; but the mistaken parsimony then, as often since, crippled the +British general, allowed the French to recover from their disaster, +prolonged the war for years, and cost the country very many times +the money and the men that Marlborough had asked for to bring the +war to a decisive termination. + +But while the English and Dutch governments refused to vote more +money or men, and the German governments, freed from their pressing +danger, became supine and lukewarm, the French, upon the contrary, +set to in an admirable manner to retrieve the disasters they had +suffered, and employed the winter in well-conceived efforts to take +the field with a new army, to the full as strong as that which they +had lost; and the fruits of Blenheim were, with the exception of +the acquisition of a few fortresses, entirely thrown away. + +At the battle of Blenheim, Rupert Holliday escaped untouched, but +Hugh was struck with a fragment of shell, and severely wounded. He +was sent down the Rhine by water to the great military hospital +which had been established at Bonn; and Rupert, who was greatly +grieved at being separated from his faithful follower, had the +satisfaction of hearing ere long that he was doing well. + +Rupert had assigned him as orderly a strong, active young fellow, +named Joe Sedley, who was delighted at his appointment, for the +"little cornet" was, since his defeat of the German champion, the +pride of the regiment. Joe was a Londoner, one of those fellows who +can turn their hand to anything, always full of fun, getting +sometimes into scrapes, but a general favourite with his comrades. + +The campaign over, Rupert, who was now a lieutenant, asked and +obtained leave to go home for the winter; he had long since been +reconciled with his mother; and it was two years and a half since +he had left home. Hugh and Joe Sedley had also obtained leave, upon +Rupert's application on their behalf. + +On his way down Rupert resolved to pay a visit for a few days to +his kind friends at Dort. They had written begging him to come and +see them; and a postscript which Maria had put in her last letter +to him, to the effect that she had reason to believe that her old +persecutor was in the neighbourhood, and that her father had taken +renewed precautions for her safety, added to his desire to visit +Dort. + +"That fellow's obstinacy is really admirable in its way," Rupert +said, on reading this news. "He has made up his mind that there is +a fortune to be obtained by carrying off Maria van Duyk, and he +sticks to it with the same pertinacity which other men display in +the pursuit of commerce or of lawful trade, or that a wild beast +shows in his tireless pursuit of his prey." + +Had it not been for the postscript, Rupert would have deferred his +visit to Dort until after his return from England, but the news +caused him serious uneasiness. He knew but too well the +unscrupulous nature of this desperate man, whom he had heard of +since his last attempt upon his life as being a leader of one of +the bands of freebooters who, formed of deserters and other +desperate men, frequented the Black Forest, the Vosges mountains, +the Ardennes, and other forests and hill districts. That he would +dare lead his band down into the plains of Holland, Rupert had no +fear; still he could have no difficulty in finding men of ruined +fortunes even there to join in any wild attempt. + +Leaving the army when it went into winter quarters, Rupert +travelled by land to Bonn, and there picked up Hugh, who was now +completely restored to health, and then, taking boat, journeyed +down the Rhine. Then he took horse again, and rode to Dort. + +Mynheer van Duyk and Maria were delighted to see him; and Hugh and +Sedley were hospitably received by the servants, with whom Hugh +had, on the occasion of his last visit, made himself a prime +favourite. + +For the first day of their arrival Rupert had all the talking to +do, and his adventures to relate from the time he set sail from +Dort. He had of course written from time to time, but his letters, +although fairly full, did not contain a tithe of the detail which +his friends were anxious to learn. The next morning, after +breakfast, he asked his host if he was unwell, for he looked worn +and anxious. + +"I am well in body, but disturbed in mind," he said. "Six months +ago I stood well with my fellow citizens, and few were more popular +in Dort than myself. Now, save among the better class, men look +askance at me. Subtle whispers have gone abroad that I am in +correspondence with France; that I am a traitor to Holland; that I +correspond with the Spanish at Antwerp. In vain have I tried to +force an open accusation, in order that I might disperse it. The +merchants, and others of my rank, scoff at these rumours, and have +in full council denounced their authors as slanderers; but the +lower class still hold to their belief. Men scowl as I walk along; +the boys shout 'Traitor!' after me; and I have received threatening +letters." + +"But this is abominable," Rupert said, hotly. "Is there no way of +dealing with these slanderers?" + +"No," the merchant said; "I see none, beyond living it down. Some +enemy is at work, steadily and powerfully." + +"Have you any enemy you suspect?" + +"None, save indeed that rascal countryman of yours. He is +desperate, and, as you know, relentless. My house has always been +guarded by six stout fellows since we returned from the Hague; and +any open attempt to carry off my daughter would be useless. It is +difficult to see what he proposes to himself by stirring up a party +against me; but he might have some scheme which we cannot fathom. +Our Dutchmen are slow but obstinate, and once they get an idea in +their head it is difficult to discharge." + +"You do not fear any public tumult, surely?" Rupert said. + +"I do not anticipate it, and yet I regard it as possible," Van Duyk +said. "The people in our town have been given to bursts of frenzy, +in which some of our best men have been slain." + +"Why don't you go down to the Hague again till this madness has +passed by?" + +"I cannot do that. My enemies would take advantage of it, and might +sack my house and warehouses." + +"But there is the burgher guard; and all the respectable citizens +are with you." + +"That is true enough," the merchant said; "but they are always slow +to take action, and I might be killed, and my place burnt before +they came on to the ground. I will send Maria with you down to the +Hague to her aunt's. If this be the work of the man we wot of, it +may be that he will then cease his efforts, and the bad feeling he +has raised will die away; but in truth, I shall never feel that +Maria is safe until I hear that his evil course has come to an +end." + +"If I come across him, I will bring it to an end, and that +quickly," Rupert said, wrathfully. "At any rate, I think that the +burgomaster ought to take steps to protect the house." + +"The council laugh at the idea of danger," Van Duyk said. "To them +the idea that I should be charged with dealing with the enemy is so +supremely ridiculous that they make light of it, and are inclined +to think that the state of things I describe is purely a matter of +my own imagination. If I were attacked they would come as quickly +as they could to my aid; but they may be all too late. + +"There is one thing, Rupert. This enemy hates you, and desires your +death as much as he wishes to carry off my daughter, and through +her to become possessed of my money bags. If, then, this work is +his doing, assuredly he will bring it to a head while you are here, +so as to gratify both his hate and his greed at once." + +"It is a pity that you cannot make some public statement, that +unless your daughter marries a man of whom you approve you will +give her no fortune whatever." + +"I might do that," Van Duyk said; "but he knows that if he forced +her to marry him, I should still give her my money. In the second +place, she has a large fortune of her own, that came to her through +her mother. And lastly, I believe that it is not marriage he wishes +now, for he must be sure that Maria would die rather than accept +him, but to carry her off, and then place some enormous sum as a +ransom on condition of her being restored safe and unharmed to me. +He knows that I would give all that I possess to save her from his +hands." + +"The only way out of it that I see," Rupert said, "is for me to +find him, and put an end to him." + +"You will oblige me, Rupert, if, during the time you remain here, +you would wear this fine mail shirt under your waistcoat. You do +not wear your cuirass here; and your enemy might get a dagger +planted between your shoulders as you walk the streets. It is +light, and very strong. It was worn by a Spanish general who fell, +in the days of Alva, in an attack upon Dort. My great-grandfather +shot him through the head, and kept his mail shirt as a trophy." + +"It is a useful thing against such a foe as this," Rupert said, +putting it on at once. "I could not wear it in battle, for it would +be an unfair advantage; but against an assassin all arms are fair." + +During the day Rupert went out with his host, and the scowling +looks which were turned upon the latter convinced him that the +merchant had not exaggerated the extent to which the feeling of the +lower class had been excited against him. So convinced was he of +the danger of the position, that, to the immense surprise of Hugh +and Joe Sedley, he ordered them to lie down at night in their +clothes, with their swords and pistols ready by them. With eight +armed men in the house--for four of the porters engaged in the +merchant's warehouse slept on truckle beds placed in the +hall--Rupert thought that they ought to be able to repel any +assault which might be made. + +It was on the fourth night after Rupert's coming to Dort, that he +was aroused by a touch on his shoulder. He leapt to his feet, and +his hand, as he did so, grasped his sword, which lay ready beside +him. + +"What is it?" he exclaimed. + +"There is mischief afloat," Van Duyk said. "There is a sound as of +a crowd in front of the house. I have heard the tramp of many +footsteps." + +Rupert went to the window and looked out. The night was dark, and +the oil lamps had all been extinguished; but it seemed to him that +a confused mass filled the place in which the house stood. + +"Let me get the men under arms," he said, "and then we can open the +window, and ask what they want." + +In two minutes he returned. + +"Now, sir, let us ask them at once. They are probably waiting for a +leader or order." + +The merchant went to the window, and threw it open. + +"Who is there?" he asked. "And what means this gathering at the +door of a peaceful citizen?" + +As if his voice had been the signal for which they waited, a roar +went up from the immense crowd. A thunder of axes at the door and +shutters, and a great shout arose, "Death to the traitor! Death to +the Frenchmen!" + +Shots were fired at the windows, and at the same moment the alarm +bell at the top of the house pealed loudly out, one of the serving +men having previously received order to sound the signal if needed. +In answer to the alarm bell, the watchman on the tower, whose duty +it was to call the citizens from their beds in case of fire, struck +the great bell, and its deep sounds rang out over the town. Two +minutes later the church bells joined in the clamour; and the bell +on the town hall with quick, sharp strokes called the burgher guard +to arms. + +Van Duyk, knowing now that all that could be done had been +effected, ran to his daughter's room, bade her dress, and keep her +door locked until she heard his voice, come what may. Then he ran +downstairs to join the defenders below. + +"The shutters are giving everywhere," Rupert cried. "We must hold +this broad staircase. How long will it be, think you, before the +burgher guard are here?" + +"A quarter of an hour, maybe." + +"We should beat them back for that time," Rupert said. "Light as +many lights as you can, and place them so as to throw the light in +their faces, and keep us in the shade." + +In two or three minutes a smashing of timber and loud shouts of +triumph proclaimed that the mob were effecting an entrance. + +"For the present I will stand in front, with one of these good +fellows with their axes on each side of me. The other two shall +stand behind us, a step or two higher. You, Hugh and Joe, take post +with our host in the gallery above with your pistols, and cover us +by shooting any man who presses us hard. Fire slowly, pick off your +men, and only leave your posts and join me here on the last +necessity." + +They had just taken the posts assigned to them when the door fell +in with a crash, and the mob poured in, just as a rush took place +from the side passages by those who had made their way in through +the lower windows. + +"A grim set of men," Rupert said to himself. + +They were indeed a grim set. Many bore torches, which, when once +need for quiet and concealment was over, they had lighted. + +Dort did a large export trade in hides and in meat to the towns +lying below them, and it was clear that it was from the butchers +and skinners that the mob was chiefly drawn. Huge figures, with +poleaxes and long knives, in leathern clothes spotted and stained +with blood, showed wild and fierce in the red light of the torches, +as they brandished their weapons, and prepared to assault the +little band who held the broad stairs. + +Rupert advanced a step below the rest, and shouted: + +"What means this? I am an officer of the Duke of Marlborough's +army, and I warn you against lifting a hand against my host and +good friend Mynheer van Duyk." + +"It's a lie!" shouted one of the crowd. "We know you; you are a +Frenchman masquerading in English uniform. + +"Down with him, my friends. Death to the traitors!" + +There was a rush up the stairs, and in an instant the terrible +fight began. + +On open ground, Rupert, with his activity and his straight sword, +would have made short work of one of the brawny giants who now +attacked him, for he could have leapt out of reach of the +tremendous blow, and have run his opponent through ere he could +again lift his ponderous axe. But there was no guarding such +swinging blows as these with a light sword; and even the advantage +of the height of the stairs was here of little use. + +At first he felt that the combat was desperate. Soon, however, he +regained confidence in his sword. With it held ever straight in +front of him, the men mounting could not strike without laying open +their breasts to the blade. There must, he felt, be no guarding on +his part; he must be ever on the offensive. + +All this was felt rather than thought in the whirl of action. One +after another the leaders of the assailants fell, pierced through +the throat while their ponderous axes were in the act of +descending. By his side the Dutchman's retainers fought sturdily, +while the crack of the pistols of Hugh, Joe Sedley, and the master +of the house were generally followed by a cry and a fall from the +assailants. + +As the difficulty of their task became more apparent, the yells of +fury of the crowd increased. Many of them were half drunk, and +their wild gestures and shouts, the waving of their torches, and +the brandishing of knives and axes, made the scene a sort of +pandemonium. + +Ten minutes had passed since the first attack, and still the stairs +were held. One of the defenders lay dead, with his head cloven to +his shoulders with a poleaxe, but another had taken his place. + +Suddenly, from behind, the figure of a man bounded down the stairs +from the gallery, and with a cry of "Die, villain!" struck Rupert +with a dagger with all his strength, and then bounded back into the +gallery. Rupert fell headlong amid his assailants below. + +Hugh and Joe Sedley, with a shout of rage and horror, dashed from +their places, sword in hand, and leaping headlong down the stairs, +cutting and hewing with their heavy swords, swept all opposition +back, and stood at the foot, over the body of Rupert. + +The three Dutchmen and Van Duyk followed their example, and formed +a group round the foot of the stairs. Then there was a wild storm +of falling blows, the clash of sword and axe, furious shouts, loud +death cries, a very turmoil of strife; when there was a cry at the +door of "The watch!" and then a loud command: + +"Cut the knaves down! Slay every man! Dort! Dort!" + +There was a rush now to escape. Down the passages fled the late +assailants, pursued by the burgher guard, who, jealous of the +honour of their town, injured by this foul attack upon a leading +citizen, cut down all they came upon; while many who made their +escape through the windows by which they had entered, were cut down +or captured by the guard outside. The defenders of the stairs made +no attempt at pursuit. + +The instant the burgher guard entered the hall, Hugh and Joe threw +down their bloodstained swords, and knelt beside Rupert. + +"Ough!" sighed the latter, in a long breath. + +"Thank God! He is not dead." + +"Dead!" Rupert gasped, "not a bit of it; only almost trodden to +death. One of my stout friends has been standing on me all the +time, though I roared for mercy so that you might have heard me a +mile off, had it not been for the din." + +"But are you not stabbed, Master Rupert?" + +"Stabbed! No; who should have stabbed me? One of you somehow hit me +on the back, and down I went; but there is no stab." + +"He had a dagger. I saw it flash," Hugh said, lifting Rupert to his +feet. + +"Had he?" Rupert said; "and who was he? + +"If it was an enemy, it is your coat of mail has saved me," he +continued, turning to Van Duyk. "I have never taken it off since. +But how did he get behind me I wonder? + +"Run," he continued energetically, "and see if the lady is safe. +There must have been mischief behind." + +Mynheer van Duyk, closely followed by the others, ran upstairs to +his daughter's room. The door was open. He rushed into the room. It +was empty. The window was open; and looking out, two ladders were +seen, side by side. + +It was clear that while the fray had been raging, Maria von Duyk +had been carried off. + + + +Chapter 15: The End of a Feud. + +After the first cry of rage and grief at the discovery of the +abduction of Maria van Duyk, there was a moment's silence. Rupert +broke it, laying his hand on the shoulder of Van Duyk, who had +dropped despairingly into a chair. + +"We will find her," he said, "wherever she be. Let us lose no +moments in sorrow. Call up the burgomaster, or whoever leads the +burghers, and let us consult." + +In another minute or two four of the principal magistrates of Dort +had joined the party, and Van Duyk told them what had happened. + +"I told her to lock the door, and not to open until she heard my +voice. Doubtless she was standing there listening to the strife +without, when the men burst in at the window, and seized her +before, in her surprise and terror, she had time to unlock the +door. Now what is to be done to recover her? They have, no doubt, +carried her off by boat, for they could not pass through the +landward gate of the town. + +"Will you order two fast boats, to be manned by strong parties of +rowers, with well-armed men? One had better go up the river, one +down; for we know not in which direction they will take their +flight. + +"What think you, Master Holliday?" + +"I think that a boat had better go either way, without a moment's +loss of time," Rupert said. "But I doubt whether either will find +them. But send the boats without a moment's delay, with orders to +overhaul and search every craft they overtake." + +The magistrates at once called in an officer of the guard, and gave +him the necessary instructions. + +"And why do you not think that either up or down the river they +will overtake them?" Van Duyk asked Rupert, as the officer left the +room. + +"Because they will know that a fleet horseman will pass them; and +that by morning the people at the towns on the banks will all be on +the lookout for them. So, having sent off the boats, I should now +send off horsemen up and down the river, with a letter from you, +sirs, to the authorities at all the towns, begging them to stop and +search every boat." + +Again the necessary orders were given. + +"It was right to take these steps," Rupert said, "for they may be +greater fools than I take them to be; but I think that they have +done one of two things. They have gone either up or down the river +to some place, probably not far away, where horses are in +readiness, or--or, they may be still in the town." + +"Still in the town!" + +"Yes," Rupert said; "they will know that we should pursue them up +and down the river; that we should scour the country round; but +they may think that we should not suspect that she is still here. +There must be lots of secure hiding places in an old town like +this; and they may well think it safer to keep her hidden here +until they force her into marriage, or wring a fabulous ransom from +you." + +"We will search every house," the burgomaster said, "from cellar to +roof." + +"It would be useless," Rupert said. "There must be secret hiding +places where she could be stowed away, bound and gagged perhaps, +and which you could never detect. I would lose no moment of time in +sending out horsemen to every village on either side of the river +above and below us, for a circle of twenty miles. If horsemen have +passed through, some villager or other is sure to have been awoke +by the clatter of the horses. If we get news, we must follow up the +traces wherever they go. If not, it will be strong proof that they +are still here. In any case, our pursuit all over the country will +lead them to think that we have no suspicion that she is here, and +we shall have far more chance of lighting upon a clue than if they +thought we suspected it. Get trusty men to work at once. Question +the prisoners your men have taken, with some sharp pain that will +wring the truth from them; but let all be done quietly; while on +the other hand, let the chase through the country be as active and +public as possible." + +Threats, and the application of a string twisted round the thumb, +and tightened until the blood spurted from beneath the nails--rough +modes of questioning which had not yet died out--soon elicited from +the captives the place where the arch-conspirator had been staying +while he laid the train for the explosion; but, as was expected, a +search showed that the bird had flown, without leaving a trace +behind him. + +Then, as there was nothing more to do until morning, and two score +of horsemen had been sent off in different directions, and the +officers most acquainted with the haunts of the bad characters were +set quietly at work to search for some clue that might help to find +the hiding place of Maria, the magistrates took their leave with +many expressions of regret and commiseration with the merchant, and +with confession of a consciousness of deep fault that they had not +taken to heart his warnings. + +Long ere this the bodies of the score of rioters who had fallen on +the stairs, hall, and passages had been removed; and leaving the +afflicted merchant for awhile to his thoughts, Rupert retired to +his room, telling Hugh and Joe to follow him. He explained to them +exactly the steps which had been taken, and his opinion as to the +true state of things; and bade them think the matter over in every +light, and to come to him at daybreak, and let him know if any plan +for the conduct of the search had occurred to them. + +The result of the night's thoughts and of the morning's +deliberations was conveyed to Mynheer van Duyk by Rupert. + +"The first thing to be done is to offer a large reward, sir, for +any news which may lead to the discovery of your daughter. This may +or may not bring us in some information. The next thing is to have +an eye kept on every boat by the quay which may have a cabin or +half-deck capable of concealing a person wrapped up and bound. +Also, that a watch should be set upon any fishing boat anchored in +the river, or moored against the banks, for miles round. It is very +possible that she was carried on board, and that there she may be +kept, close to us, for days, or even weeks, until the hotness of +the search is over, and they can pass up or down the river without +being stopped and overhauled." + +"We will have every boat at the quay searched at once; and boat +parties shall be sent off to examine every craft at anchor or +moored in the river." + +"I think, sir, that it behoves us to act with care," Rupert said; +"for knowing the desperate nature of this villain, I think it +probable that he would wreak his hate upon your daughter, and do +some terrible crime when he found that he was discovered, for he +knows that his life is already forfeit. When we find out where she +is confined, to my mind the serious difficulty only commences, for +it is absolutely necessary that the arrest be so prompt and sudden, +that he shall not have time even to level a pistol at her." + +Van Duyk acknowledged the justice of Rupert's reasoning. + +"Hugh has suggested that it is likely that he has in his pay the +same boatmen whom he employed last year to murder us. As a first +step, let one of your clerks go down with an officer to the quay, +and inquire what boats left here yesterday or in the night. Hugh +will put on a rough fisherman's suit, and with his hat well down +over his brows, will stroll along by the water, to see if he +recognizes the face of any of the men." + +At eight o'clock in the morning there was a meeting of the council +of the town, to determine upon the measures to be taken to discover +the authors of this disgraceful outbreak, and to take steps for the +recovery of the daughter of the leading citizen of the town. Criers +had already gone round to offer rewards for information; and a +proclamation was now issued by the magistrates, calling upon every +citizen to do his best to aid in the search. A committee was +appointed, to investigate all information which might be brought +in. + +All Dort was in a state of excitement; parties of the burgher guard +still patrolled the town; numerous arrests were made in the +skinners' and butchers' quarters; groups of people assembled and +talked over the events of the night; and indignation at the riot +and assault upon Mynheer van Duyk, and pity for himself and his +daughter, were loudly expressed on all sides. The authorities +forbade any one from leaving the town by land or water without a +special permit signed by the magistrates. + +The investigation as to the sailing of boats upon the previous day +produced a long list of craft of various sizes and kinds that had +left Dort. Besides those that had actually sailed, one or two had +left the quay, and had anchored out in the river, and made fast to +buoys there. + +Hugh returned with the intelligence that he had recognized in a +boatman loitering on the quay one of the crew of the boat in which +Rupert and he had had so narrow an escape from drowning. The +captain of one of the merchant's own craft, of which there were +several at Dort, was sent for, and having received instructions as +to his course, accompanied Hugh to the quay, and having had the +fisherman pointed out to him, sauntered along, and after speaking +to several men, entered into conversation with him. A confidential +agent of the merchant was also ordered to keep at a distance, but +to watch every movement, however minute and insignificant, of the +suspected man. + +The captain's report was soon given in. He had asked the man if he +wanted a berth in a ship just going to sail for England, one of the +crew having fallen sick at the last moment. He had refused, as he +belonged to a boat just about to sail for Bergen op Zoom, and he +had nodded towards a large decked boat riding in the river. Fearing +to excite suspicion, he had asked no further question, but had +turned to another man standing near, and asked him if he would make +the voyage. + +It was considered certain by Rupert and Van Duyk that Maria was +either already confined in that boat, or that she would be taken +there when it was considered safe to start. A close scrutiny of the +boat with a telescope showed that two men were on board her. They +appeared to be smoking, and idling about. + +In the meantime, at the Town Hall the committee were busy in +examining the reports brought in by the horsemen--whose tales +agreed, inasmuch as in none of the villages visited by them had any +stir or unusual movement been heard through the night--and in +hearing the evidence of innumerable people, who were all anxious to +give information which appeared to them to bear upon the outrage. + +Van Duyk himself, like one distracted, wandered from place to +place. + +Presently the spy set to watch the fisherman came in with his +report. He said that it was clear that the man was anxious and ill +at ease; that after an hour's waiting, a man came and spoke a word +to him, and passed on; that the fisherman then got into a small +boat and rowed out towards his vessel, but that he did not watch +him further, thinking it better to follow the man up who had spoken +to him. After walking about aimlessly for a short time, as if to +see whether he was watched, he had proceeded some distance along +the quay, and had then gone into a large house used as a tavern and +sailors' boardinghouse, but which did but a small trade, the +landlord having a bad name in the place. + +A boat, with a strong armed party, was ordered to be in readiness +to follow at once if the fishing boat sailed; to keep at a +distance, but to follow her wherever she went, and at her next +landing place to pounce suddenly upon her and search her. Then the +whole attention of the searchers was directed to the tavern in +question. + +It was agreed that Maria was not likely to be in confinement there, +as, it having been the house at which it had been ascertained that +Sir Richard Fulke had, previous to the last attempt on Rupert, +stayed in hiding, it would be suspected, and might be searched. The +strictest watch was now set upon the house, and everyone leaving it +was followed. Many came out and in, sailors from the quay or the +ships lying there; but in none of their movements was anything +suspicious found. + +At five in the afternoon a boy of twelve years old, a son of the +landlord, came out. He looked suspiciously round, and then walked +along the quay. As he passed a house of considerable size, he again +looked round, pulled the bell twice, hastily, and then walked on. +He made a long detour, and returned to the tavern. + +Not a moment was lost in following up the clue. The house in +question had been unoccupied for some time. The owner was, however, +known to Van Duyk, who at once called upon him. He said that he had +let it some weeks before, to a person who had stated that he was a +merchant of Amsterdam, and intended to open a branch house at Dort. +He had paid him six months' rent in advance, and had received the +keys of the house. He believed that some of his party had arrived, +as he had himself seen two men go in, but the house was certainly +not yet open for business. + +Rupert, who had been all day at work following out other clues +given by persons who had come forward, returned just as Mynheer van +Duyk came back with the news. + +"Thank God!" he said, "There is an end to uncertainty. Your +daughter is in that house, beyond all doubt. It is only a question +of action now. Let us call in the burgomaster and the chief +constable, and discuss how the rescue is to be effected. It is +probable that he has with him a dozen desperate fellows of his +Black Forest gang, and the task of so arranging it that we may +interpose between her and the arch-villain is a difficult one +indeed. While you send for these officials, I will go and +reconnoitre the house; it is quite dark." + +The house differed little from its fellows. It was old, with +gables, and each floor projected beyond the one below it. A dim +light was visible in one of the upper rooms, while a far brighter +light shone through the folds of curtains which had been drawn +across a window lower down. Rupert drew his own conclusions. + +Returning, he found the burgomaster and chief constable already +with Mynheer van Duyk. After much discussion it was agreed that +thirty picked men should be at Rupert's orders at ten that night, +an hour at which all Dort would already be sound asleep. + +The chief constable then proceeded with Rupert to the houses +situated behind that which was intended to be attacked. It was +reconnoitred from that side, and found to be in darkness. The +owners of these houses, strictly charged to secrecy, were informed +of what was going on, and promised all aid in their power. A dozen +ladders of various lengths were now got together. + +Then they went to the house adjoining, and made their way out on to +the roof. This, like many of the Dort houses, was furnished with a +terrace, placed between the gabled roofs, which rose sharply on +either side. Here the owner, if disposed, could sit and smoke, and +look on the river. A table and benches were placed here, and a few +tubs with shrubs and flowers. + +A short, light ladder was brought up, and Rupert climbed up the +steep roof, drew up his ladder, and descended on the other side. +The steep roof of the next house now faced him, and he was soon +over this also, and stood on the little terrace of the house where +he believed Maria was a prisoner. It in all respects resembled that +he had left. The door leading to it appeared strong and firmly +fastened. He now retraced his steps. + +Then some light ladders were brought up and placed in position on +the two roofs, and all was ready for a party to pass over onto the +terrace. + +At ten o'clock, then, accompanied by Mynheer van Duyk and the two +troopers, he went to the spot where the force was assembled, and +told them off to the duties he had assigned to them. + +Eight were to enter the next house with Hugh and Joe Sedley, were +to pass, by means of the ladders, over the roof on to the terrace. +They were to carry heavy axes and crowbars, and to beat down the +door and rush downstairs the instant the signal was given. + +Sixteen were to raise eight ladders at the back of the house, and +place them close to the windows. Two were to take post at each, +ready to burst in the window and rush in at the signal. + +The remaining six were to bring a long ladder to the front of the +house, and place it against the upper window, where the light was. +Two were to follow Rupert up this ladder, the other four to place +themselves at the front door, and cut down all who tried to escape. + +Rupert's object in attacking at so many different points was so to +confuse the occupants of the house by the suddenness and noise of +the assault that they would be unable to rally and carry out any +plan they might have formed, before the assailants could muster in +sufficient force to overcome them. + +Orders were also issued for a party of men to proceed to the quay, +and to arrest and carry off anyone they might find hanging about +there. + +All arranged, the party moved off and the work was begun. Thick +rolls of flannel had been fastened round the ends of the ladders, +so as to prevent the slightest noise being made when they came in +contact with the wall. Rupert saw the ladders planted at the back +of the house, and the men ready to climb to their places. He then +moved round to the front; here the ladder was also fixed. A light +flashed down from the terrace above showed that here too the party +were in position; and Rupert began to mount, followed by Van Duyk, +who had insisted upon taking that post, so as to be ready to spring +to the assistance of his child at the first attack. The ladder +reached exactly to the window, and as his eyes reached the level +Rupert peered anxiously in. + +At a table, on which burned a candle, sat a man with a huge bowl of +liquor and a brace of pistols before him. On a pallet bed in a +corner lay a figure, which Rupert felt sure was that of Maria. +Rupert doubted not in the least that the order to the watcher was +to kill her at the first alarm. Twice he raised his pistol, twice +withdrew it. If he did not kill the man on the spot, Maria's life +would be clearly forfeited. Under such circumstances he dared not +fire. + +After a moment's thought he gave a sharp tap at the window, and +then shrank below the level of the window, and with both his +pistols pointed upwards, he waited. As he expected, in a moment the +window darkened, and the figure of a man was seen trying to look +out into the darkness. As he leaned against the glass, Rupert +discharged both his pistols into his body, and then, leaping up, +dashed in the window, and leapt over the man's body into the room. + +Maria had sprung up with a scream. + +"You are safe, Maria," Rupert exclaimed, as he ran to the door. +"Here is your father." + +The discharge of the pistol had been the signal, and with it came a +sound of heavy blows, the crashing of timber, and the shivering of +glass. Then rose shouts and furious exclamations, and then a great +tramping sounded through the late silent house. Doors and windows +had all given way at the onset; and as Sir Richard Fulke with eight +comrades rushed upstairs, Hugh and his party ran down. + +Torches had been provided, and lanterns, and as three of Hugh's men +carried them the broad landing was lighted up. Sir Richard Fulke +first turned to the door of Maria's room, but there Rupert and two +followers stood with drawn swords. + +"Cut them down! Cut them down!" he shouted; but the rush of Hugh, +Joe Sedley, and the rest swept him back, and he fought now to +defend his life. + +Up the stairs from behind ran the officers who had gained entry by +the windows; and the outlaws saw themselves surrounded and hedged +in. They fought desperately but vainly, and one by one fell under +the blows of their assailants. + +Rupert stood immovable on guard. He knew the desperate nature of +his enemy, and feared that if he himself were drawn for a moment +from his post into the conflict, he would rush past and endeavour +to avenge himself upon them all by killing Maria. + +At last, when most of his followers had fallen, Sir Richard Fulke +made a sudden dash through his assailants, and fled up the stairs +towards the door on the roof. Rupert, who had never for a moment +taken his eye off him, followed at full speed, shouting to Hugh to +bring torches and follow. + +Short as was the start that was gained, it nearly sufficed for the +desperate man's escape; as Rupert gained the terrace, he was +already nearly at the top of the ladder against the roof. Rupert +seized the ladder, and jerked it sideways. Sir Richard made a grasp +at the crest of the roof, and then rolled down on to the terrace. + +Rupert rushed forward, but the torches had not yet come, and his +enemy was on his feet and upon him, with the advantage which the +light coming up the stairs afforded him, and striking down his +guard, rushed in and grappled with him. Rupert dropped his sword, +which was useless now, and struggled for his life. He felt what his +enemy's object was, to throw both over the end of the terrace. He +was strong and athletic, but he was far from being a match for his +older opponent, to whom rage, despair, and hatred lent a prodigious +strength. + +"Hugh," he shouted, "Quick! Quick!" + +Joe Sedley was the first to leap to the terrace with a torch, and +stood for a moment aghast as he saw the deadly struggle going on, +close to the slight wooden railing which ran along the edge of the +terrace; then he sprang forward, and just as the struggling foes +crashed through the woodwork, and were in the very act of falling +over the low stone parapet, he dashed the torch in Sir Richard's +face, while at the same moment he grasped Rupert's shoulder with a +grip of iron, and dragged him back; as his foe loosed his grasp +when the torch struck him in the face, and dropped in the darkness. + +"A close squeak that, sir. The fellow died hard," Joe Sedley said, +cheerily. + +"It was indeed, Joe. I owe my life to you." + +"Oh, it was all in the way of business, sir. You'll likely enough +do as much for me in our next charge." + +Hugh was up a moment after Joe Sedley, for the latter had been +nearer to a man with a torch, but he just saw the narrow escape his +master had, and was so shaken that his hand trembled as he wrung +that of his comrade. + +"I must stick to my sword, another time," Rupert said. "I am David +without his sling without it, and any Goliath who comes along can +make short work of me. Now let us go below and see after Miss van +Duyk, and assure ourselves that our enemy is dead at last. As he +said in the boat, I shall never feel quite safe till I know for +certain that he is dead." + + + +Chapter 16: Ramilies. + +Neither Rupert Holliday nor Maria van Duyk would be troubled more +with Sir Richard Fulke. He was absolutely and unquestionably dead. +He had fallen on his head, and death had been instantaneous. In the +man whom Rupert shot through the window, Hugh and he recognized the +fellow who had been his accomplice in the attempt to carry off +Maria in London. + +Maria was wholly uninjured, although she was days before she was +able to speak with comfort, so roughly had the gag been thrust into +her mouth. She had not seen her chief abductor after she had been +carried off, as Sir Richard must have felt that it was in vain +either to threaten or to sue until he had got her in safety far +from Dort. + +Leaving the rest of the gang to be dealt with by the authorities, +Rupert with his followers left Dort two days later, happy in having +finally freed his friends from the danger which had so long menaced +them. Mynheer van Duyk said but little; but Rupert knew how deep +were his feelings of gratitude; and he again sighed deeply over the +fact that Rupert was still but little over eighteen. Maria herself +was equally grateful. + +Van Duyk would have freighted a shipful of presents to Rupert's +friends in England, but the latter would not hear of it. He +insisted, however, on sending a pipe of magnificent old Burgundy +for the colonel's drinking; while Maria sent a stomacher of antique +workmanship, with valuable gems, to Madame Holliday. + +No adventure marked their homeward journey. Their ship took them +rapidly with a fair wind to London Bridge; and Rupert and Hugh +started next day by the coach for Derby, the former having made Joe +Sedley a handsome present, to enable him to enjoy his holiday, and +an invitation to come down to Windthorpe Chace when he was tired of +London. + +A letter had been written from Holland a few days before starting, +to announce their coming, but it was, of course, impossible in the +days of sailing ships to fix a day for arrival. + +Hiring a chaise, they drove to Windthorpe Chace, where the delight +both of Mistress Holliday and of the colonel was unbounded. Hugh, +too, was greeted very warmly by both, for Rupert had done full +justice to the services he had rendered him. It was difficult to +recognize in the dashing looking young officer and the stalwart +trooper the lads who but two years and a half before had ridden +away posthaste from the Chace. Hugh was driven off to the farm; and +Rupert remained alone with his mother and the colonel, who +overwhelmed him with questions. + +The colonel had changed but little, and bid fair to live to a great +age. His eye was bright, and his bearing still erect. He scarcely +looked sixty-five, although he was more than ten years older. + +Mistress Dorothy was, Rupert thought, softer and kinder than of +old. Her pride, and to some extent her heart, had met with a rude +shock, but her eyes were now fully open to the worthlessness of her +former suitor, who had lately been obliged to fly the country, +having been detected at cheating at cards. + +Colonel Holliday rejoiced when he heard of the pipe of prime +Burgundy, which started from London on the day Rupert left; while +Mistress Dorothy was enchanted with the stomacher, which her son +produced from his trunk. + +"Have you ever heard from Monsieur Dessin, grandfather? You told me +that he said he would write and tell you his real name." + +"I doubt not that he did so, Rupert; but the carriage of letters +between this and France is precarious. Only smugglers or such like +bring them over, and these, except when specially paid, care but +little for the trouble. That he wrote I am certain, but his letter +has not reached me, which I regret much." + +The six months at home passed rapidly. Rupert fell into his old +ways; rode and hawked, and occasionally paid state visits to the +gentry of the neighbourhood, by whom, as one of Marlborough's +soldiers, he was made much of. + +"I think this soldiering life makes one restless, Master Rupert," +Hugh said one day when the time was approaching for their start. "I +feel a longing to be with the troop again, to be at work and +doing." + +"I feel the same, Hugh; but you would not find it so, I think, if +you had come home for good. Then you would have your regular +pursuits on the farm, while now you have simply got tired of having +no work to do. When the war is over, and we have done soldiering, +you will settle down on one of the farms of the Chace. Madame says +you shall have the first that falls vacant when you come home. Then +you will take a wife, and be well content that you have seen the +world, and have something to look back upon beyond a six miles +circuit of Derby." + +The next campaign may be passed over briefly. The parsimony of +England and Holland, and the indifference of Germany, spoiled all +the plans of Marlborough, and lost the allies all the benefits of +the victory of Blenheim. The French, in spite of their heavy +losses, took the field in far greater force than the allies; and +instead of the brilliant offensive campaign he had planned, +Marlborough had to stand on the defensive. + +The gallantry of his English troops, and the effect which Blenheim +had produced upon the morale of the French, enabled him to hold the +ground won, and to obtain several minor successes; one notably at +the Dyle, where Villeroi's troops were driven out of lines +considered impregnable, but where the pusillanimity and ill will of +the Dutch generals prevented any substantial results being +obtained; but no important action took place, and the end of 1705 +found things in nearly the same state that 1704 had left them. + +The non success of the campaign undid some of the harm which the +success of that of 1704 had effected. In Flanders the genius of the +duke had enabled the allies to maintain their ground; but on the +Rhine they had done badly, and in Italy the French had carried all +before them. Therefore while after Blenheim an apathy had fallen on +the victors, so now the extent of the danger moved them to fresh +exertions. + +Marlborough, after seeing his army into winter quarters, visited +the capitals of Vienna, Berlin, and the Hague, and again by the +charm of his manner succeeded in pacifying jealousies, in healing +quarrels, and in obtaining the promises of vigorous action and +larger armaments in the spring. + +The bad conduct of the Dutch generals had created such a general +cry of indignation through Europe, that the States General were +compelled, by the pressure of public opinion, to dismiss several of +the men who had most distinguished themselves by thwarting the +plans of Marlborough, and interposing on every occasion between him +and victory. Consequently the campaign of 1706 seemed likely to +open with far brighter prospects of success than its predecessors +had done. + +Suddenly, however, all the arrangements broke down. The +Imperialists had just suffered another reverse in Italy; and +matters looked so desperate there, that Marlborough proposed to +pass the Alps with an army of 40,000 men to their assistance, and +there, as he would have the warm cooperation of Prince Eugene +instead of the cowardice of the Dutch generals, and the incapacity +and obstinacy of the Prince of Baden, he anticipated the complete +discomfiture of the French. + +In these hopes, however, he was thwarted. The Prince of Baden would +do nothing beyond defending his own dominion. The cabinets of +Berlin and Copenhagen fell to quarrelling, and both refused to +supply their promised contingents. The Hanoverians and Hessians had +also grievances, and refused to join in any general plan, or to +send their troops to form part of the allied army. Thus all ideas +of a campaign in the south were destroyed; but Marlborough +persuaded the Dutch to send 10,000 of the troops in their pay +across the Alps to assist Prince Eugene, under the promise that he +with the English and Dutch troops would defend Flanders. + +So the campaign commenced; and on the 19th of May Marlborough +joined his army, which lay encamped on the Dyle, on the French +frontier. On the 22nd a Danish contingent, which had at the last +moment been dispatched in answer to an urgent appeal of the duke, +arrived; and his army now consisted of 73 battalions and 123 +squadrons, in all 60,000 men, with 120 guns. Marshal Villeroi's +force, which lay on the other side of the Dyle, consisted of 74 +battalions and 128 squadrons--62,000 men, with 130 guns. They had +also, as at Blenheim, the advantage that the troops were all of one +nationality, and accustomed to act together, while Marlborough's +army consisted of troops of three nations, at least half of them +new to war, and unused to act with each other. + +Marlborough opened the campaign by moving towards Tirlemont, with a +view of laying siege to Namur, where many of the citizens were +anxious to throw off the French yoke. Villeroi, anxious to cover +Namur, moved his troops out from their quarters on the Dyle to stop +the advance of the allies, and bring on a battle in the open field. + +The ground taken up by the French marshal was exceedingly strong. +Marlborough was aware of the great importance of the position, and +had made every effort to be the first to seize it; but the French +had less distance to march, and when the allied troops arrived +within sight of the ground, the French were already in camp upon +Mont Saint Andre. + +Mont Saint Andre is an extensive and elevated plateau, being, +indeed, the highest ground in Brabant. From it four rivers take +their rise--the Great Gheet, the Little Gheet, the Dyle, and the +Mehaigne. The French camp was placed immediately above the sources +of the two Gheets. + +The plan of the battle should be examined carefully, and the events +of the great battle will then be understood without difficulty. + +The descents from the plateau to the Great Gheet are steep and +abrupt. The other rivers rise in wet marshes, in some places +impassable. The French left was on the crest of the ridge, above +the marshes of the Little Gheet, and extended to the village of +Autre Eglise; while the extreme right stood on the high ground +overlooking the sources of the Mehaigne. The village of Tavieres, +in front of the right, was strongly held; while in the villages of +Offuz and Ramilies, opposite their centre, were numerous infantry, +no less than twenty battalions occupying Ramilies. + +The great bulk of the French cavalry were arranged in two lines on +their right, the extreme right of their cavalry being in front of +the tomb, or barrow, of the ancient German hero Ottomond; the +highest part of the ridge, and commanding the whole field of +battle. + +Marlborough, having with the Dutch General Overkirk, a loyal and +gallant old man, reconnoitred the ground, immediately formed his +plan of attack. + +The French position was somewhat in the form of a bow, the ends +being advanced. They would therefore have more difficulty in +sending troops from one end to the other of their line than would +the allies, who could move in a direct line along, as it were, the +string of the bow; and the ground was sufficiently undulating to +enable the movements of troops to be concealed from the enemy on +the plateau. + +The commanding position of Ottomond's tomb appeared the key of the +whole battleground; and Marlborough determined to make his main +attack on this point, first deceiving the enemy by a feigned attack +on their left. Accordingly, he formed, in a conspicuous position, a +heavy column of attack, opposite the French left, and menacing the +village of Autre Eglise. + +Villeroi, believing that the main attack would be made there, moved +a considerable body of his infantry from his centre behind Offuz, +to reinforce Autre Eglise. + +As the column of attack advanced, a large portion was withdrawn by +a dip behind the rising ground on which the others advanced, and +moved rapidly towards the left centre; the Danish horse, twenty +squadrons strong, being directed to the same spot. The smoke of the +advance towards Autre Eglise, and the nature of the ground, +concealed all these movements from the French, who directed a very +heavy artillery fire on the column advancing against Autre Eglise. + +Suddenly the real attack began. Five Dutch battalions advanced +against Tavieres; twelve battalions under General Schultz, +supported by a strong reserve, moved to attack Ramilies. + +The vehemence of their attack showed Villeroi that he had been +deceived; but he had now no infantry available to move to reinforce +the troops in the threatened villages. He therefore ordered +fourteen squadrons of dragoons to dismount, and with two Swiss +battalions to advance to the support of Tavieres. They arrived, +however, too late, for before they could reach the spot, the Dutch +battalions had, with great gallantry, carried the village; and the +Duke of Marlborough, launching the Danish horse on the supports as +they came up, cut them up terribly, and threw back the remnant in +confusion upon the French cavalry, advancing to charge. + +Overkirk now charged the French cavalry with the first of the +allied horse, broke and drove them back; but at this moment, when +the allied cavalry were in disorder after their success, the second +line of French cavalry, among whom were the Royal life guards, +burst upon them, drove them back in great confusion, and restored +the battle in that quarter. + +The danger was great, for the victorious cavalry might have swept +round, and fallen upon the rear of the infantry engaged in the +attack upon Ramilies. Marlborough saw the danger, and putting +himself at the head of seventeen squadrons of dragoons, and sending +an aide-de-camp to order up twenty squadrons still in reserve, +charged the French life guards. The French batteries on the heights +behind Ramilies poured in so dreadful a fire that the cavalry +hesitated, and some French troopers, recognizing the duke, made a +dash at him as he rode ahead of the troops. + +In an instant he was surrounded; but before any of his troops could +ride to his rescue, he cut his way through the French troopers, +sword in hand. As his horse tried to leap a wall it fell, and the +enemy were again upon him. At this moment Rupert Holliday, whose +troop was in the front line, arrived on the spot, followed by Hugh +and half a dozen other troopers, and some of the Duke's personal +staff. + +A desperate fight raged round the general, until the cavalry +charged heavily down to the rescue of their beloved leader. But +they were still over matched and pressed backwards by the French +guards. At this critical time, however, the twenty squadrons of the +reserve arrived on the ground, and charged the French cavalry in +front, while the Danish cavalry, who had been detained by morasses, +fell at the same moment on their flank, and the French cavalry fell +back in confusion. Forming the allied cavalry in two lines, +Marlborough led them forward in person, and sweeping aside all +resistance, they halted not until they reached the summit of +Ottomond's tomb, where they were visible to the whole army, while a +tremendous shout told friend and foe alike that the key of the +whole position had been gained, and victory in that part of the +field secured. + +All this time the twenty French battalions in Ramilies under the +Marquis Maffie had fought obstinately, although far removed from +succour. Gradually, however, they were driven out of the village. +The British had fresh battalions of infantry available, and these +were sent against them, and the victorious horse charging them in +flank, they were almost all made prisoners or destroyed. + +The fight had lasted but three hours, and the victory was complete +on the right and left. The confusion was, however, great, and +Marlborough halted his troops and reformed them, before advancing +to the final attack; while Marshal Villeroi strove on his part also +to reform his troops, and to take up a new front. The roads, were, +however, choked with baggage waggons and artillery, and before the +troops could take up their fresh posts, the allies were ready. The +charge was sounded, and horse and foot advanced to the attack on +the centre, while the troops who had commenced the battle by their +demonstration against Autre Eglise joined in the general attack. + +Confused and disheartened, the French did not await the onslaught, +but broke and fled. The Spanish and Bavarian horse guards made a +gallant attempt to stem the tide of defeat, but were cut to pieces. +The battle was now over. It was a rout and a pursuit, and the +British horse, under Lord Orkney, pursued the fugitives until they +reached Louvain, at two o'clock in the morning. + +In the battle of Ramilies the French lost in killed and wounded +7000 men, and 6000 were taken prisoners. They lost 52 guns, their +whole baggage and pontoon train, and 80 standards. Among the +prisoners were the Princes de Soubise and Rohan, while among the +killed were many nobles of the best blood of France. + +The Allies lost 1066 killed, and 2567 wounded, in all 3633 men. + +But great as was the victory itself, the consequences were even +more important. Brussels, Louvain, Mechlin, Alost, Luise, and all +the chief towns of Brabant, speedily opened their gates to the +conqueror. Ghent and Bruges, Darn and Oudenarde, followed the +example. Of all the cities of Flanders, Antwerp, Ostend, Nieuport, +and Dunkirk, with some smaller fortresses, alone held out for the +French. + +The Duke of Marlborough issued the most stringent orders for the +protection and fair treatment of the inhabitants, and so won such +general goodwill among the populations, that when he advanced on +Antwerp the local troops and citizens insisted on a surrender; and +the French troops capitulated, on condition of being allowed to +march out with the honours of war, and to be escorted safely to the +French frontier. Ostend was then besieged, and captured after a +brave resistance; and then, after a desperate resistance, the +important and very strong fortress of Menin was carried by assault, +1400 of the storming party, principally British, being slain at the +breach. Dindermande and Ath were next taken, and the allied army +then went into winter quarters, after a campaign as successful, and +far more important in its results, than that of Blenheim. + + + +Chapter 17: A Prisoner of War. + +In the brilliant results which arose from the victory at Ramilies, +Rupert Holliday had no share. The 5th dragoons formed part of the +cavalry force which, when the battle was over, pursued the broken +French cavalry to the gates of Hochstad. + +In the pursuit, along a road encumbered with deserted waggons, +tumbrels, and guns, the pursuers after nightfall became almost as +much broken up as the pursued. + +Rupert's horse towards the end of the pursuit went dead lame, and +he dismounted in order to see if he could do anything to its hoof. +He found a sharp stone tightly jammed in the shoe, and was +struggling to get this out when the troop again moved forward. Not +doubting that he would overtake them in a minute or two, and +fearing that unless his horse was relieved of the stone it would +become so lame that it would not be able to carry him back, Rupert +hammered away at it with a large boulder from the road. It was a +longer job than he had anticipated, and five minutes elapsed before +he succeeded in getting the stone out, and then, mounting his +horse, he rode briskly forward. Presently he came to a point where +the road forked. He drew rein and listened, and thought he heard +the tramping of horse on the road that led to the left. As he rode +on the noise became louder, and in another five minutes he came up +to the troop. + +It was quite dark, and riding past the men, he made his way to the +head of the column. + +"I have had an awful bother in getting rid of that stone," he said, +as he rode up to the leader. "I began to think that I should lose +you altogether. It is quite a chance I took this road." + +"An unfortunate chance, sir, for you. A fortunate one for us," the +officer he addressed said in English, but with a strong accent, +"since you are our prisoner," and as he spoke he laid his hand on +Rupert's bridle. + +Rupert gave an exclamation of horror at finding the mistake that he +had made, but he saw at once that resistance would be useless. + +"Je me rends, monsieur. But what horrible luck." + +The three French officers at the head of the troop burst into a +laugh. + +"Monsieur," the one who had first spoken said, now in his native +tongue, "we are indebted to you, for you have made us laugh, and +heaven knows we have had little enough to laugh at today. But how +came you here? Your cavalry have taken the upper road. We were +drawn up to make a last charge, when we heard them turn off that +way; and were, I can tell you, glad enough to get off without more +fighting. We have had enough of it for one day." + +As the speaker proceeded, Rupert became more and more convinced +that he knew the voice; and the fact that the speaker was +acquainted with English, the more convinced him that he was right. + +"I stopped to get rid of a stone in my horse's hoof," he said. "If +I had only had a fight for it I should not have minded, but not +even to have the pleasure of exchanging a pass or two with one of +you gentlemen is hard indeed." + +"It is just as well that you did not," one of the officers said, +"for Monsieur le Marquis de Pignerolles is probably the best +swordsman in our army." + +"The Marquis de Pignerolles," Rupert said, courteously; "it would +have been a pleasure to have crossed swords with him, but scarcely +fair, for he knows already that he is not a match for me." + +"What!" exclaimed the marquis himself and the two officers, in +astonishment. + +"You are pleased to joke, sir," the marquis said haughtily. + +"Not at all," Rupert said, gravely. "You have met two persons who +were your match. You remember Monsieur Dalboy?" + +"Dalboy!" the marquis said. "Surely, surely, le Maitre Dalboy, +yet--?" + +"No, I am assuredly not Monsieur Dalboy," Rupert said. "And the +other?" + +The marquis reined in his horse suddenly. + +"What!" he said, "you are--?" + +"Rupert Holliday, my dear Monsieur Dessin." + +"My dear, dear lad," the marquis exclaimed. "What pleasure! What +delight!" and drawing his horse by the side of Rupert he embraced +him with affection. + +"My friends," he said to the other officers, who were naturally +astonished at this sudden recognition between their prisoner and +their colonel, "gentlemen, this English officer is my very dear +friend. What kindness have I not received from his grandfather +during my time of exile! While to himself I am deeply indebted. + +"What a fortunate chance, that if you were to have the bad luck to +be made prisoner, you should fall into my hands of all men. I wish +that I could let you go, but you know--" + +"Of course, of course," Rupert said. "Really I am hardly sorry, +since it has brought us together again." + +"Did you recognize my name?" the marquis said. + +"No indeed," Rupert answered. "The letter which, we doubted not, +that you wrote to my grandfather, never came to hand, and we never +knew what Monsieur Dessin's real name was, so that Colonel Holliday +did not know to whom to write in France." + +"I wrote twice," the marquis said, "but I guessed that the letters +had never arrived. And the good gentleman your grandfather, he is +still alive and well?" + +"As well as ever," Rupert said, "and will be delighted to hear of +you. + +"Mademoiselle is well, I trust?" + +"Quite well, and quite a belle at the court, I can assure you," the +marquis said. "But there are the gates of Louvain. You will, of +course, give me your parole not to try to escape, and then you can +come straight to my quarters with me, and I need not report you for +a day or so. We shall be in fearful confusion tonight, for half our +army is crowding in here, and every one must shift for himself. + +"Peste! What a beating you have given us! That Marlborough of yours +is terrible. + +"I know some people here," he said, turning to the officers. "They +will take us four in, and the men must picket their horses in the +courtyard and street, and lie down in their cloaks. Tomorrow we +will see what is to be done, and how many have escaped from the +terrible debacle." + +The streets of Louvain were crowded with fugitives, some of them +had thrown themselves down by the sidewalks, utterly exhausted; +others mingled with the anxious townsmen, and related the incidents +of the disastrous day; while the horses stood, with drooping heads, +huddled together along the middle of the street. It was only by +making long detours that the Marquis de Pignerolles reached the +house of which he was in search. Late as was the hour the inmates +were up, for the excitement at Louvain was so great that no one had +thought of going to bed; and Monsieur Cardol, his wife and family, +did all in their power for their guests. + +Supper was quickly laid for the four gentlemen; a barrel of wine +was broached for the troops, and what provisions were in the house +were handed over to them. + +"Now let us look at you," the Marquis de Pignerolles said, as they +entered the brightly lighted room. "Ah, you are a man now; but your +face has little changed--scarcely at all." + +"I am scarcely a man yet," Rupert said, laughing. "I am just twenty +now; it is rather more than four years since we parted, without +even saying goodbye." + +"Yes, indeed, Rupert. I tried to do you a good turn in the matter +of the Brownlows. I hope it succeeded." + +"It did indeed," Rupert said. "We are indeed indebted to you for +your intervention then. You saved my lady mother from a wretched +marriage, and you saved for me the lands of Windthorpe Chace." + +"Ah, I am glad it came off well. But I am your debtor still, mind +that; and always shall be. And now to supper. First, though, I must +introduce you formally to my comrades, and to our host and hostess, +and their pretty daughters." + +Very much surprised were the latter when they heard that the +handsome young officer was an Englishman and a prisoner. + +"He does not look very terrible, does he, this curly-haired young +fellow, mademoiselles; but he is one of those terrible horse which +have broken the cavalry of the Maison du Roi today, and scattered +the chivalry of France. As to himself, he is a Rustium, a Bobadil, +if he has, as I doubt not, kept up his practice--" and he looked at +Rupert, who nodded smilingly; for he had indeed, during the four +years he had been in Flanders, not only practised assiduously in +the regimental fencing salles, but had attended all the schools +kept by the best Spanish, Italian, and German teachers, keeping +himself in practice, and acquiring a fresh pass here, an ingenious +defence there, and ever improving--"The first swordsman in France +would run a chance against this good-tempered-looking lad with his +blue eyes." + +The French girls opened their eyes in astonishment, but they were +not quite sure whether the marquis was not making fun of them. + +"Parbleu!" the two officers exclaimed. "You are not in earnest +surely, marquis?" + +"I am, indeed, gentlemen; and I can claim some share of the merit, +for I taught him myself; and before he was sixteen he was a better +swordsman than I was; and as he loved the art, he will have gone on +improving, and must be miraculous. + +"By the way," he said, suddenly, "there was a story went through +Flanders near four years back of the best swordsman in the German +army being killed by a mere boy in an English regiment, and I said +then, I think that this must be my pupil. Was it so?" + +"It was," Rupert said. "It was a painful affair; but I was forced +into it." + +"Make no excuse, I beg," the marquis said, laughing. + +"Now, young ladies, let us to supper; but beware of this prisoner +of war, for if he is only half as formidable with his eyes as with +his wrist, it is all up with your poor hearts." + +Then, with much merriment, the four officers sat down to table, +their host and hostess joining for company, and the young ladies +acting as attendants. + +No one would have guessed that three of the party had formed part +of an army which that day had been utterly routed, or that the +other was their prisoner; but the temperament of the French enables +them to recover speedily from misfortune; and although they had +been dull and gloomy enough until Rupert so suddenly fell into +their hands, the happy accident of his being known to their +colonel, and the pleasure and excitement caused by the meeting, +sufficed to put them in high spirits again, especially as their own +corps had suffered but slightly in the action, having been in +reserve on the left, and never engaged except in a few charges to +cover the retreat. + +When the battle was alluded to, the brows of the French officers +clouded, and they denounced in angry terms the fatal blunder of the +marshal of weakening his centre to strengthen the left against a +feigned attack. But the subject soon changed again, for, as the +marquis said, "It would be quite time to talk it over tomorrow, +when they would know who had fallen, and what were the losses;" for +from their position on the left, they had little idea of the +terrible havoc which had been made among the best blood in France. + +Long after all the others had retired, the marquis and Rupert sat +together talking over old times. Rupert learned that even before he +had left the Chace the marquis had received news that the order of +banishment, which the king had passed against him because he had +ventured to speak in public in terms of indignation at the +wholesale persecution of the Protestants, had been rescinded; and +that the estates, which had also been confiscated, were restored. +The Protestant persecutions had become things of the past, the +greater portion of the French Protestants having fled the country; +and the powerful friends of De Pignerolles had never ceased to +interest themselves in his favour. The king, too, was in need of +experienced soldiers for the war which was about to break out; and +lastly, and by the tone in which his friend spoke Rupert saw that +the subject was rather a sore one, his Majesty wished to have Adele +near the court. + +"Mademoiselle Dessin!" Rupert said, in astonishment. + +"Well, not exactly Mademoiselle Dessin," the marquis said, smiling, +"but la Marquise Adele de Pignerolles, who is by her mother's +side--she was a Montmorency--one of the richest heiresses in +France, and as inheriting those lands, a royal ward, although I, +her father, am alive." + +"But even so," Rupert said, "what can his Majesty wish to have her +at court for?" + +"Because, as a very rich heiress, and as a very pretty one, her +hand is a valuable prize, and his Majesty may well intend it as a +reward to some courtier of high merit." + +"Oh, Monsieur Dessin!" Rupert said, earnestly; "surely you do not +mean that!" + +"I am sorry to say that I do, Master Rupert. The Grand Monarque is +not in the habit of considering such trifles as hearts or +inclinations in the bestowal of his royal wards; and although it is +a sort of treason to say so, I would rather be back in England, or +have Adele to myself, and be able to give her to some worthy man +whom she might love, than to see her hand held out as a prize of +the courtiers of Versailles. I have lived long enough in England to +have got some of your English notions, that a woman ought at least +to have the right of refusal." + +Rupert said nothing, but he felt sorry and full of pity at the +thought of the young girl he remembered so well being bestowed as a +sort of royal gift upon some courtier, quite irrespective of the +dictates of her own heart. After sitting some time in silence, the +marquis changed the subject suddenly. + +"I am afraid you will not be exchanged before next winter, Rupert. +There are, no doubt, plenty of prisoners in Marlborough's hands, +but the campaign is sure to be a stirring and rapid one after this +defeat. He will strike heavy blows, and we shall be doing our best +to avoid them. It will not be until the fighting is over that the +negotiations for the exchange of prisoners will begin." + +The next morning the Marquis de Pignerolles went off early to the +headquarters of the commandant; and Rupert remained chatting with +the family of his host. Two hours later he returned. + +"Things are worse than I even feared," he said; "the royal guards +are almost destroyed, and the destruction wrought in all our noble +families is terrible. It is impossible to estimate our total loss +at present, but it is put down at 20,000, including prisoners. In +fact, as an army it has almost ceased to exist; and your +Marlborough will be able to besiege the fortresses of Flanders as +he likes. There has been a council of all the general officers here +this morning. I am to carry some dispatches to Versailles--not +altogether a pleasant business, but some one must do it, and of +course he will have heard the main incidents direct from Villeroi. +I leave at noon, Rupert, and you will accompany me, unless indeed +you would prefer remaining here on the chance of getting an earlier +exchange." + +Rupert naturally declared at once for the journey to Paris. +Officers on parole were in those days treated with great courtesy, +especially if they happened to have a powerful friend. He therefore +looked forward to a pleasant stay in Paris, and to a renewal of his +acquaintance with Adele, and to a sight of the glories of +Versailles, which, under Louis XIV, was the gayest, the most +intellectual, and the most distinguished court of Europe. + +Louis XIV could not be termed a good man, but he was unquestionably +a great king. He did much for France, whose greatness and power he +strove to increase; and yet it was in no slight degree owing to his +policy that, seventy years later, a tempest was to burst out in +France, which was to sweep away the nobility and the crown itself; +which was to deluge the soil of France with its best blood, to +carry war through Europe, and to end at last by the prostration of +France beneath the feet of the nations to whom she had been a +scourge. + +The tremendous efforts made by Louis XIV to maintain the Spanish +succession, which he had secured for France; the draining of the +land of men; and the impoverishing of the nobles, who hesitated at +no sacrifices and efforts to enable the country to make head +against its foes, exhausted the land; while the immense +extravagance of the splendid court in the midst of an impoverished +land, ruined not only by war, but by the destruction of its trade, +by the exile of the best and most industrious of its people on +account of their religion, caused a deep and widespread discontent +throughout the towns and country of France. + +Three hours later, Rupert set out with the Marquis of Pignerolles +and two troopers. After two days ride through Belgium they reached +Valenciennes, where the uniform of Rupert, in the scarlet and +bright cuirass of the British dragoons, excited much attention, for +British prisoners were rare in France. + +On the evening of the fifth day they reached Paris, where they rode +to the mansion of the marquis. Rupert was aware that he would not +see Adele, who was, her father had told him, at Versailles, under +the care of Madame de Soissons, one of the ladies of the court. +Rupert was told to consider himself at home; and then the marquis +rode on to Versailles. + +"I saw his Majesty last night," he told Rupert when he returned +next morning, "and he was very gracious. I hear that even Brousac, +who brought the news of our defeat, was kindly received. I am told +that he feels the cutting up of his guards very much. A grand +entertainment, which was to have taken place this week, has been +postponed, and there will be no regular fetes this autumn. I told +his Majesty that I had brought you with me on parole, and the +manner of your capture. He charged me to make the time pass +pleasantly for you, and to bring you down to Versailles, and to +present you at the evening reception. + +"We must get tailors to work at once, Rupert, for although you must +of course appear in uniform, that somewhat war-stained coat of +yours is scarcely fit for the most punctilious court in Europe. +However, as they will have this coat for a model, the tailors will +soon fashion you a suit which would pass muster as your uniform +before Marlborough himself. + +"I saw Adele, and told her I had brought an English officer, who +had galloped in the darkness into our ranks, as a prisoner. I did +not mention your name. It will be amusing to see if she recognizes +you. She was quite indignant at my taking you prisoner, and said +that she thought soldiers ought not to take advantage of an +accident of that kind. In fact, although Adele, as I tell her, is +very French at heart, the five years she passed in Derby have left +a deep impression upon her. She was very happy at school. Every +one, as she says, was kind to her; and the result is, that although +she rejoices over our victories in Italy and Germany, she talks +very little about the Flanders campaign; about which, by the way, +were she even as French as possible, there would not be anything +very pleasant to say." + +Rupert was at once furnished from the wardrobe of the marquis with clothes +of all kinds, and as they were about the same height--although Rupert was +somewhat broader and heavier--the things fitted well, and Rupert was able +to go about Paris, without being an object of observation and curiosity +by the people. + +Rupert was somewhat disappointed in Paris. Its streets were +narrower than those of London, and although the public buildings +were fine, the Louvre especially being infinitely grander than the +Palace of Saint James, there was not anything like the bustle and +rush of business which had struck Rupert so much on his arrival in +London. + +Upon arriving at Versailles, however, Rupert was struck with +wonder. Nothing that he had seen could compare with the stately +glories of Versailles, which was then the real capital of France. A +wing of the magnificent palace was set apart for the reception of +the nobles and military men whose business brought them for short +periods to the court, and here apartments had been assigned to the +marquis. The clothes had already been sent down by mounted lackeys, +and Rupert was soon in full uniform again, the cuirass alone being +laid aside. The laced scarlet coat, and the other items of attire, +were strictly in accordance with the somewhat lax regulations as to +the dress of an officer of dragoons; but the lace cravat falling in +front, and the dress lace ruffles of the wrists, were certainly +more ample than the Duke of Marlborough might have considered fit +for strict regimental attire. But indeed there was little rule as +to dress in those early days of a regular British army. + +Rupert's knee breeches were of white satin, and his waistcoat of thick +brocaded silk of a delicate drab ground. Standing as he did some six +feet high, with broad shoulders, and a merry, good-tempered face, with +brown curls falling on his lace collar, the young lieutenant was as +fine a looking specimen of a well-grown Englishman as could be desired. + +"Ma foi!" the marquis said, when he came in in full dress to see if +Rupert was ready, "we shall have the ladies of the court setting +their caps at you, and I must hasten to warn my countrymen of your +skill with the rapier, or you will be engaged in a dozen affairs of +honour before you have been here as many days. + +"No," he said, laughing at Rupert's gestures of dislike to +duelling, "his gracious Majesty has strictly forbidden all +duelling, and--well, I will not say that there is none of it, but +it goes on behind the scenes, for exile from court is the least +punishment, and in some cases rigorous imprisonment when any +special protege of the king has been wounded. + +"And now, Rupert, it is time to be off. The time for gathering in +the antechamber is at hand. By the way, I have said nothing to the +king of our former knowledge of each other. There were reasons why +it was better not to mention the fact." + +Rupert nodded as he buckled on his sword and prepared to accompany +his friend. + +Along stately corridors and broad galleries, whose magnificence +astonished and delighted Rupert, they made their way until they +reached the king's antechamber. Here were assembled a large number +of gentlemen, dressed in the extreme of fashion, some of whom +saluted the marquis, and begged particulars of him concerning the +late battles; for in those days news travelled slowly, newspapers +were scarcely in existence, special correspondents were a race of +men undreamed of. + +To each of those who accosted him the marquis presented Rupert, who +was soon chatting as if at Saint James's instead of Versailles. In +Flanders he had found that all the better classes spoke French, +which was also used as the principal medium of communication +between the officers of that many-tongued body the allied army, +consequently he spoke it as fluently and well as he had done as a +lad. Presently the great door at the end of the antechamber was +thrown back, and the assembled courtiers fell back on either side. + +Then one of the officers of the court entered, crying, "The king, +gentlemen, the king!" + +And then Louis himself, followed by some of the highest officers of +state, entered. + + + +Chapter 18: The Court of Versailles. + +As the King of France entered the antechamber a dead hush fell upon +all there, and Rupert Holliday looked eagerly to see what sort of +man was the greatest sovereign in Europe. + +Louis was under middle height, in spite of his high-heeled shoes, +but he had an air of dignity which fully redeemed his want of +stature. Although he was sixty-six years of age, he was still +handsome, and his eyes were bright, and his movements quick and +vivacious. + +The courtiers all bent low as the king moved slowly down the line, +addressing a word here and there. The king's eye quickly caught +that of the young Englishman, who with his companion was taller +than the majority of those present. + +Louis moved forward until he stopped before him. + +"So, Sir Englishman," he said, "you are one of those who have been +maltreating our soldiers. Methinks I have more reason than you have +to complain of the fortune of war, but I trust that in your case +the misfortune will be a light one, and that your stay in our court +and capital will not be an unpleasant one." + +"I have no reason, sire, to complain of the fortune of war," Rupert +said, "since to it I owe the honour of seeing your gracious +Majesty, and the most brilliant court in the world!" + +"Spoken like a courtier," the king said with a slight smile. "Pray +consider yourself invited to all the fetes at court and to all our +entrees and receptions, and I hope that all will do their best to +make your stay here agreeable." + +Then with a slight inclination of the head he passed on, saying in +an audible tone to the nobles who walked next, but a little behind +him, "This is not such a bear as are his island countrymen in +general!" + +"In another hour, Rupert, is the evening reception, at which the +ladies of the court will be present; and although all set fetes +have been arrested owing to the news of the defeat in Flanders, yet +as the king chooses to put a good face upon it, everyone else will +do the same, therefore you may expect a brilliant assembly. Adele +will of course be there. Shall I introduce you, or leave it to +chance?" + +"I would rather you left it to chance," Rupert said, "except, that +as you do not desire it to be known that we have met before, it +would be better that you should present me personally; but I should +like to see if she will recognize me before you do so." + +"My daughter is a young lady of the court of his most puissant +Majesty Louis the 14th," the marquis said, somewhat bitterly, "and +has learned not to carry her heart upon her sleeve. But before you +show yourself near her, I will just warn her by a word that a +surprise may take place in the course of the evening, and that it +is not always expedient to recognize people unless introduced +formally. That will not be sufficient to give her any clue to your +being here, but when she sees you she will recall my warning, and +act prudently." + +Presently they entered the immense apartment, or rather series of +apartments, in which the receptions took place. + +Here were gathered all the ladies of the court; all the courtiers, +wits, and nobles of France, except those who were in their places +with the army. There was little air of ceremony. All present were +more or less acquainted with each other. + +In a room screened off by curtains, the king was playing at cards +with a few highly privileged members of the court, and he would +presently walk through the long suite of rooms, but while at cards +his presence in no ways weighed upon the assembly. Groups of ladies +sat on fauteuils surrounded by their admirers, with whom volleys of +light badinage, fun, and compliments were exchanged. + +Leaving Rupert talking to some of those to whom he had been +introduced in the king's antechamber, and who were anxious to obey +the royal command to make themselves agreeable to him, the Marquis +de Pignerolles sauntered across the room to a young lady who was +sitting with three others, surrounded by a group of gentlemen. + +Rupert was watching him, and saw him stoop over the girl, for she +was little more, and say a few words in her ear. A surprised and +somewhat puzzled expression passed across her face, and then as her +father left her she continued chatting as merrily as before. + +Rupert could scarcely recognize in the lovely girl of seventeen the +little Adele with whom he had danced and walked little more than +four years before. + +Adele de Pignerolles was English rather than French in her style of +beauty, for her hair was browner, and her complexion fresher and +clearer, than those of the great majority of her countrywomen. She +was vivacious, but her residence in England had taught her a +certain restraint of gesture and motion, and her admirers, and she +had many, spoke of her as l'Anglaise. + +Rupert gradually moved away from those with whom he was talking, +and, moving round the group, went through an open window on to a +balcony, whence he could hear what was being said by the lively +party, without his presence being noticed. + +"You are cruel, Mademoiselle d'Etamps," one of the courtiers said. +"I believe you have no heart. You love to drive us to distraction, +to make us your slaves, and then you laugh at us." + +"It is all you deserve, Monsieur le Duc. One would as soon think of +taking the adoration of a butterfly seriously. One is a flower, +butterflies come round, and when they find no honey, flit away +elsewhere. You amuse yourself, so do I. Talk about hearts, I do not +believe in such things." + +"That is treason," the young lady who sat next to her said, +laughing. "Now, I am just the other way; I am always in love, but +then I never can tell whom I love best, that is my trouble. You are +all so nice, messieurs, that it is impossible for me to say whom I +love most." + +The young men laughed. + +"And you, Mademoiselle de Rohan, will you confess?" + +"Oh, I am quite different," she said. "I quite know whom I love +best, but just as I am quite sure about it, he does something +disagreeable or stupid--all men are really disagreeable or stupid +when you get to know them--and so then I try another, but it is +always with the same result." + +"You are all very cruel," the Duc de Carolan laughed. "And you, +Mademoiselle de Pignerolles? But I know what you will say, you have +never seen anyone worth loving." + +Adele did not answer; but her laughing friends insisted that as +they had confessed their inmost thoughts, she ought to do the same. + +For a moment she looked serious, then she laughed, and again put on +a demure air. + +"Yes," said she, "I have had a grande passion, but it came to +nothing." + +A murmur of "Impossible!" ran round the circle. + +"It was nearly four years ago," she said. + +"Oh, nonsense, Adele, you were a child four years ago," one of her +companions said. + +"Of course I was a child," Adele said, "but I suppose children can +love, and I loved an English boy." + +"Oh, oh, mademoiselle, an English boy!" and other amused cries ran +round the circle. + +"And did he love you, mademoiselle?" the Duc de Carolan asked. + +"Oh, dear no," the girl answered. "I don't suppose I should have +loved him if he had. But he was strong, and gentle, and brave, and +he was nearly four years older than I was, and he always treated me +with respect. Oh, yes, I loved him." + +"He must have been the most insensible of boys," the Duc de Carolan +said; "but no doubt he was very good and gentle, this youthful +islander; but how do you know that he was brave?" + +The sneering tone with which the duke spoke was clearly resented by +Adele, for her cheek flushed, and she spoke with an earnestness +quite different from the half-laughing tone she had hitherto spoken +in. + +"I know that he was brave, Monsieur le Duc, because he fought with, +and ran through the body, a man who insulted me." + +The girl spoke so earnestly that for a moment a hush fell upon the +little group; and the Duc de Carolan, who clearly resented the warm +tone in which she spoke, said: + +"Quite a hero of romance, mademoiselle. This unfortunate who +incurred your Paladin's indignation was clearly more insolent than +skillful, or Sir Amadis of sixteen could hardly have prevailed +against the dragon." + +This time Adele de Pignerolles was seriously angry: + +"Monsieur le Duc de Carolan," she said quietly, "you have honoured +me by professing some admiration of my poor person, and methinks +that good taste would have demanded that you would have feigned, at +least, some interest in the boy who championed my cause. I was +wrong, even in merry jest, to touch on such a subject, but I +thought that as French gentlemen you would understand that I was +half serious, half jesting at myself for this girlish love of mine. +He is not here to defend himself against your uncourteous remarks; +but, Monsieur le Duc, allow me to inform you that the fact that the +person who insulted me paid for it almost with his life was no +proof of his great want of skill, for monsieur my father will +inform you, if you care to ask him, that had you stood opposite to +my boy hero, the result would probably have been exactly the same; +for, as I have often heard him say that this boy was fully a match +for himself; I imagine that the chance of a nobleman who, with all +his merits, has not, so far as I have heard, any great pretensions +to special skill with his sword, would be slight indeed." + +The duke, with an air of bitter mortification on his face, bowed +before the indignant tone in which Adele spoke; and as the little +circle broke up, the rumour ran round the room that L'Anglaise had +snubbed the Duc de Carolan in a crushing manner. + +Scarcely had the duke, with a few murmured excuses, withdrawn from +the group, than the marquis advanced towards his daughter with a +tall figure by his side. + +"Adele," he said, "allow me to introduce to you the English officer +whose own unlucky fate threw him into my hands. He desires to have +the honour of your acquaintance. You may remember his name, for his +family lived in the county in which we passed some time. Lieutenant +Rupert Holliday, of the English dragoons." + +Adele had not looked up as her father spoke. As he crossed the room +towards her she had glanced towards his companion, whose dress +showed him to be the English officer who was, as she knew, with +him; but something in her father's tone of voice, still more the +sentences with which he introduced the name, warned her that this +was the surprise of which he had spoken, and the name, when it came +at last, was almost expected. Had it not been for the manner in +which she had just been speaking, and the vague wonder that flashed +through her mind whether he could have heard her, she could have +met Rupert, with such warning as she had had, as a perfect +stranger. What she had said was perfectly true, that as a child he +had been her hero; but a young girl's heroes seldom withstand the +ordeal of a four years' absence, and Adele was no exception. Rupert +had gone out of her existence, and she had not thought of him, +beyond an occasional feeling of wonder whether he was alive, for +years; and had it not been for that unlucky speech--which, indeed, +she could not have made had any of her girlish feeling remained, +she could have met him as frankly and cordially as in the days when +they danced together. + +In spite, therefore, of her efforts, it was with a heightened +colour that, as demanded by etiquette, Adele rose, and making a +deep reverence in return to the even deeper bow of Rupert, extended +her hand, which, taking the tips of the fingers, Rupert bent over +and kissed. Then, looking up in her face, he said: + +"The marquis your father has encouraged me to hope that you will +take pity upon a poor prisoner, and forget and forgive his having +fought against your compatriots." + +Adele adroitly took up the line thus offered to her, and was soon deep +in a laughing contest with him as to the merits of their respective +countries, and above all as to his opinion of French beauty. Rupert +answered in the exaggerated compliments characteristic of the time. +After talking with her for some little time he withdrew, saying that he +should have the honour of calling upon the following day with her father. + +The next day when they arrived Rupert was greeted with a frank +smile of welcome. + +"I am indeed glad to see you again, Monsieur Rupert; but tell me +why was that little farce of pretending that we were strangers, +played yesterday?" + +"It was my doing, Adele," her father said. "You know what the king +is. If he were aware that Rupert were an old friend of ours he +would imagine all sorts of things." + +"What sort of things, papa?" + +"To begin with, that Monsieur Rupert had come to carry you off from +the various noblemen, for one or other of whom his Majesty destines +your hand." + +The girl coloured. + +"What nonsense! + +"However," she went on, "it would anyhow make no difference so far +as the king is concerned, for I am quite determined that I will go +into a convent and let all my lands go to whomsoever his Majesty +may think fit to give them rather than marry any one I don't care +for. I couldn't do it even to please you, papa, so you may be quite +sure I couldn't do it to please the king. + +"And now let me look at you, Monsieur Rupert. I talked to you last +night, but I did not fairly look at you. Yes, you are really very +little altered except that you have grown into a man: but I should +have known you anywhere. Now, would you have known me?" + +"Not if I had met you in the street," Rupert said. "When I talk to +you, and look at you closely, Mademoiselle Adele Dessin comes back +again; but at a casual glance you are simply Mademoiselle Adele de +Pignerolles." + +"I wish I were Adele Dessin again," she said. "I should be a +thousand times happier living with my father than in this +artificial court, where no one is what they seem to be; where +everyone considers it his duty to say complimentary things; where +everyone seems to be gay and happy, but everyone is as much slaves +as if they wore chains. I break out sometimes, and astonish them." + +A slight smile passed over Rupert's face; and Adele knew that he +had overheard her the evening before. The girl flushed hotly. Her +father and Madame de Soissons were talking together in a deep bay +window at the end of the room. + +"So you heard me last night, Monsieur Rupert. Well, there is +nothing to be ashamed of. You were my hero when I was a child; I +don't mind saying so now. If you had made me your heroine it would +have been different, but you never did, one bit. Now don't try to +tell stories. I should find you out in a moment; I am accustomed to +hear falsehoods all day." + +"There is nothing to be ashamed of, mademoiselle. Every one must +have a hero, and I was the only boy you knew. No one could have +misunderstood you; and even to those artificial fops who were +standing round you, there seemed nothing strange or unmaidenly in +your avowal that when you were a little girl you made a hero of a +boy. You are quite right, I did not make a heroine of you. Boys, I +think, always make heroines of women much older than themselves. I +looked upon you as a dear, bright little girl, whom I would have +cared for and protected as I would my favourite dog. Some boys are +given to heroine worship. I don't think that is my line. I am only +just getting out of my boyhood now, and I have never had a heroine +at all." + +So they sat and chatted, easily and pleasantly, as if four years +had been rolled back, and they were boy and girl again in the +garden of Windthorpe Chace. + +"I suppose I shall see you every evening at the court?" Rupert +said. + +"I suppose so," the girl sighed. "But it will be much more pleasant +here. You will come with papa, won't you?" + +"Whenever he will be good enough to bring me," Rupert said. + +"You remember what I told you about Adele," the marquis said, as +they walked back to their rooms in the palace. + +"Surely, sir," Rupert replied. + +"I think it would be as well, both for her sake and your own, that +you should not frequent her society in public, Rupert. His Majesty +intends to give her hand to one of the half-dozen of his courtiers +who are at present intriguing for it. Happily, as she is little +over sixteen, although marriages here are often made at that age, +the question does not press; and I trust that he will not decide +for a year, or even longer. But if you were to be seen much at her +side, it might be considered that you were a possible rival, and +you might, if the king thought that there was the slightest risk of +your interfering with his plans, find yourself shut up in the +Bastille, or at Loches, or some other of the fortress dungeons, and +Adele might be ordered to give her hand at once to the man he +selected for her. + +"There is hope in time. Adele may in time really come to love one +of her suitors, and if he were one of those whom the king would +like to favour, he would probably consent to the match. Then, the +king may die. It is treason even to suppose such a thing possible; +still he is but mortal; or something else may occur to change the +course of the future. + +"Of one thing I have decided: I will not see Adele sacrificed. I +have for the last four years managed to transmit a considerable +portion of the revenues of my estates to the hands of a banker in +Holland; and if needs be I will again become an exile with her, and +wait patiently until some less absolute monarch mounts the throne." + +It was not so easy, however, to silence the mouths of the gossips +of Versailles as the Marquis de Pignerolles had hoped. It was true +that Rupert was seldom seen by the side of Adele in the drawing +room of the palace, but it was soon noticed that he called +regularly every morning with the marquis at Madame de Soissons', +and that, however long the visits of the marquis might be, the +young English officer remained until he left. + +Adele's English bringing up, and her avowed liking for things +English, were remembered; and the Duc de Carolan, and the other +aspirants to Adele's hand, began to scowl angrily at the young +Englishman whenever they met him. + +Upon the other hand, among the ladies Rupert was a general +favourite, but he puzzled them altogether. He was ready to chat, to +pay compliments, to act as chevalier to any lady, but his +compliments never passed beyond the boundary of mere courtly +expression; and in a court where it appeared to be almost the duty +of everyone to be in love, Rupert Holliday did not seem to know +what love meant. + +The oddness of this dashing-looking young officer--who was, the +Marquis de Pignerolles assured everyone, a very gallant soldier, +and who had killed in a duel the finest swordsman in the German +army--being perfectly proof to all blandishments, and ready to +treat every woman with equal courtesy and attention, was a mystery +to the ladies of the court of Versailles; and Rupert was regarded +as a most novel and amusing specimen of English coldness and +impenetrability. + +Rupert himself was absolutely ignorant of the opinion with which +men and women alike regarded him. He dreamt not that it was only +the character which so high an authority as the Marquis de +Pignerolles had given him as a swordsman of extraordinary skill, +that prevented the Duc de Carolan and some of Adele's other +admirers from forcing a quarrel upon him. Still less did he imagine +that the ladies of the court considered it in the highest degree +singular that he did not fall in love with any of them. He went his +way, laughed, talked, was pleasant with everyone, and enjoyed his +life, especially his morning visits to Madame de Soissons. + +The first intimation that was given of the jealousy with which the +Duc de Carolan and others regarded Rupert, was a brief order that +the Marquis de Pignerolles received from the king to retire with +his prisoner to Paris; an intimation being given that although the +marquis would as heretofore be received at court, yet that Rupert +was not to leave the circuit of the walls of Paris. The marquis, +who had foreseen the gathering storm in a hundred petty symptoms, +was not surprised at the order. He knew the jealousy with which the +king regarded any person who appeared even remotely likely to +interfere with any plans that he had formed, and was sure that a +mere hint from some favourite as to the possibility of Rupert's +intimacy at Madame de Soissons proving an obstacle to the carrying +out of his wishes with regard to the disposal of Adele's hand, +would be sufficient to ensure the issue of an order for his instant +dismissal from Versailles. Rupert was astonished and indignant at +the order. + +"At any rate I may call and say 'Goodbye' to mademoiselle, may I +not?" + +"I think that you had better not, Rupert; but I have simply orders +to leave Versailles at one o'clock today. I can therefore only ask +you to be here at that hour. It is now eleven." + +"Very well, sir," Rupert said, "I will be here in time; and as I am +not a prisoner, and can go about where I like, I do not think that +even the king could object to my paying a visit of adieu." + +On presenting himself at Madame de Soissons', Rupert heard that, in +accordance with the king's command that morning received, Madame de +Soissons and Mademoiselle de Pignerolles had gone out to the hunt, +one of the royal carriages having come for them. + +Rupert, determined not to be baulked, hurried back to the stables +where the horses of the marquis, one of which was always at his +disposal, were kept. In a few minutes he was riding out towards the +forest of Saint Germains, where he learned that the royal chase had +gone. + +He rode for some time, until at last he came up with one of the +royal carriages which had got separated from the others. He saw at +once that it contained two of the ladies of the court with whom he +was most intimate. They gave an exclamation of surprise as he +reined up his horse at the window. + +"You, Monsieur Holliday! How imprudent! Everyone knows that you are +in disgrace, and exiled to Paris. How foolish of you to come here!" + +"I have done nothing to be ashamed of," Rupert said. "Besides, I +was ordered to leave at one o'clock, and it is not one o'clock +yet." + +"Oh, we are all angry with you, Monsieur l'Anglais, for you have +been deceiving us all for the last three months. But, now mind, we +bear no malice; but pray ride off." + +As she spoke she made a sign to Rupert to alight and come to the +window, so that the coachman might not overhear what was said. + +"Do you know," she said, earnestly, "that you are trifling with +your safety; and, if la belle Anglaise loves you, with her +happiness? You have already done more than harm enough. The king +has today, when he joined the hunt, presented to her formally +before all the court the Duc de Carolan as her future husband. +Remember, if you are found here you will not only be sent straight +to some fortress, where you may remain till you are an old man, but +you will do her harm by compromising her still further, in which +case the king might be so enraged, that he might order her to marry +the duke tomorrow." + +"You are right. Thank you," Rupert said, quietly; "and I have +indeed, although most unwittingly, done harm. Why you should all +make up your minds I love Mademoiselle de Pignerolles I know not. I +have never thought of the matter myself. I am but just twenty, and +at twenty in England we are still little more than boys. I only +know that I liked her very much, just as I did when she was a +little girl." + +"Oh, monsieur, but you are sly, you and l'Anglaise. So it was you +that she owned was her hero; and monsieur the marquis introduced +you as a stranger. Oh, what innocence! + +"But there," she went on kindly, "you know your secret is safe with +us. And monsieur," and she leant forward, "although you would not +make love to me, I bear no malice, and will act as your deputy. A +very strict watch is certain to be kept over her. If you want to +write to her, enclose a note to me. Trust me, she shall have it. + +"There, do not stop to thank me. I hear horses' hoofs. Gallop away, +please; it would ruin all were you caught here." + +Rupert pressed the hands the two ladies held out to him to his +lips, mounted his horse, and rode furiously back to Versailles, +where he arrived just in time to leave again for Paris at the hour +beyond which their stay was not to be delayed. + + + +Chapter 19: The Evasion. + +Upon the ride from Versailles to Paris Rupert told the marquis what +he had done and heard. + +"It is bad news, Rupert. I will ride back this afternoon, when I +have lodged you in Paris, and see Adele. If she objects--as I know +she will object to this marriage--I shall respectfully protest. +That any good will come of the protest I have no thought, but my +protest may strengthen Adele's refusal, by showing that she has her +father's approval. + +"Adele will of course be treated coldly at first, then she will +have pressure put upon her, then be ordered to choose between a +convent and marriage. She will choose a convent. Now in some +convents she could live quietly and happily, in others she would be +persecuted. If she is sent to a convent chosen for her, it will be +worse than a prison. Her life will be made a burden to her until +she consents to obey the king's command. Therefore, my object will +be to secure her retreat to a convent where she will be well +treated and happy. But we will talk of this again." + +It was not until the following afternoon that the marquis returned +from Versailles. + +"I am off to the front again," he said. "I had an audience with his +Majesty this morning, and respectfully informed him of my +daughter's incurable repugnance to the Duc de Carolan, and of her +desire to remain single until at least she reached the age of +twenty. His Majesty was pleased to say that girls' whims were +matters to which it behoved not to pay any attention. He said, +however, that for the present he would allow it to remain in +abeyance, and that he begged me to see Adele, and to urge upon her +the necessity for making up her mind to accept his Majesty's +choice. He also said that the news from the army was bad, that good +officers were urgently required there, and that it would be +therefore advisable for me to repair at once to the front and again +take the command of my regiment. He said that he wished me to take +you with me as far as Lille, and that you should there take up your +residence." + +"Of course I will accompany you, sir," Rupert said; "but I will +withdraw my parole as soon as you hand me over, and take my chance +of escaping." + +"Yes, I should do that, Rupert, indeed, as you gave your parole to +me, you can give it back to me now, if you choose. I will run the +risk of some little anger on the part of the king, if you quit me +on your way to Lille and make the best of your way to the +frontier." + +"No, I thank you," Rupert said. "There can't be much difficulty in +escaping from a town when one wants to do so; and it would do you +an evil turn indeed to incense the king against you at the present +time." + +The next morning, just as they were setting out, a lackey placed a +note in Rupert's hands. + +"I hear you are sent off to Lille. I have a cousin there, and have +written to recommend you to his care. I will keep my promise, and +let you know, if needs be, of what is happening to the young person +we spoke of--Diana." + +Rupert wrote a few words of earnest thanks, and imitating the +example set him, gave it unaddressed and unsigned to the lackey, +with a handsome present to himself. + +On the way to Lille, the marquis told Rupert his plans for the +withdrawal of Adele from court, and her concealment, should Louis +insist on the marriage being pressed on. + +Arriving at Lille, Rupert was handed over to the governor, and +having formally withdrawn his parole to make no effort to escape, +he was assigned quarters in barracks, whence he was allowed to go +into the town during daylight; being obliged, however, to attend at +roll call at midday. The fortifications of the town were so strong +and well guarded that it was supposed that the chance of escape was +small. + +The following day the Marquis de Pignerolles took an affectionate +leave of Rupert, and went on to join the army; and an hour or two +later Captain Louis d'Etamps, the cousin of whom Diana had written, +called upon him, and placed himself at his service. His cousin had +told him of the supposed crime for which Rupert had been sent away +from court, and felt much sympathy with what she considered his +hard treatment. Not only Louis d'Etamps, but the French officers of +the garrison, showed great kindness and attention to the English +prisoner, for the Duke of Marlborough had treated the French +officers who fell into his hands at Ramilies with such kindness and +courtesy, that the French were glad to have an opportunity of +reciprocating the treatment when the chance fell in their way. Late +in the autumn, the Marquis de Pignerolles was brought back to Lille +seriously wounded in one of the last skirmishes of the campaign. +Rupert spent all the time he was allowed to be out of barracks at +his friend's quarters. The wound was not considered dangerous, but +it would keep the marquis a prisoner to his room for weeks. + +A few days after the marquis was brought in, Louis d'Etamps came +into Rupert's room early in the morning. + +"I have a note for you from my fair cousin," he said. "It must be +something particular, for she has sent a special messenger with a +letter to me, and on opening it I find only a line asking me to +give you the enclosed instantly." + +Rupert opened the latter from Diana d'Etamps; it was as follows: + +"Adele has been ordered to marry the Duc de Carolan on the 15th. +Unless she consents, she is on the 14th to be sent to the nunnery +of Saint Marie, the strictest in France, where they will somehow or +other wring consent from her before many weeks are over. They have +done so in scores of cases like hers. I promised to tell you, and I +have done so. But I don't see that anything can be done. I hear +Monsieur le Marquis is badly wounded, but even were he here, he +could do nothing. The king is resolute. The Duc de Carolan has just +given 200,000 crowns towards the expenses of the war." + +"May I see?" Louis d'Etamps said, for the young men were now fast +friends. + +Rupert handed him the note. + +"What can you do, my poor boy?" he said. + +"I will go and see the marquis, and let you know afterwards," +Rupert said. "I shall do something, you may be sure." + +"If you do, you will want to escape from Lille. I will see about +the arrangements for that. There is no time to be lost. It is the +10th today." + +Rupert's conversation with the Marquis de Pignerolles was long and +interesting. The marquis chafed at being confined to a sick bed and +permitting Rupert to run the risk, which was immense, of the +attempt alone. However, as he could not move, and as Rupert was +determined to do something, the marquis entered into all the plans +he had drawn up, and intended to follow when such an emergency +occurred. He gave him a letter for Adele, and then they parted. + +At his room Rupert found Louis. + +"Quick," he said, "there is no time to lose. At ten o'clock a +convoy of wounded leave for Paris. The doctor in charge is a friend +of mine and a capital fellow. I have just seen him. All is +arranged. Come along to my quarters, they are on the line that the +convoy goes to the gate. Jump in bed, then I will bandage up your +head with plaisters so that not more than space to see and breathe +out of will be left. When the convoy arrives at the door, he will +have an empty litter ready, will bring up four men who will lift +you in, supposing you to be a wounded French officer, carry you +down, and off you go with the convoy, not a soul save the doctor, +you, and I, the wiser. He has got a pass to leave the city with +forty-eight sick and ten soldiers, and he has only to tell one of +those marked to go that he is not well enough to be moved, and will +go with the next convoy. The messenger who brought the letter has +started again, and has taken with him a led horse of mine. He will +be at the hostelry of Henri the 4th, at the place where you will +stop tonight. He will not know who you are, I have told him that a +friend of mine will call for the horse, which I had promised to +send him. + +"When you halt for the night, the doctor will order you to be +carried into his own room. You will find two or three suits of +clothes in the litter, a lackey's suit of our livery which may be +useful, a country gentleman's, and one of mine. When you are alone +with the doctor and all is safe, get up, put on the country +gentleman's suit, say goodbye to him and go straight to the stables +at the Henri the 4th. You are the Sire de Nadar. I have written a +note here, telling you the horse will be there and you are to fetch +it--here it is. The messenger will know my seal." + +"I am indeed obliged to you," Rupert said, "you have thought of +everything; but how will the doctor explain my not being +forthcoming in the morning?" + +"Oh, he will arrange that easily enough. The soldiers will all +sleep soundly enough after this march; besides, they will not, in +all probability, be near his quarters, so he will only have to say +that he found you were too ill to continue the journey, and had +therefore had you carried to a confrere of his. You must be under +no fear, Rupert, of any evil consequences to anyone, for no one +will ever connect you with the convoy. You will be missed at roll +call, but that will go for nothing. When you are absent again at +six o'clock, you will be reported as missing. Then it will be +supposed that you are hid in the city, and a sharp watch will be +set at the gates; but after a few days it will be supposed that you +have either got over the walls, or that you have gone out disguised +as a peasant. A prisoner of war more or less makes but little +difference, and there will never be any fuss about it." + +Soon after dusk on the evening of the 13th of October, Adele de +Pignerolles was sitting alone in a large room in the house of +Madame de Soissons. A wood fire was blazing, and even in that +doubtful light it might have been seen that the girl's eyes were +swollen with crying. She was not crying now, but was looking into +the fire with a set, determined look in her face. + +"I don't care," she said; "they may kill me at Saint Marie, but I +will never say yes. Oh, if papa were but here." + +At that moment there was a knock at the door, and a bright-looking +waiting maid entered. + +"A note, mademoiselle, from Mademoiselle d'Etamps--and +mademoiselle," and she put her finger mysteriously to her lips, "it +is a new lackey has brought it. I told him to come again in ten +minutes for an answer; for I thought it better he should not come +in to be looked at by Francois and Jules." + +"Why not, Margot?" Adele asked in great surprise. + +"Because, mademoiselle, he seemed to me--I may be wrong, you +know--but he seemed to me very, very like--" + +"Like whom, Margot? How mysterious you are." + +"Like the English officer," Margot said, with an arch nod. + +Adele leapt to her feet. + +"You must be mad, Margot. There, light a candle." + +But without waiting, Adele knelt down close to the fire, and broke +open the letter. + +A flush, even ruddier than that given by the fire, mounted over her +face. + +"It is him, Margot. He has come from my father. Now we are to do +what I told you about. We are to go off tonight under his charge, +to your mother's, my dear old nurse, and there I am to live with +you, and be as your cousin, till papa can get me out of the +country." + +"And is the young officer to live there till the marquis comes?" +Margot asked, slyly. "He might pass as another cousin, mademoiselle." + +"How foolish you are, Margot, and this is no time for folly. But +listen. My father says, 'Rupert will be in the street round the +corner, with three horses, at eleven o'clock. You and Margot are to +be dressed in the boys' clothes that I bade you prepare. Take in +bundles two of Margot's dresses. Do not be afraid to trust yourself +with Rupert Holliday. Regard him as a brother; he has all my +confidence and trust.'" + +"We must remember that," Margot said. + +"Remember what, Margot?" + +"Only that you are to regard him as a brother, mademoiselle." + +"Margot, Margot, I am surprised at you, joking like a child when we +have a terrible business before us. But indeed I feel so happy at +the thought of escape from that terrible convent, that I could joke +like a child also." + +"You had better write a line for him, mademoiselle. It was from +chance that I happened to be in the hall when he rang; and we don't +want him to come in to be stared at by Francois while you write an +answer." + +Quickly Adele sat down at a table, and wrote: + +"At the hour and place named, expect us--Yours, trustfully, Adele." + +As the clock struck eleven two slight figures stole noiselessly out +of the garden gate of Madame de Soissons' house at Versailles. The +town was hushed in sleep, and not a sound was moving in the street. +They carried bundles with them, and walked with rapid steps to a +small lane which led off the street by the side of the garden wall. +It was quite dark, and they could see nothing, but a voice said: + +"Adele!" + +"Rupert!" one of the figures answered, in shy, trembling tones. + +"Please stay where you are," Rupert said. "It is lighter in the +street." + +The horses were led forth noiselessly, for Rupert had fastened +cloths round their feet, to prevent the iron shoes sounding on the +round pebbles which paved the streets. + +Not a word was said. There was a warm clasp of the hand, and Rupert +lifted Adele into the saddle. Margot climbed into another, and the +three rode rapidly down the streets. Not a word was spoken until +they were in the open country. + +"Thank God, you are safe thus far, Adele. The last time I helped +you on to a horse was the day you went out to see my hawk kill a +heron." + +"Oh, Rupert," the girl said, "it seems like a dream. But please do +not let us talk yet about ourselves. Tell me about Papa. How is +he?" + +Rupert told her; and gradually as they talked the excitement and +agitation passed off. + +"And where did you get the horses, Rupert?" + +"The one I am riding is Louis d'Etamps'," he said, "the others are +your father's. I brought orders from him to his steward in Paris, +that two of his best horses were to be sent this morning to a +stable in Versailles, and left there, and that a person with an +order from him would call for them." + +"I cannot see you in the least. Are you dressed as Monsieur +d'Etamps' lackey still?" + +"No, I am now a quiet country gentleman, riding down from Paris +with my two sons, who have been up with me to see their aunt who +lives in the Rue du Tempe." + +"Talk French, please, Rupert. Margot will understand then; and she +is so brave and good, and shares my danger, so she ought to be as +one of us." + +Adele's spirits rose as they got farther from Versailles, and they +talked and laughed cheerfully, but in low tones. + +Three miles from Versailles, as they rode past a crossroad, two +mounted men dashed out suddenly. + +"Stand, in the king's name! Who are you?" + +"We are travellers," Rupert said, quietly, "and go where we will. +Who are you?" + +"We are guards of the court, and we must know who you are before we +suffer you to pass. None ride at night near Versailles but with a +pass." + +"I am an exception then," Rupert said, "and I advise you not to +interfere with us;" and he urged his horse a few feet in advance of +his companions. + +One of the horsemen seized his bridle, while another drew a pistol. + +Rupert's sword leaped from its scabbard and cut down the man who +held the rein. The other fired, but Rupert threw himself forward on +the horse's neck and the bullet whizzed over his head. He rode at +the garde, and with a heavy blow with the pommel of the sword +struck him senseless from his horse. + +"Now," he said to Adele, "we can ride on again. You are not +frightened, I hope?" + +"Not so frightened as I was the first time you drew sword in my +behalf," the girl said; "but it is very dreadful. Are they killed, +Rupert?" + +"Not a bit of it," Rupert said; "one has got a gash on the head +which will cost him a crown in plaister, the other may have lost +some teeth. It would have been wise to have killed them, for their +tale in the morning is likely to be regarded as throwing some light +upon your disappearance; but I could not kill men who were only +doing their duty. At any rate we have twelve hours' start, even if +they take up the clue and pursue us on this line tomorrow. + +"It is about ten miles this side of Poitiers that your mother +lives, is it not, Margot?" + +"Yes, Monsieur Rupert. How surprised she will be at my arrival with +my cousins." + +"Oh, we are both your cousins, are we, Margot?" + +"Mademoiselle Adele is to pass as my cousin, monsieur, and I +suppose you must be either another cousin, or else her brother." + +"Margot," Adele said, "you chatter too much." + +"Do I, mademoiselle? It is better than riding through the darkness +without speaking. I was very glad when the cloths were off the +horses' feet, for we seemed like a party of ghosts." + +"How long shall we be getting there?" Adele asked, presently. + +"Six days, if we do it all with the same horses," Rupert said; "and +I am afraid to hire horses and leave them on the way, as it would +look as if we were pressed for time. No, for today we are safe--but +for today only. Messengers will be sent in all directions with +orders for our arrest. They will take fresh relays of horses; and +really our only hope is in disguise. I propose that we go the first +stage without halting as far as our horses will carry us. I think +we can get to Orleans. There we will put them up, and take rooms. +Then Margot must slip out in her own dress and buy two peasant +girls' attire, and I will pick up at some dealer in old clothes a +suit which will enable me to pass as a wounded soldier making his +way home. Then we will strike off from the main road and follow the +lanes and get on some other road. They will inquire all along the +road and will hear of a gentleman and two youths, and will for a +while have that in their minds. No one will particularly notice us, +and we shall get into Tours safely enough. + +"We must never enter a house or town together, for they will be on +the lookout for three people, and neither a soldier with his head +bound up, nor two peasant girls, will attract attention. At Tours I +will get a farmer's dress, and will buy a horse and cart, and a +load of hay, and will pick you up outside the town. You can get on +the hay, and can cover yourselves over if you see any horsemen in +pursuit. After that it will be all easy work." + +"Why could you not get the cart at Orleans, Rupert?" Adele asked. + +"I might," he said; "but I think that the extra change would be +best, as they would then have no clue whatever to follow. They will +trace us to Orleans, and you may be sure that there will be a hot +hue and cry, and it may be that the fact of a horse and cart having +been sold would come out. They will not know whether we have made +east, west, or south from there, so there will be a far less active +search at Tours than there will at Orleans." + +So the journey was carried out, and without any serious adventure; +although with a great many slight alarms, and some narrow escapes +of detection, which cannot be here detailed. The party arrived at +the spot where the lane leading to the little farm occupied by +Margot's mother left the main road. Here they parted, the girls +taking their bundles, and starting to trudge the last few miles on +foot. + +Margot discreetly went on a little ahead, to give her mistress the +opportunity of speaking to Rupert alone, but she need not have done +so, for all that Rupert said was: + +"I have been in the light of your brother this time, Adele, as your +father gave you into my charge. If I ever come again, dear, it will +be different." + +"You are very good, Rupert. Goodbye;" and with a wave of the hand +she ran after Margot; while Rupert, mounting the cart, drove on +into Poitiers. + +Here he sold his load of hay to a stable keeper, drove a mile or +two out of the town, entered a wood, and then took the horse out of +the cart, and leaving the latter in a spot where, according to all +appearances, it was not likely to be seen for months, drove the +horse still further into the wood, and, placing a pistol to its +head, shot it dead. Then he renewed his disguise as a soldier, but +this time dispensed with the greater part of his bandages, and set +out on his return, in high spirits at having so successfully +performed his journey. + +He pursued his journey as far back as Blois without the slightest +interruption, but here his tramp came to a sudden termination. +Secure in the excellence of his French, Rupert had attempted no +disguise as to his face beyond such as was given by a strip of +plaister, running from the upper lip to the temple. He strode gaily +along, sometimes walking alone, sometimes joining some other +wayfarer, telling every one that he was from Bordeaux, where he had +been to see his parents, and get cured of a sabre cut. + +As he passed through the town of Blois, Rupert suddenly came upon a +group of horsemen. Saluting as he passed--for in those days in +France no one of inferior rank passed one of the upper classes +without uncovering--he went steadily on. + +"That is a proper looking fellow," one of the party said, looking +after him. + +"By our Lady," exclaimed another, "I believe I have seen that head +and shoulders before. Yes, I feel sure. + +"Gentlemen, we have made a prize. Unless I am greatly mistaken, +this is the villainous Englishman who it is believed aided that +malapert young lady to escape." + +In another moment Rupert was surrounded. His hat was knocked off; +and the Duc de Carolan, for it was he, exclaimed in delight: + +"I thought that I could not be mistaken. It is himself." + +Rupert attempted no resistance, for alone and on foot it would have +been hopeless. + +The governor of the royal castle of Blois was one of the party, and +Rupert found himself in another ten minutes standing, with guards +on each side of him, before a table in the governor's room, with +the governor and the Duc de Carolan sitting as judges before him. + +"I have nothing to say," Rupert said, quietly. "I escaped from +Lille because I had been, as I deemed it, unworthily treated in +Paris. I had withdrawn my parole, and was therefore free to escape +if I could. I did escape, but finding the frontier swarmed with +French troops, I thought it safer to make for central France, where +a wayfarer would not be looked upon as suspiciously as in the +north. Here I am. I decline to answer any further questions. + +"As to the lady of whom you question me, I rejoice to find, by the +drift of your questions, that she has withdrawn herself from the +persecution which she suffered, and has escaped being forced into +marriage with a man she once described in my hearing as an ape in +the costume of the day." + +"And that is all you will say, prisoner?" the governor asked, while +the Duc de Carolan gave an exclamation of fury. + +"That is all, sir; and I would urge, that as an English officer I +am entitled to fair and honourable treatment; for although I might +have been shot in the act of trying to escape from prison, it is +the rule that an escaping prisoner caught afterwards, as I am, +should have fair treatment, although his imprisonment should be +stricter and more secure than before. + +"As to the other matter, there cannot be, I am assured, even a +tittle of evidence to connect me with the event you mention. As far +as I hear from you, I escaped on the 10th from Lille, which date is +indeed accurate. Three days later Mademoiselle de Pignerolles left +Versailles. The connection between the two events does not appear +in any way clear to me." + +"It may or it may not be," the governor said. "However, my duty is +clear, to keep you here in safe ward until I receive his Majesty's +orders." + +Four days later the royal order came. Rupert was to be taken to the +dreaded fortress prison of Loches, a place from which not one in a +hundred of those who entered in ever came from alive. + + + +Chapter 20: Loches. + +"A British officer; broke out from Lille. Ah!" the Governor of +Loches said to himself, as he glanced over the royal order. +"Something else beyond that, I fancy. Prisoners of war who try to +break prison are not sent to Loches. I suppose he has been in +somebody's way very seriously. A fine young fellow, too--a really +splendid fellow. A pity really; however, it is not my business. + +"Number four, in the south tower," he said, and Rupert was led +away. + +Number four was a cell on the third story of the south tower. More +than that Rupert did not know. There was no looking out from the +loopholes that admitted light, for they were boarded up on the +outside. There was a fireplace, a table, a chair, and a bedstead. +Twice a day a gaoler entered with provisions; he made no reply to +Rupert's questions, but shook his head when spoken to. + +For the first week Rupert bore his imprisonment with cheerfulness, +but the absolute silence, the absence of anything to break the +dreary monotony, the probability that he might remain a prisoner +all his life, was crushing even to the most active and energetic +temperament. + +At the end of a month the gaoler made a motion for him to follow +him. Ascending the stairs to a great height, they reached the +platform on the top of the tower. + +Rupert was delighted with the sight of the sky, and of the +wide-spreading fields--even though the latter was covered with +snow. For a half-an-hour he paced rapidly round and round the +limited walk. Presently the gaoler touched him, and pointing below, +said: + +"Look!" + +Rupert looked over the battlement, and saw a little party issue +from a small postern gate far below him, cross the broad fosse, and +pause in an open space formed by an outlying work beyond. They bore +with them a box. + +"A funeral?" Rupert asked. + +The man nodded. + +"They all go out at last," he said, "but unless they tell what they +are wanted to tell, they go no other way." + +Five minutes later Rupert was again locked up in his cell, when he +was, in the afternoon of the same day, visited by the governor, who +asked if he would say where he had taken Mademoiselle Pignerolles. + +"You may as well answer," he said. "You will never go out alive +unless you do." + +Rupert shook his head. + +"I do not admit that I know aught concerning the lady you name; but +did I so, I should prefer death to betraying her." + +"Ay," the governor said, "you might do that; but death is very +preferable to life at Loches." + +In a day or two Rupert found himself again desponding. + +"This will not do," he said earnestly. "I must arouse myself. Let +me think, what have I heard that prisoners do? In the first place +they try to escape; and some have escaped from places as difficult +as Loches. Well, that is one thing to be thought very seriously +about. In the next place, I have heard of their making pets of +spiders and all sorts of things. Well, I may come to that, but at +present I don't like spiders well enough to make pets of them; +besides I don't see any spiders to make pets of. Then some +prisoners have carved walls, but I have no taste for carving. + +"I might keep my muscles in order and my health good by exercise +with the chair and table; get to hold them out at arm's length, +lift the table with one hand, and so on. Yes, all sorts of exercise +might be continued in that way, and the more I take exercise the +better I shall sleep at night and enjoy my meals. Yes, with nothing +else to do I might become almost a Samson here. + +"There, now my whole time is marked out--escape from prison, and +exercise. I'll try the last first, and then think over the other." + +For a long time Rupert worked away with his furniture until he had +quite exhausted himself; then feeling happier and better than he +had done since he was shut up, he began to think of plans of +escape. The easiest way would of course be to knock down and gag +the gaoler, and to escape in the clothes; but this plan he put +aside at once, as it was morally certain that he should be no +nearer to his escape after reaching the courtyard of the prison, +than he was in the cell. There remained then the chimney, the +loophole, and the solid wall. + +The chimney was the first to disappear from the calculation. +Looking up it, Rupert saw that it was crossed by a dozen iron bars, +the height too was very great, and even when at the top the height +was immense to descend to the fosse. + +The loophole was next examined. It was far too narrow to squeeze +through, and was crossed by three sets of bars. The chance of +widening the narrow loophole and removing the bars without +detection was extreme; besides, Rupert had a strong idea that the +loophole looked into the courtyard. + +Finally he came to the conclusion, that if an escape was to be made +it must be by raising a flag of the floor, tunnelling between his +room and that underneath it, and working out through the solid +wall. It would be a tremendous work, for the loophole showed him +that the wall must be ten feet thick; still, as he said to himself, +it will be at least something to do and to think about, and even if +it takes five years and comes to nothing, it will have been useful. + +Thus resolved, Rupert went to work, and laboured steadily. His +exercise with the chair and table succeeded admirably, and after +six months he was able to perform feats of strength with them that +surprised himself. With his scheme for escape he was less +fortunate. Either his tools were faulty, or the stones he had to +work upon were too compact and well built, but beyond getting up +the flag, making a hole below it in the hard cement which filled in +the space between the floor, large enough to bury a good sized cat, +Rupert achieved nothing. + +He had gone into prison in November, it was now August, and he was +fast coming to the idea that Loches was not to be broken out of by +the way in which he was attempting to do it. + +One circumstance gave him intense delight. Adele's hiding place had +not been discovered. This he was sure of by the urgency with which +the governor strove to extract from him the secret of her +whereabouts. Their demands were at the last meeting mingled with +threats, and Rupert felt that the governor had received stringent +orders to wring the truth from him. So serious did these menaces +become that Rupert ceased to labour at the floor of his cell, being +assured that ere long some change or other would take place. He was +not mistaken. One day the governor entered, attended, as usual, by +the gaoler and another official. + +"Sir," he said to Rupert, "we can no longer be trifled with. I have +orders to obtain from you the name of the place to which you +escorted the young lady you went off with. If you refuse to answer +me, a different system to that which has hitherto been pursued will +be adopted. You will be removed from this comfortable room and +placed in the dungeons. Once there, you must either speak or die, +for few men are robust enough to exist there for many weeks. + +"I am sorry, sir, but I have my duty to do. Will you speak, or will +you change your room?" + +"I will change my room," Rupert said, quietly. "I may die; but if +by any chance I should ever see the light again, be assured that +all Europe shall know how officers taken in war are treated by the +King of France." + +The governor shrugged his shoulders, made a sign to the gaoler, who +opened the door, and as the governor left four other warders +entered the room. Rupert smiled, he knew that this display of force +was occasioned by the fact that his gaoler, entering his room +suddenly, had several times caught him balancing the weighty table +on his arm or performing other feats which had astounded the +Frenchman. The work at the cell wall had always been done at night. + +"I am ready to accompany you," Rupert said, and without another +word followed his conductor downstairs. + +Arrived at a level with the yard, another door was unlocked, and +the party descended down some stairs, where the cold dampness of +the air struck a chill to Rupert's heart. Down some forty feet, and +then a door was unlocked, and Rupert saw his new abode. It was of +about the same size as the last, but was altogether without +furniture. In one corner, as he saw by the light of a lantern which +the gaoler carried, was a stone bench on which was a bundle of +straw. The walls streamed with moisture, and in some places the +water stood in shallow pools on the floor; the dungeon was some +twelve feet high; eight feet from the ground was a narrow loophole, +eighteen inches in height and about three inches wide. The gaoler +placed a pitcher of water and a piece of bread on the bench, and +then without a word the party left. + +Rupert sat quiet on the bench for an hour or two before his eyes +became sufficiently accustomed to the darkness to see anything, for +but the feeblest ray of light made its way through so small a +loophole in a wall of such immense thickness. + +"The governor was right," he muttered to himself. "A month or two +of this place would kill a dog." + +It was not until the next day that the gaoler made his appearance. +He was not the same who had hitherto attended him, but a +powerful-looking ruffian who was evidently under no orders as to +silence such as those which had governed the conduct of the other. + +"Well," he began, "and how does your worship like your new palace?" + +"It is hardly cheerful," Rupert said; "but I do not know that +palaces are ever particularly cheerful." + +"You are a fine fellow," the gaoler said, looking at Rupert by the +light of his lantern. "I noted you yesterday as you came down, and +I thought it a pity then that you would not say what they wanted +you to. I don't know what it is, and don't want to; but when a +prisoner comes down here, it is always because they want to get +something out of him, or they want to finish with him for good and +all. You see you are below the level of the moat here. The water +comes at ordinary times to within six inches of that slit up there. +And in wet weather it happens sometimes that the stream which feeds +the moat swells, and if it has been forgotten to open the sluice +gates of the moat, it will rise ten feet before morning. I once +knew a prisoner drowned in the cell above this." + +"Well," Rupert said, calmly. "After all one may as well be drowned +as die by inches. I don't owe you any ill will, but I should be +almost glad if I did, for then I should dash your brains out +against the wall, and fight till they had to bring soldiers down to +kill me." + +The man gave a surly growl. + +"I have my knife," he said. + +"Just so," Rupert answered; "and it may be, although I do not think +it likely, that you might kill me before I knocked your brains out; +but that would be just what I should like. I repeat, it is only +because I have no ill will towards you that I don't at once begin a +struggle which would end in my death one way or another." + +The gaoler said no more; but it was clear that Rupert's words had +in no slight degree impressed him, for he was on all his future +visits as civil as it was within his nature to be. + +"Whenever you wish to see the governor, he will come to you." he +said to Rupert one day. + +"If the governor does not come till I send for him," Rupert +answered, "he will never come." + +Even in this dungeon, where escape seemed hopeless, Rupert +determined to do his best to keep life and strength together. +Nothing but the death of the king seemed likely to bring relief, +and that event might be many years distant. When it took place, his +old friend would, he was sure, endeavour in every way to find out +where he was confined, and to obtain his release. At any rate he +determined to live as long as he could; and he kept up his spirits +by singing scraps of old songs, and his strength by such gymnastic +exercises as he could carry out without the aid of any movable +article. At first he struck out his arms as if fighting, so many +hundred of times; then he took to walking on his hands; and at last +he loosened one of the stones which formed the top of the bed, and +invented all sorts of exercises with it. + +"What is the day and month?" he said one day to his gaoler. + +"It is the 15th of October." + +"It is very dark," Rupert said, "darker than usual." + +"It is raining," the jailer said; "raining tremendously." + +Late that night Rupert was awoke by the splashing of water. He +leaped to his feet. The cell was already a foot deep in water. + +"Ha!" he exclaimed, "it is one thing or the other now." + +Rupert had been hoping for a flood; it might bring death, but he +thought that it was possible that it might bring deliverance. + +The top of the loophole was some two and a half feet from the +vaulted roof; the top of the door was about on the same level, or +some six inches lower. The roof arched some three feet above the +point whence it sprang. + +Rupert had thought it all over, and concluded that it was possible, +nay almost certain, that even should the water outside rise ten +feet above the level of his roof, sufficient air would be pent up +there to prevent the water from rising inside, and to supply him +with sufficient to breathe for many hours. He was more afraid of +the effects of cold than of being drowned. He felt that in a flood +in October the water was likely to be fairly warm, and he +congratulated himself that it was now, instead of in December, that +he should have to pass through the ordeal. + +Before commencing the struggle, he kneeled for some time in prayer +on his bed, and then, with a firm heart, rose to his feet and +awaited the rising of the water. This was rapid indeed. It was +already two feet over his bed, and minute by minute it rose higher. + +When it reached his chin, which it did in less than a quarter of an +hour from the time when he had first awoke, he swam across to the +loophole, which was now but a few inches above the water, and +through which a stream of water still poured. Impossible as it was +for any human being to get through the narrow slit, an iron bar had +been placed across it. Of this Rupert took hold, and remained +quiescent as the water mounted higher and higher; presently it rose +above the top of the loophole, and Rupert now watched anxiously how +fast it ran. Floating on his back, and keeping a finger at the +water level against the wall, he could feel that the water still +rose. It seemed to him that the rise was slower and slower, and at +last his finger remained against a point in the stones for some +minutes without moving. The rise of the water inside the dungeon +had ceased. + +That it continued outside he guessed by a slight but distinct +feeling of pressure in the air, showing that the column of water +outside was compressing it. He had no fear of any bad consequences +from this source, as even a height of twelve feet of water outside +would not give any unbearable pressure. He was more afraid that he +himself would exhaust the air, but he believed that there would be +sufficient; and as he knew that the less he exerted himself the +less air he required, he floated quietly on his back, with his feet +resting on the bar across the loophole, now two feet under water. + +He scarcely felt the water cold. The rain had come from a warm +quarter; and the temperature of the water was actually higher than +that of the cold and humid dungeon. + +Hour after hour passed. The night appeared interminable. From time +to time Rupert dived so as to look through the loophole, and at +last was rewarded by seeing a faint dull light. Day was beginning; +and Rupert had no doubt that with early morning the sluices would +be opened, and the moat entirely cleared of water. + +He had, when talking with his gaoler one day, asked him how they +got rid of the water in the dungeon after a flood, and the man said +that there were pipes from the floor of each dungeon into the moat. +At ordinary times these pipes were closed by wooden plugs, as the +water outside was far above the floor; but that after a flood the +water was entirely let out of the moat, and the plugs removed from +the pipes, which thus emptied the dungeons. + +From the way in which the fellow described the various +arrangements, Rupert had little doubt that the sluice gates were at +times purposely left closed, in order to clear off troublesome +prisoners who might otherwise have remained a care and expense to +the state for years to come. + +Long as the night had seemed, it seemed even longer before Rupert +felt that the water was sinking. He knew that after the upper +sluice had opened the fosse might take some time to fall to the +level of the water inside the dungeon, and that until it did the +water inside would remain stationary. + +He passed the hours by changing his position as much as possible; +sometimes he swam round and round, at other times he trod water, +then he would float quietly, then cling to the bar of the loophole. + +The descent of the water came upon him at last as a surprise. He +was swimming round and round, and had not for some time touched the +wall, when suddenly a ray of light flashed in his face. He gave a +cry of joy. The water had fallen below the top of the loophole, and +swimming up to it, he could see across the fosse, and watch the +sunlight sparkling on the water. It was two months since he had +seen the light, and the feeling of joy overpowered him more than +the danger he had faced. + +Rapidly the water fell, until it was level with the bottom of the +loophole. Then hours passed away; for the fosse would have to be +emptied before the drain leading from the dungeon could be opened. +However, Rupert hardly felt the time long. With his hands on the +bar and in the loophole, he remained gazing out at the sunlight. + +The water in the fosse sank and sank, until he could no longer see +it; but he could see the sun glistening on the wet grass of the +bank, and he was satisfied. At last he was conscious of a strain on +his arm, and withdrawing his gaze from without, he saw that the +water had fallen six inches. + +It now sank rapidly; and in an hour he could stand with his head +above it. Then he was able to sit down on his bed; but when the +water sank to a depth of two feet, he again lay on his back and +floated. He knew that a thick deposit of mud would be left, and +that it was essential for his plan that he should drift to the exit +hole of the water, and there be found, with the mud and slime +undisturbed by footsteps or movement. Another ten minutes, and he +lay on his back on the ground in a corner of the dungeon to which +the water had floated him, having taken care towards the end to +sink his head so that his hair floated partly over it, and as the +water drained off remained so. He guessed it to be about midday, +and he expected to be left undisturbed until night. + +After a time he slept, and when he awoke it was dark, and soon +after he heard steps coming down the stairs. Now was the moment of +trial. Presently the door opened and four of the gaolers came in. +They bore between them a stretcher. + +"This is the fifth," one said, and he recognized the voice of his +own attendant. "It is a pity, he was a fine fellow. Well, there's +one more, and then the job's done." + +He bent over Rupert, who ceased breathing. + +"He's the only one with his eyes closed," he said. "I expect +there's someone would break her heart if she knew he was lying +here. Well, lift him up, mates." + +The two months' imprisonment in the dungeon had done one good +service for Rupert. The absence of light had blanched his face, and +even had he been dead he could hardly have looked more white than +he did. The long hours in the water had made his hands deadly cold, +and the hair matted on his face added to the deathlike aspect. + +"Put the stretcher on the ground, and roll him over on to it," one +of the men said. "I don't mind a dead man, but these are so clammy +and slimy that they are horrible to touch. There, stand between him +and the wall, put a foot under him, roll him over. There, nothing +could be better! Now then, off we go with him. The weight's more +than twice as much as the others." + +Rupert lay with his face down on the stretcher, and felt himself +carried upstairs, then along several long passages, then through a +door, and felt the fresh evening air. Now by the sound he knew that +he was being carried over the bridge across the moat to the burying +ground. Then the stretcher was laid down. + +"Now then, roll him over into the hole," one said, "and let us go +back for the last. Peste! I am sick of this job, and shall need a +bottle of eau de vie to put me straight again." + +One side of the stretcher was lifted, and Rupert was rolled over. +The fall was not deep, some three or four feet only, and he fell on +a soft mass, whose nature he could well guess at. A minute later he +heard the retreating footsteps of his gaolers, and leaping from the +grave, stood a free man by its side. + +He knew that he was not only free, but safe from any active +pursuit, for he felt sure that the gaolers, when they returned with +their last load, would throw it in and fill up the grave, and that +no suspicion that it contained one short of the number would arise. + +This in itself was an immense advantage to him, for on the escape +of a prisoner from Loches--an event which had happened but once or +twice in its records--a gun was fired and the whole country turned +out in pursuit of the prisoner. + +Rupert paused for two minutes before commencing his flight, and +kneeling down, thanked God for his escape. Then he climbed the low +ramparts, dropped beyond them, and struck across country. The +exercise soon sent the blood dancing through his hands again, and +by the morning he was thirty-five miles from Loches. + +He had stopped once, a mile or two after starting, when he came to +a stream. Into this he had waded, and had washed the muck stains +from his clothes, hair, and face. + +With the morning dawn his clothes were dry, and he presented to the +eye an aspect similar to that which he wore when captured at Blois +nearly a year before, of a dilapidated and broken-down soldier, for +he had retained in prison the clothes he wore when captured; but +they had become infinitely more dingy from the wear and tear of +prison, and the soaking had destroyed all vestige of colour. + +Presently he came to a mill by a stream. + +"Hallo!" the miller said cheerily, from his door. "You seem to have +been in the wars, friend." + +"I have in my way," Rupert said. "I was wounded in Flanders. I have +been home to Bordeaux, and got cured again. I started for the army +again, and some tramps who slept in the same room with me robbed me +of my last shilling. To complete my disaster, last night, not +having money to pay for a bed, I tramped on, fell into a stream, +and was nearly drowned." + +"Come in," said the miller. "Wife, here is a poor fellow out of +luck. Give him a bowl of hot milk, and some bread." + + + +Chapter 21: Back in Harness. + +"You must have had a bad time of it." the miller said, as he +watched Rupert eating his breakfast. "I don't know that I ever saw +anyone so white as you are, and yet you look strong, too." + +"I am strong," Rupert said, "but I had an attack, and all my colour +went. It will come back again soon, but I am only just out. You +don't want a man, do you? I am strong and willing. I don't want to +beg my way to the army, and I am ashamed of my clothes. There will +be no fighting till the spring. I don't want high pay, just my food +and enough to get me a suit of rough clothes, and to keep me in +bread and cheese as I go back." + +"From what part of France do you come?" the miller asked. "You +don't speak French as people do hereabouts." + +"I come from Brittany," Rupert said; "but I learnt to speak the +Paris dialect there, and have almost forgotten my own, I have been +so long away." + +"Well, I will speak to my wife," the miller said. "Our last hand +went away three months since, and all the able-bodied men have been +sent to the army. So I can do with you if my wife likes you." + +The miller's wife again came and inspected the wanderer, and +declared that if he were not so white he would be well enough, but +that such a colour did not seem natural. + +Rupert answered her that it would soon go, and offered that if, at +the end of a week, he did not begin to show signs of colour coming, +he would give up the job. + +The bargain was sealed. The miller supplied him with a pair of +canvas trousers and a blouse. Rupert cut off his long hair, and set +to work as the miller's man. + +In a week the miller's wife, as well as the miller himself, was +delighted with him. His great strength, his willingness and +cheeriness kept, as they said, the place alive, and the pallor of +his face had so far worn off by the end of the week that the +miller's wife was satisfied that he would, as he said, soon look +like a human being, and not like a walking corpse. + +The winter passed off quietly, and Rupert stood higher and higher +in the liking of the worthy couple with whom he lived; the climax +being reached when, in midwinter, a party of marauders--for at that +time the wars of France and the distress of the people had filled +the country with bands of men who set the laws at defiance--five in +number, came to the mill and demanded money. + +The miller, who was not of a warlike disposition, would have given +up all the earnings which he had stored away, but Rupert took down +an old sword which hung over the fireplace; and sallying out, ran +through the chief of the party, desperately wounded two others, and +by sheer strength tossed the others into the mill stream, standing +over them when they scrambled out, and forcing them to dig a grave +and bury their dead captain and to carry off their wounded +comrades. + +Thus when the spring came, and Rupert said that he must be going, +the regrets of the miller and his wife were deep, and by offer of +higher pay they tried to get him to stay. Rupert however was, of +course, unable to accede to their request, and was glad when they +received a letter from a son in the army, saying that he had been +laid up with fever, and had got his discharge, and was just +starting to settle with them at the mill. + +Saying goodbye to his kind employers, Rupert started with a stout +suit of clothes, fifty francs in his pocket, and a document signed +by the Maire of the parish to the effect that Antoine Duprat, +miller's man, had been working through the winter at Evres, and was +now on his way to join his regiment with the army of Flanders. + +Determined to run no more risks if he could avoid it, he took a +line which would avoid Paris and all other towns at which he had +ever shown himself. Sometimes he tramped alone, more often with +other soldiers who had been during the winter on leave to recover +from the effects of wounds or of fevers. From their talk Rupert +learned with satisfaction that the campaign which he had missed had +been very uneventful, and that no great battles had taken place. It +was expected that the struggle that would begin in a few weeks +would be a desperate one, both sides having made great efforts to +place a predominating force in the field. + +As he had no idea of putting on the French uniform even for a day, +Rupert resolved as he approached the army frontier to abandon his +story that he was a soldier going to take his place in the ranks. + +When he reached Amiens he found the streets encumbered with baggage +waggons taking up provisions and stores to the army. The drivers +had all been pressed into the service. Going into a cabaret, he +heard some young fellow lamenting bitterly that he had been dragged +away from home when he was in three weeks to have been married. +Waiting until he left, Rupert followed him, and told him that he +had heard what he had said and was ready to go as his substitute, +if he liked. For a minute or two the poor fellow could hardly +believe his good fortune; but when he found that he was in earnest +he was delighted, and hurried off to the contractor in charge of +the train--Rupert stopping with him by the way to buy a blouse, in +which he looked more fitted for the post. + +The contractor, seeing that Rupert was a far more powerful and +useful-looking man than the driver whose place he offered to take, +made no difficulty whatever; and in five minutes Rupert, with a +metal plate with his number hung round his neck, was walking by the +side of a heavily-loaded team, while their late driver, with his +papers of discharge in his pocket, had started for home almost wild +with delight. + +For a month Rupert worked backwards and forwards, between the posts +and the depots. As yet the allies had not taken the field, and he +knew that he should have no chance of crossing a wide belt of +country patrolled in every direction by the French cavalry. At the +end of that time the infantry moved out from their quarters and +took the field, and the allied army advanced towards them. The +French army, under Vendome, numbered 100,000 men, while +Marlborough, owing to the intrigues of his enemies at home, and the +dissensions of the allies, was able to bring only 70,000 into the +field. + +The French had correspondents in most of the towns in Flanders, +where the rapacity of the Dutch had exasperated the people against +their new masters, and made them long for the return of the French. + +A plot was on foot to deliver Antwerp to the French, and Vendome +moved forward to take advantage of it; but Marlborough took post at +Halle, and Vendome halted his army at Soignies, three leagues +distant. Considerable portions of each force moved much closer to +each other, and lay watching each other across a valley but a mile +wide. + +Rupert happened to be with the waggons taking ammunition up to the +artillery in an advanced position, and determined, if possible, to +seize the opportunity of rejoining his countrymen. A lane running +between two high hedges led from the foot of the hill where he was +standing, directly across the valley, and Rupert slipping away +unnoticed, made the best of his way down the lane. When nearly half +across the valley, the hedges ceased, and Rupert issued out into +open fields. + +Hitherto, knowing that he had not been noticed, he had husbanded +his breath, and had only walked quickly, but as he came into the +open he started at a run. He was already nearly half way between +the armies, and reckoned that before any of the French cavalry +could overtake him he would be within reach of succour by his +friends. + +A loud shout from behind him showed that he was seen, and looking +round he saw that a French general officer, accompanied by another +officer and a dragoon, were out in front of their lines +reconnoitring the British position. They, seeing the fugitive, set +spurs to their horses to cut him off. Rupert ran at the top of his +speed, and could hear a roar of encouragement from the troops in +front. He was assured that there was no cavalry at this part of the +lines, and that he must be overtaken long before he could get +within the very short distance that then constituted musket range. + +Finding that escape was out of the question, he slackened his +speed, so as to leave himself breath for the conflict. He was armed +only with a heavy stick. The younger officer, better mounted, and +anxious to distinguish himself on so conspicuous an occasion, was +the first to arrive. + +Rupert faced round. His cap had fallen off, and grasping the small +end of the stick, he poised himself for the attack. + +The French officer drew rein with a sudden cry, + +"You!" he exclaimed, "you! What, still alive?" + +"Yet no thanks to you, Monsieur le Duc," Rupert said, bitterly. +"Even Loches could not hold me." + +His companions were now close at hand, and with a cry of fury the +duke rode at Rupert. The latter gave the horse's nose a sharp blow +as the duke's sweeping blow descended. The animal reared suddenly, +disconcerting the aim, and before its feet touched the ground the +heavy knob of Rupert's stick, driven with the whole strength of his +arm, struck the duke on the forehead. + +At the same instant as the duke fell, a lifeless mass, over the +crupper, Rupert leaped to the other side of the horse, placing the +animal between him and the other assailants as they swept down upon +him. Before they could check their horses he vaulted into the +saddle, and with an adroit wheel avoided the rush of the dragoon. + +The shouts of the armies, spectators of the singular combat, were +now loud, and the two Frenchmen attacked Rupert furiously, one on +each side. With no weapon but a stick, Rupert felt such a conflict +to be hopeless, and with a spring as sudden as that with which he +had mounted he leapt to the ground, as the general on one side and +the dragoon on the other cut at him at the same moment. + +The spring took him close to the horse of the latter, and before +the amazed soldier could again strike, Rupert had vaulted on to the +horse, behind him. Then using his immense strength--a strength +brought to perfection by his exercise at Loches, and his work in +lifting sacks as a miller's man--he seized with both hands the +French soldier by the belt, lifted him from the seat, and threw him +backwards over his head, the man flying through the air some yards +before he fell on the ground with a heavy crash. Driving his heels +into the horse, he rode him straight at the French general, as the +latter--who had dashed forward as Rupert unseated the trooper--came +at him. Rupert received a severe cut on the left shoulder, but the +impetus of the heavier horse and rider rolled the French officer +and his horse on to the ground. Rupert shifted his seat into the +saddle, leapt the fallen horse, and stooping down seized the +officer by his waist belt, lifted him from the ground as if he had +been a child, threw him across the horse in front of him, and +galloped forward towards the allied lines, amid a perfect roar of +cheering, just as a British cavalry regiment rode out from between +the infantry to check a body of French dragoons who were galloping +up at full speed from their side. + +With a thundering cheer the British regiment reined up as Rupert +rode up to them, the French dragoons having halted when they saw +that the struggle was over. + +"Why, as I live," shouted Colonel Forbes, "it's the little cornet!" + +"The little cornet! The little cornet!" shouted the soldiers, and +waved their swords and cheered again and again, in wild enthusiasm; +as Colonel Forbes, Lauriston, Dillon, and the other officers, +pressed forward to greet their long-lost comrade. + +Before, however, a word of explanation could be uttered, an officer +rode up. + +"The Duke of Marlborough wishes to see you," he said, in French. + +"Will you take charge of this little officer, colonel?" Rupert +said, placing the French general, who was half suffocated by +pressure, rage, and humiliation, on his feet again. + +"Now, sir," he said to the officer, "I am with you." + +The latter led the way to the spot where the duke was sitting on +horseback surrounded by his staff, on rising ground a hundred yards +behind the infantry regiment. + +"My Lord Duke," Rupert said, as he rode up, "I beg to report myself +for duty." + +"Rupert Holliday!" exclaimed the duke, astonished. "My dear boy, +where do you come from, and where have you been? I thought I was +looking at the deeds of some modern Paladin, but now it is all +accounted for. + +"I wrote myself to Marshal Villeroi to ask tidings of you, and to +know why you were not among the officers exchanged; and I was told +that you had escaped from Lille, and had never been heard of +since." + +"He never heard of me, sir, but his Majesty of France could have +given you further news. But the story is too long for telling you +now." + +"You must be anxious about your friends, Rupert. I heard from +Colonel Holliday just before I left England, begging me to cause +further inquiries to be made for you. He mentioned that your lady +mother was in good health, but greatly grieving at your +disappearance. Neither of them believed you to be dead, and were +confident you would reappear. + +"And now, who is the French officer you brought in?" + +"I don't know, sir," Rupert said, laughing. "There was no time for +any formal introduction, and I made his acquaintance without asking +his name." + +An officer was at once sent off to Colonel Forbes to inquire the +name of the prisoner. + +"There is one of your assailants making off!" the duke said; and +Rupert saw that the trooper had regained his feet and was limping +slowly away. + +"He fell light," Rupert said; "he was no weight to speak of." + +"The other officer is killed, I think," the duke said, looking with +a telescope. + +"I fancy so," Rupert said, drily. "I hit him rather hard. He was +the Duc de Carolan, and as he had given much annoyance to a friend +of mine, not to mention a serious act of disservice to myself, I +must own that if I had to kill a Frenchman in order to escape, I +could not have picked out one with whom I had so long an account to +settle." + +The officer now rode back, and reported that the prisoner was +General Mouffler. + +"A good cavalry officer," the duke said. "It is a useful capture. + +"And now, Rupert, you will want to be with your friends. If we +encamp here tonight, come in to me after it is dark and tell me +what you have been doing. If not, come to me the first evening we +halt." + +Rupert now rode back to his regiment, where he was again received +with the greatest delight. The men had now dismounted, and Rupert, +after a few cordial words with his brother officers, went off to +find Hugh. + +He found the faithful fellow leaning against a tree, fairly crying +with emotion and delight, and Rupert himself could not but shed +tears of pleasure at his reunion with his attached friend. After a +talk with Hugh, Rupert again returned to the officers, who were +just sitting down to a dinner on the grass. + +After the meal was over Rupert was called upon to relate his +adventures. Some parts of his narrative were clear enough, but +others were singularly confused and indistinct. The first parts +were all satisfactory. Rupert's capture was accounted for. He said +that in the person of the commanding officer he met an old friend +of Colonel Holliday, who took him to Paris, and presented him at +Versailles. + +Then the narrative became indistinct. He fell into disgrace. His +friend was sent back to the army, and he was sent to Lille. + +"But why was this, Rupert," Captain Dillon--for he was now a +captain--asked. "Did you call his Majesty out? Or did you kiss +Madame de Maintenon? Or run away with a maid of honour?" + +A dozen laughing suggestions were made, and then Rupert said +gravely: + +"There was an unfounded imputation that I was interfering with the +plans which his Majesty had formed for the marriage of a lady and +gentleman of the court." + +Rupert spoke so gravely that his brother officers saw that any +joking here would be ill timed; but sly winks were exchanged as +Rupert, changing the subject, went on to recount his captivity at +Lille. + +The story of his escape was listened to eagerly, and then Rupert +made a long pause, and coloured lightly. + +"Several things of no importance then happened," he said, "and as I +was going through the streets of Blois--" + +"The streets of where?" Colonel Forbes asked, in astonishment. "You +escape from Lille, just on the frontier, what on earth were you +doing down at Blois, a hundred miles south of Paris?" + +Rupert paused again. + +"I really cannot explain it, colonel. I shall make a point of +telling the duke, and if he considers that I acted wrongly, I must +bear his displeasure; but the matter is of no real importance, and +does not greatly concern my adventures. Forgive me, if I do not +feel justified in telling it. All the rest is plain sailing." + +Again the narrative went on, and the surprise at hearing that +Rupert had been confined at Loches, well known as a prison for +dangerous political offenders, was only exceeded by that occasioned +by the incidents of his escape therefrom. Rupert carried on his +story to the point of the escape from the French, which they had +just witnessed. + +There was a chorus of congratulations at his having gone safely +through such great dangers; and Dillon remarked: + +"It appears to me that you have been wasting your time and your +gifts most amazingly. Here have you been absent just two years, and +with the exception of a paltry marauder you do not seem to have +slain a single Frenchman, till you broke that officer's skull +today. + +"I think, my friends, that the least we can do is to pass a formal +vote of censure upon our comrade for such a grievous waste of his +natural advantages. The only thing in his favour is, that he seems +to have been giving up his whole attention to growing, and he has +got so prodigiously broad and big that now he has again joined us +he will be able to make up for the otherwise sinful loss of time." + +A chorus of laughter greeted Dillon's proposal, and the merry group +then broke up, and each went off to his duty. + +Rupert's first effort was to obtain such clothes as would enable +him to appear in his place in the ranks without exciting laughter. +Hugh told him that all his clothes and effects were in store at +Liege, but indeed it was questionable whether any would be of use +to him. He was not taller indeed than he was two years before, but +he was broader, by some inches, than before. From the quartermaster +he obtained a pair of jack boots which had belonged to a trooper +who had been killed in a skirmish two days before, and from the +armourer he got a sword, cuirass, and pistols. As to riding +breeches there was no trouble, for several of the officers had +garments which would fit him, but for a regimental coat he could +obtain nothing which was in any way large enough. Hugh was +therefore dispatched to Halle to purchase a riding coat of the best +fashion and largest size that he could find, and a hat as much as +possible in conformity with those generally worn. + +An hour or two later Lord Fairholm and Sir John Loveday rode over. +The news of the singular fight on the ground between the armies, +and of the reappearance of the famous "little cornet of the 5th +dragoons" having spread apace through the army. + +Joyous and hearty were the greetings, and after a while, the party +being joined by Dillon, Rupert gave his three friends a full +account of his adventures, omitting some of the particulars which +he had not deemed it expedient to speak of in public. + +"I understand now," Lord Fairholm said, "the change in your face +which struck me." + +"Is my face changed?" Rupert said. "It does not seem to me that I +have changed in face a bit since I joined, six years ago." + +"It is not in features, but in expression. You look good tempered +now, Rupert, even merry when you smile, but no man could make a +mistake with you now. There is, when you are not speaking, a sort +of intent look upon your face, intent and determined--the +expression which seems to tell of great danger expected and faced. +No man could have gone through that two months in the dungeon of +Loches and come out unchanged. All the other dangers you have gone +through--and you always seem to be getting into danger of some +kind--were comparatively sharp and sudden, and a sudden peril, +however great, may not leave a permanent mark; but the two months +in that horrible den, from which no other man but yourself would +deem escape possible, could not but change you. + +"When you left us, although you were twenty, you were in most +things still a boy; there is nothing boyish about you now. It is +the same material, but it has gone through the fire. You were good +iron, very tough and strong, but you could be bent. Now, Rupert, +you have been tried in the furnace and have come out steel." + +"You are very good to say so," Rupert said, smiling, "but I don't +feel all that change which you speak of. I hope that I am just as +much up to a bit of fun as ever I was. At present I strike you +perhaps as being more quiet; but you see I have hardly spoken to a +soul for eighteen months, and have got out of the way rather. All +that I do feel is, that I have gained greatly in strength, as that +unfortunate French trooper found to his cost today. + +"But there, the trumpets are sounding; it's too late for a battle +today, so I suppose we have got a march before us." + + + +Chapter 22: Oudenarde. + +The trumpet call which summoned Rupert and his friends to horse +was, as he suspected, an indication that there was a general +movement of the troops in front. + +Vendome had declined to attack the allies in the position they had +taken up, but had moved by his right to Braine le Leude, a village +close to the ground on which, more than a hundred years later, +Waterloo was fought, and whence he threatened alike Louvain and +Brussels. Marlborough moved his army on a parallel line to +Anderleet. No sooner had he arrived there, than he found that +Vendome was still moving towards his right--a proof that Louvain +was really the object of the attack. Again the allied troops were +set in motion, and all night, through torrents of rain, they +tramped wearily along, until at daybreak they were in position at +Parc, covering the fortress of Louvain. Vendome, finding himself +anticipated, fell back to Braine le Leude without firing a shot. + +But though Marlborough had so far foiled the enemy, it was clear +that he was not in a condition to take the offensive before the +arrival of Prince Eugene, who would, he trusted, be able to come to +his assistance; and for weeks the armies watched each other without +movement. + +On the 4th of July, Vendome suddenly marched from Braine le Leude, +intending to capture the fortress of Oudenarde. Small bodies of +troops were sent off at the same time to Ghent and Bruges, whose +inhabitants rose and admitted the French. Marlborough, seeing the +danger which threatened the very important fortress of Oudenarde, +sent orders to Lord Chandos who commanded at Ath, to collect all +the small garrisons in the neighbourhood, and to throw himself into +Oudenarde. This was done before Vendome could reach the place, +which was thus secured against a coup de main. Vendome invested the +fortress, brought up his siege train from Tournay, and moved +towards Lessines with his main army, to cover the siege. + +The loss of Ghent and Bruges, the annoyances he suffered from party +attacks at home, and the failure of the allies to furnish the +promised contingents, so agitated Marlborough that he was seized +with an attack of fever. + +Fortunately, on the 7th of July Prince Eugene arrived. Finding that +his army could not be up in time, he had left them, and, +accompanied only by his personal staff, had ridden on to join +Marlborough. + +The arrival of this able general and congenial spirit did much to +restore Marlborough; and after a council with the prince, he +determined to throw his army upon Vendome's line of communications, +and thus force him to fight with his face to Paris. + +At two in the morning of the 9th of July, the allies broke up their +camp, and advanced in four great columns towards Lessines and the +French frontier. By noon the heads of the columns had reached +Herfelingen, fourteen miles from their starting point, and bridges +were thrown across the Dender, and the next morning the army +crossed, and then stood between the French and their own frontier. + +Vendome, greatly disconcerted at finding that his plans had all +been destroyed, ordered his army to fall back to Gavre on the +Scheldt, intending to cross below Oudenarde. + +Marlborough at once determined to press forward, so as to force on +a battle, having the advantage of coming upon the enemy when +engaged in a movement of retreat. Accordingly, at daybreak on the +11th, Colonel Cadogan, with the advanced guard, consisting of the +whole of the cavalry and twelve battalions of infantry, pushed +forward, and marched with all speed to the Scheldt, which they +reached by seven o'clock. Having thrown bridges across it, he +marched to meet the enemy, his troops in battle array; the infantry +opposite Eynes, the cavalry extending to the left towards +Schaerken. Advancing strongly down the river in this order, Cadogan +soon met the French advanced guard under Biron, which was moving up +from Gavre. In the fighting the French had the advantage, retaining +possession of Eynes, and there awaiting the advance of the English. + +Meanwhile Marlborough and Eugene, with the main body of the army, +had reached the river, and were engaged in getting the troops +across the narrow bridges, but as yet but a small portion of the +forces had crossed. Seeing this, Vendome determined to crush the +British advanced guard with the whole weight of his army, and so +halted his troops and formed order of battle. + +The country in which the battle of Oudenarde was about to be fought +is undulating, and cut up by several streams, with hedgerows, +fields, and enclosures, altogether admirably adapted for an army +fighting a defensive battle. The village of Eynes lies about a mile +below Oudenarde and a quarter of a mile from the Scheldt. Through +it flows a stream formed by the junction of the two rivulets. At a +distance of about a mile from the Scheldt, and almost parallel with +that river, runs the Norken, a considerable stream, which falls +into the Scheldt below Gavre. Behind this river the ground rises +into a high plateau, in which, at the commencement of the fight, +the greater portion of the French army were posted. + +The appearance of Colonel Cadogan with his advanced guard +completely astonished the French generals. The allies were known to +have been fifteen miles away on the preceding evening, and that a +great army should march that distance, cross a great river, and be +in readiness to fight a great battle, was contrary to all their +calculations of probabilities. + +The Duke of Burgundy wished to continue the march to Ghent. Marshal +Vendome pointed out that it was too late, and that although a +country so intersected with hedges was unfavourable ground for the +army which possessed the larger masses of men, yet that a battle +must be fought. This irresolution and dissension on the part of the +French generals wasted time, and allowed the allies to push large +bodies of troops across the river unmolested. As fast as they got +over Marlborough formed them up near Bevere, a village a few +hundred yards north of Oudenarde. Marlborough then prepared to take +the offensive, and ordered Colonel Cadogan to retake Eynes. + +Four English battalions, under Colonel Sabine, crossed the stream +and attacked the French forces in the village, consisting of seven +battalions under Pfiffer, while the cavalry crossed the rivulets +higher up, and came down on the flank of the village. The result +was three French battalions were surrounded and made prisoners, and +the other four routed and dispersed. + +The French generals now saw that there was no longer a possibility +of avoiding a general action. Vendome would have stood on the +defensive, which, as he had the Norken with its steep and difficult +ground in his front, was evidently the proper tactics to have +pursued. He was, however, overruled by the Duke of Burgundy and the +other generals, and the French accordingly descended from the +plateau, crossed the Norken, and advanced to the attack. The armies +were of nearly equal strength, the French having slightly the +advantage. The allies had 112 battalions and 180 squadrons, in all +80,000 men; the French, 121 battalions and 198 squadrons, in all +85,000 men. + +The French again lost time, and fell into confusion as they +advanced, owing to Marshal Vendome's orders being countermanded by +the Duke of Burgundy, who had nominally the chief command, and who +was jealous of Vendome's reputation. Marlborough divined the cause +of the hesitation, and perceiving that the main attack would be +made on his left, which was posted in front of the Castle of +Bevere, half a mile from the village of the same name; ordered +twelve battalions of infantry under Cadogan to move from his right +at Eynes to reinforce his left. + +He then lined all the hedges with infantry, and stationing twenty +British battalions under Argyle with four guns in reserve, awaited +the attack. But few guns were employed on either side during the +battle, for artillery in those days moved but slowly, and the rapid +movements of both armies had left the guns far behind. + +The French in their advance at once drew in four battalions, posted +at Groenvelde, in advance of Eynes, and then bearing to their +right, pressed forward with such vigour that they drove back the +allied left. At this point were the Dutch and Hanoverian troops. +Marlborough now dispatched Eugene to take command of the British on +the right, directed Count Lottum to move from the centre with +twenty battalions to reinforce that side of the fight, and went +himself to restore the battle on the left. + +Eugene, with his British troops, were gradually but steadily, in +spite of their obstinate resistance, being driven back, when +Lottum's reinforcements arrived, and with these Eugene advanced at +once, and drove back the enemy. As these were in disorder, General +Natzmer, at the head of the Prussian cuirassiers, charged them and +drove them back, until he himself was fallen upon by the French +horse guards in reserve, while the infantry's fire from the +hedgerows mowed down the cuirassiers. So dreadful was the fire that +half the Prussian cavalry were slain, and the rest escaped with +difficulty, hotly pursued by the French household troops. + +An even more desperate conflict was all this time raging on the +left. Here Marlborough placed himself at the head of the Dutch and +Hanoverian battalions, and led them back against the French, who +were advancing with shouts of victory, and desperate struggles +ensued. Alison in his history says: + +"The ground on which the hostile lines met was so broken, that the +battle in that quarter turned almost into a series of partial +conflicts and even personal encounters. Every bridge, every ditch, +every wood, every hamlet, every enclosure, was obstinately +contested, and so incessant was the roll of musketry, and so +intermingled did the hostile lines become, that the field, seen +from a distance, appeared an unbroken line of flame. A warmer fire, +a more desperate series of combats, was never witnessed in modern +warfare. It was in great part conducted hand to hand, like the +battles of antiquity, of which Livy and Homer have left such +graphic descriptions. The cavalry could not act, from the multitude +of hedges and copses which intersected the theatre of conflict. +Breast to breast, knee to knee, bayonet to bayonet, they maintained +the fight on both sides with the most desperate resolution. If the +resistance, however, was obstinate, the attack was no less +vigorous, and at length the enthusiastic ardour of the French +yielded to the steady valour of the Germans. Gradually they were +driven back, literally at the bayonet's point; and at length, +resisting at every point, they yielded all the ground they had won +at the commencement of the action. So, gradually they were pushed +back as far as the village of Diepenbech, where so stubborn a stand +was made that the allies could no longer advance." + +Overkirk had now got the rear of the army across the river, and the +duke, seeing that the Hill of Oycke, which flanked the enemy's +position, was unoccupied by them, directed the veteran general with +his twenty Dutch and Danish battalions to advance and occupy it. +Arrived there, he swung round the left of his line, and so pressed +the French right, which was advanced beyond their outer bounds into +the little plain of Diepenbech. The duke commanded Overkirk to +press round still further to his left by the passes of Mullem and +the mill of Royeghem, by which the French sustained their +communication with the force still on the plateau beyond the +Norken; and Prince Eugene to further extend his right so as to +encompass the mass of French crowded in the plain of Diepenbech. + +The night was falling now, and the progress of the allies on either +flank could be seen by the flashes of fire. Vendome, seeing the +immense danger in which his right and centre were placed, +endeavoured to bring up his left, hitherto intact; but the +increasing darkness, the thick enclosures, and the determined +resistance of Eugene's troops, prevented him from carrying out his +intention. So far were the British wings extended round the plain +of Diepenbech, that they completely enclosed it, and Eugene's and +Overkirk's men meeting fought fiercely, each believing the other to +be French. The mistake was discovered, and to prevent any further +mishap of this kind in the darkness, the whole army was ordered to +halt where it was and wait till morning. Had the daylight lasted +two hours longer, the whole of the French army would have been +slain or taken prisoners; as it was, the greater portion made their +way through the intervals of the allied army around them, and fled +to Ghent. Nevertheless, they lost 6,000 killed and wounded, and +9,000 prisoners, while many thousands of the fugitives made for the +French frontier. Thus the total loss to Vendome exceeded 20,000 +men, while the allies lost in all 5000. + +When morning broke, Marlborough dispatched forty squadrons of horse +in pursuit of the fugitives towards Ghent, sent off Count Lottum +with thirty battalions and fifty squadrons to carry the strong +lines which the enemy had constructed between Ypres and Warneton, +and employed the rest of his force in collecting and tending the +wounded of both armies. + +A few days later the two armies, that of Eugene and that of the +Duke of Berwick, which had been marching with all speed parallel to +each other, came up and joined those of Marlborough and Vendome +respectively. The Duke of Berwick's corps was the more powerful, +numbering thirty-four battalions and fifty-five squadrons, and this +raised the Duke de Vendome's army to over 110,000, and placed him +again fairly on an equality with the allies. Marlborough, having by +his masterly movement forced Vendome to fight with his face to +Paris, and in his retreat to retire still farther from the +frontier, now had France open to him, and his counsel was that the +whole army should at once march for Paris, disregarding the +fortresses just as Wellington and Blucher did after Waterloo. + +He was however, overruled, even Eugene considering such an attempt +to be altogether too dangerous, with Vendome's army, 110,000 +strong, in the rear; and it must be admitted it would certainly +have been a march altogether without a parallel. + +Finding that his colleagues would not consent to so daring and +adventurous a march, Marlborough determined to enter France, and +lay siege to the immensely strong fortress of Lille. This was in +itself a tremendous undertaking, for the fortifications of the town +were considered the most formidable ever designed by Vauban. The +citadel within the town was still stronger, and the garrison of +15,000 picked troops were commanded by Marshal Boufflers, one of +the most skillful generals in the French army. To lay siege to such +a fortress as this, while Vendome, with this army of 110,000 men, +lay ready to advance to its assistance, was an undertaking of the +greatest magnitude. + +In most cases the proper course to have taken would have been to +advance against and defeat Vendome before undertaking the siege of +Lille; but the French general had entrenched his position with such +skill that he could not be attacked; while he had, moreover, the +advantage, that if the allies stood between him and France, he +stood between them and their base, commanded the Scheldt and the +canals from Holland, and was therefore in position to interfere +greatly with the onerous operation of bringing up stores for the +British army, and with the passage to the front of the immense +siege train requisite for an operation of such magnitude as was now +about to be undertaken, and for whose transport alone 16,000 horses +were required. + + + +Chapter 23: The Siege of Lille. + +The British cavalry suffered less severely at Oudenarde than did +those of the other allied nationalities, as they were during the +greater portion of the day held in reserve; and neither Rupert nor +any of his special friends in the regiment were wounded. He was, +however, greatly grieved at the death of Sir John Loveday, who was +killed by a cannonball at the commencement of the action. Two of +the captains in the 5th were also killed, and this gave Rupert +another step. He could have had his captain's rank long before, had +he accepted the Duke's offer, several times repeated, of a post on +his staff. He preferred, however, the life with his regiment, and +in this his promotion was, of course, regular, instead of going up +by favour, as was, and still is, the case on the staff. + +The train for the siege of Lille was brought up by canal from +Holland to Brussels; and although the French knew that a large +accumulation of military stores was taking place there, they could +not believe that Marlborough meditated so gigantic an undertaking +as the siege of Lille, and believed that he was intending to lay +siege to Mons. + +Berwick, with his army, which had since his arrival on the scene of +action been lying at Douai, now advanced to Montagne; and Vendome +detached 18,000 men from his army, lying between Ghent and Bruges, +to Malle, to intercept any convoy that might move out from +Brussels. + +Marlborough's measures were, however, well taken. Eugene, with +twenty-five battalions and thirty squadrons, moved parallel to the +convoy, which was fifteen miles in length; while the Prince of +Wurtemburg, General Wood, the Prince of Orange, each with a large +force, were so placed as to check any movement of the enemy. + +The gigantic convoy left Brussels on the 6th of August, and reached +the camp near Lille on the 15th, without the loss of a single +wagon. Prince Eugene, with 53 battalions and 90 squadrons, in all +40,000 men, undertook the siege; while Marlborough, with the main +army of 60,000 men, took post at Heldun, where he alike prevented +Berwick and Vendome from effecting a junction, and covered the +passage of convoys from Brussels, Ath, and Oudenarde. No less than +eighty-one convoys, with food, stores, etc., passed safely along; +and the arrangements for their safety were so perfect that they +excited the lively admiration both of friends and foes. + +Feuguieres, the French annalist, asks, "How was it possible to +believe that it was in the power of the enemy to convey to Lille +all that was necessary for the siege and supplies of the army, to +conduct there all the artillery and implements essential for such +an undertaking; and that these immense burdens should be +transported by land over a line of twenty-three leagues, under the +eyes of an army of 80,000 men, lying on the flank of a prodigious +convoy, which extended over five leagues of road? Nevertheless, all +that was done without a shot being fired or a chariot unharnessed. +Posterity will scarcely believe it. Nevertheless, it was the simple +truth." + +To facilitate his operations, Marlborough threw six bridges across +the Scheldt, and 10,000 pioneers were collected to commence the +lines which were to surround the city. The lines were projected not +only to shut in the city, but to protect the besiegers from attacks +by a relieving army. Never since Caesar besieged Alesia had works +upon so gigantic a scale been constructed. They were fifteen miles +in circumference, and the ditch was fifteen feet wide and nine +deep. + +On the 23rd of August, the lines of circumvallation being now +nearly finished, Eugene opened his trenches and began operations +against the city, the parts selected for attack being the gates of +Saint Martin and of the Madelaine. These points were upon the same +side of the city, but were separated from each other by the river +Dyle, which flows through the town. + +On the morning of the 24th the cannonade opened, Prince Eugene +himself firing the first gun on the right, the Prince of Orange +that on the left attack. The troops worked with the greatest +energy, and the next day forty-four guns poured their fire into the +advanced works round the chapel of the Madelaine, which stood +outside the walls. The same night the chapel was carried by +assault; but the next night, while a tremendous cannonade was going +on, 400 French issued quietly from their works, fell upon the 200 +Dutch who held the chapel, killed or drove them out, blew up the +chapel, which served as an advanced post for the besiegers, and +retired before reinforcements could arrive. + +Marshal Vendome now determined to unite with the Duke of Berwick, +and to raise the siege, and by making a long and circuitous march, +to avoid Marlborough's force. This was accomplished; the two armies +united, and advanced to relieve Lille. + +Marlborough, who foresaw the line by which they would approach, +drew up his army in order of battle, with his right resting on the +Dyle at Noyelles, and his left on the Margne at Peronne. Two hours +after he had taken up his position, the French army, 110,000 +strong, the most imposing France had ever put in the field, +appeared before him. + +The Duke of Marlborough had been strengthened by 10,000 men dispatched +to him by Prince Eugene from the besieging army, but he had only +70,000 men to oppose to the French. And yet, notwithstanding their +great superiority of numbers, the enemy did not venture to attack, and +for a fortnight the armies remained facing each other, without a blow +being struck on either side. + +The French were, in fact, paralyzed by the jealousy of the two +great generals commanding them, each of whom opposed the other's +proposals; and nothing could be decided until the king sent +Monsieur Chamillard, the French minister of war, to examine the +spot, and give instructions for an attack. + +The six days, however, which elapsed between the appearance of the +French army in front of Marlborough and the arrival of Monsieur +Chamillard in camp, had given Marlborough time so to entrench his +position, that upon reconnoitring it Chamillard, Vendome, Berwick, +and the other generals, were unanimous in their opinion that it was +too strong to be attacked. The great army therefore again retired, +and taking up its post between Brussels and Lille, completely +interrupted the arrival of further convoys or stores to the British +camp. + +The siege meantime had been pressed hotly. From the 27th of August +to the 7th of September 120 cannon and eighty mortars thundered +continuously; and on the evening of the 7th two breaches were +effected in the side of the bastions of the outworks that were to +be assaulted. + +Fourteen thousand men prepared to storm the outworks. The French +allowed them to get, with but slight resistance, into the covered +way, where a terrific fire was poured upon them. 800 were shot down +in a few minutes, and two mines were exploded under them. The +fighting was desperate; but the assailants managed to retain +possession of two points in the outwork, a success most dearly +purchased with a loss of 2000 killed, and as many wounded. + +It was not until the 20th that a fresh attempt to carry the place +by storm was made. At this time Marlborough's position was becoming +critical. The fortress held out bravely. The consumption of +ammunition was so enormous, that his supplies were almost +exhausted, and a great army lay directly upon his line of +communication. It became a matter of necessity that the place +should be taken. Immense efforts were made to secure the success of +the assault. Enormous quantities of fascines were made for filling +up the ditch, and 5000 British troops were sent by Marlborough from +his army to lead the assault. + +Rupert Holliday, with many other officers, accompanied this body as +a volunteer. The troops were drawn up as the afternoon grew late, +and just as it became dark they advanced to the assault. + +The besieged in the outworks assaulted were supported by the fire +of the cannon and musketry of the ramparts behind, from which, so +soon as the dense masses of the stormers advanced, a stream of +flame issued. So tremendous was the carnage, that three times the +troops recoiled before the storm of balls. + +On the fourth occasion Eugene himself led them to the assault, on +either side of him were the Princes of Orange and Hesse, and a +number of officers. + +"Remember Hochstadt, Ramilies, and Oudenarde!" the prince shouted; +but scarcely had he spoken when he was struck to the ground by a +bullet, which struck and glanced over the left eye. + +Then the troops dashed forward, and forced their way into the +outwork. The French fought with magnificent resolution; and were +from time to time reinforced by parties from the city. + +For two hours the fight raged. With bayonets and clubbed muskets, +hand to hand, the troops fought. No one flinched or gave way; +indeed it was safer to be in the front line than behind; for in +front friends and foes were so mixed together, that the French on +the ramparts were unable to fire, but had to direct their aim at +the masses behind. + +At last the allies gained ground. Gradually, foot by foot, the +French were thrust back; and Rupert, who had been fighting +desperately in the front line of the stormers' party, directed his +efforts to a part where a French officer still held his ground, +nobly backed by his men. The piled up dead in front of them showed +how strenuous had been the resistance to the advancing wave of the +allies. + +Rupert gradually reached the spot, and had no difficulty in placing +himself vis-a-vis to the French officer; for so terrible was his +skill, that others willingly turned aside to attack less dangerous +opponents. In a moment the swords crossed! + +The light was a strange one, flickering and yet constant, with the +thousands of firearms, which kept up an unceasing roar. The swords +clashed and ground together, and after a pass or two both men drew +back. A bright flash from a musket not a yard away threw a bright +though momentary light on their faces. + +"Monsieur Dessin!" Rupert exclaimed, in delight. + +"What! Is it possible?" the Frenchman exclaimed. "Rupert Holliday!" + +At the moment there was a tremendous rush of the British. The +French were borne back, and hurled over the edge of the outwork; +and before Rupert could avert the blow, the butt end of a musket +fell with great force upon his late opponent's head. + +Rupert leapt forward, and lifting him in his arms, made his way +with him to the rear; for with that last rush the fight was over, +and the allies had established themselves in the left demi-bastion +of the outwork--an important advantage, but one which had cost them +5000 killed and wounded, of whom 3000 belonged to the English +force, whom Marlborough had sent. The fact that more than half of +them were hors-de-combat showed how fiercely they had fought. + +Owing to the wound of Prince Eugene, the Duke of Marlborough had to +direct the operations of the siege as well as to command the army +in the field. On the 23rd he followed up the advantage gained on +the 20th, by a fresh attack in two columns, each 5000 strong, and +headed by 500 English troops. After being three times repulsed, +these succeeded in maintaining a lodgment in another outwork; +losing, however, 1000 men in the attack, the greater part being +destroyed by the explosion of a mine. + +Both besiegers and besieged were now becoming straitened for +ammunition, for the consumption had been immense. The French +generals succeeded in passing a supply into the fortress in a very +daring manner. + +On the night of the 28th, 2500 horsemen set out from Douai, under +the command of the Chevalier de Luxembourg, each having forty +pounds of powder in his valise. They arrived at the gate of the +walls of circumvallation, when the Dutch sentry cried out: + +"Who comes there?" + +"Open quickly!" the leader answered in the same language; "I am +closely pursued by the French." + +The sentry opened the gate, and the horsemen began to pass in. +Eighteen hundred had passed without suspicion being excited, when +one of the officers, seeing that his men were not keeping close up, +gave the command in French: + +"Close up! close up!" + +The captain of the guard caught the words, and suspecting +something, ordered the party to halt; and then, as they still rode +in, ordered the guard to fire. The discharge set fire to three of +the powder bags, and the explosion spreading from one to another, +sixty men and horses were killed. The portion of the troops still +outside the gate fled, but the 800 who had passed in rode forward +through the allied camp and entered the town in safety, with 70,000 +pounds of powder! + +Another deed of gallantry, equal to anything ever told in fiction, +was performed by a Captain Dubois of the French army. It was a +matter of the highest importance for the French generals to learn +the exact state of things at Lille. Captain Dubois volunteered to +enter the fortress by water. He accordingly left the French camp, +and swimming through seven canals, entered the Dyle near the place +where it entered the besiegers' lines. He then dived, and aided by +the current, swam under water for an incredibly long distance, so +as entirely to elude the observation of the sentinels. He arrived +in safety in the town, exhausted with his great exertions. + +After having had dry clothes put on him, and having taken some +refreshment, he was conducted round the walls by Marshal Boufflers, +who showed him all the defensive works, and explained to him the +whole circumstances of the position. The next night he again set +out by the Dyle, carrying dispatches in an envelope of wax in his +mouth, and after diving as before through the dangerous places, and +running innumerable risks of detection, he arrived in safety in the +French camp. + +But it was not the French alone who had run short of ammunition. +Marlborough had also been greatly straitened, and there being now +no possibility of getting through convoys from Brussels, he +persuaded the home government to direct a considerable expedition, +which had been collected for the purpose of exciting an alarm on +the coast of Normandy, and was now on board ship in the Downs, to +be sent to Ostend. It arrived there, to the number of fourteen +battalions and an abundant supply of ammunition, on the 23rd of +September; and Marlborough detached 15,000 men from his army to +protect the convoy on its way up. + +On the 27th of September, the convoy started, crossed the canal of +Nieuport at Leffinghen, and directed its course by Slype to defile +through the woods of Wyndendale. General Webb, who commanded the +troops detached for its protection, took post with 8000 men to +defend its passage through the wood, which was the most dangerous +portion of the journey, while Cadogan with the rest of the force +was stationed at Hoglede to cover the march farther on. + +Vendome had received information of the march of the column, and +detached Monsieur de la Mathe with 20,000 men to intercept the +convoy. At five in the evening the force approached the wood, +through which the convoy was then filing. Webb posted his men in +the bushes, and when the French--confident in the great superiority +of numbers which they knew that they possessed--advanced boldly, +they were received by such a terrible fire of musketry, poured in +at a distance of a hundred yards, that they fell into confusion. +They, however, rallied, and made desperate efforts to penetrate the +wood, but they were over and over again driven back, and after two +hours' fighting they retired, leaving the convoy to pass on in +safety to the camp. + +In this glorious action 8000 English defeated 20,000 French, and +inflicted on them a loss of 4000 killed and wounded. Several fresh +assaults were now made, and gradually the allies won ground, until, +on the eve of the grand assault, Marshal Boufflers surrendered the +town, and retired with the survivors of the defenders into the +citadel, which held out for another month, and then also +surrendered. In this memorable siege, the greatest--with the +exception of that of Sebastopol--that has ever taken place in +history, the allies lost 3632 men killed, 8322 wounded, in all +11,954; and over 7000 from sickness. Of the garrison, originally +15,000 strong, and reinforced by the 1800 horsemen who made their +way through the allied camp, but 4500 remained alive at the time of +the final capitulation. + +Marshall Boufflers only surrendered the citadel on the express +order of Louis the 14th not to throw away any more lives of the +brave men under him. At the time of the surrender the last flask of +powder was exhausted, and the garrison had long been living on +horseflesh. + +After Lille had fallen, Marlborough, by a feint of going into +winter quarters, threw the French generals off their guard; and +then by a rapid dash through their lines fell upon Ghent and +Bruges, and recaptured those cities before Vendome had time to +collect and bring up his army to save them. + +Then ended one of the most remarkable campaigns in the annals of +our own or any other history. + + + +Chapter 24: Adele. + +"My dear, dear lad," the Marquis of Pignerolles said, as he made +his way with Rupert back out of the throng in the captured outwork; +"what miracle is this? I heard that you had died at Loches." + +"A mistake, as you see," Rupert laughed. "But I shall tell you all +presently. First, how is mademoiselle?" + +"Well, I trust," the marquis said; "but I have not heard of her for +eighteen months. I have been a prisoner in the Bastille, and was +only let out two months since, together with some other officers, +in order to take part in the defence of Lille. Even then I should +not have been allowed to volunteer, had it not been that the Duc de +Carolan, Adele's persecutor, was killed; and his Majesty's plans +having been thus necessarily upset, he was for the time being less +anxious to know what had become of Adele." + +"In that case you have to thank me for your deliverance," Rupert +said; "for it was I who killed monsieur le duc, and never in my +life did I strike a blow with a heartier goodwill." + +"You!" the marquis exclaimed in astonishment; "but I might have +guessed it. I inquired about his death when I reached Lille, and +was told by an officer who was there that he was killed in an +extraordinary combat, in which General Mouffler, a trooper, and +himself were put hors de combat in sight of the whole army, by a +deserter of demoniacal strength, skill, and activity. I ought to +have recognized you at once; and no doubt should have done so, had +I not heard that you were dead. I never was so shocked, dear boy, +in all my life, and have done nothing but blame myself for allowing +you to run so fearful a risk." + +On arriving at the camp Rupert presented his prisoner to the Duke +of Marlborough, who having, when Rupert rejoined, heard the story +of his discovery in the Marquis de Pignerolles of his old friend +Monsieur Dessin, received him with great kindness, and told him +that he was free to go where he liked until arrangements could be +made for his exchange. Rupert then took him to his tent, where they +sat for many hours talking. + +Rupert learned that after his escape from Lille the marquis was for +three weeks confined to his bed. Before the end of that time a +messenger brought him a letter from Adele, saying that she was well +and comfortable. When he was able to travel he repaired at once to +Versailles; having received a peremptory order from the king, a few +days after Rupert left, to repair to the court the instant he could +be moved. He found his Majesty in the worst of humours; the +disappearance of Adele had thwarted his plan, and Louis the 14th +was not a man accustomed to be baulked in his intentions. The news +of Rupert's escape from Lille had further enraged him, as he +connected it with Adele's disappearance; and the fact that the +capture of Rupert had thrown no light upon Adele's hiding place had +still further exasperated him. + +He now demanded that the marquis should inform him instantly of her +place of concealment. This command the marquis had firmly declined +to comply with. He admitted that he could guess where she would +take refuge; but that as he sympathized with her in her objection +to the match which his Majesty had been pleased to make for her, he +must decline to say a word which could lead to her discovery. Upon +leaving the king's presence he was at once arrested, and conveyed +to the Bastille. + +Imprisonment in the Bastille, although rigorous, was not, except in +exceptional cases, painful for men of rank. They were well fed and +not uncomfortably lodged; and as the governor had been a personal +friend of the marquis previous to his confinement, he had been +treated with as much lenity as possible. After he had been a year +in prison, the governor came to his room and told him that Rupert +had been drowned by the overflowing of the moat at Loches, and that +if therefore his daughter was, as it was believed, actuated by an +affection for the Englishman in refusing to accept the husband that +the king had chosen for her, it was thought that she might now +become obedient. He was therefore again ordered to name the place +of her concealment. + +The marquis replied that he was not aware that his daughter had any +affection for Rupert beyond the regard which an acquaintance of +many years authorized; and that as he was sure the news would in no +way overcome her aversion to the match with the Duc de Carolan, he +must still decline to name the place where he might suspect that +she had hidden herself. + +He heard nothing more for some months; and then the governor told +him privately that the duke was dead, and that as it was thought +that Lille would be besieged, two or three other officers in the +Bastille had petitioned for leave to go to aid in the defence. Had +the duke still lived, the governor was sure that any such request +on the part of the marquis would have been refused. As it was, +however, his known military skill and bravery would be so useful in +the defence, that it was possible that the king would now consent. +The marquis had therefore applied for, and had received, permission +to go to aid in the defence of Lille. + +Rupert then told his story, which excited the wonder and admiration +of the marquis to the highest point. When he concluded, he said: + +"And now, monsieur le marquis, I must say what I have never said +before, because until I travelled with her down to Poitiers I did +not know what my own feelings really were. Then I learned to know +that which I felt was not a mere brotherly affection, but a deep +love. I know that neither in point of fortune nor in rank am I the +equal of mademoiselle; but I love her truly, sir, and the Chace, +which will some day be mine, will at least enable me to maintain +her in comfort. + +"Monsieur le marquis, may I ask of you the hand of your daughter?" + +"You may indeed, my dear Rupert," the marquis said warmly, taking +his hand. "Even when in England the possibility that this might +some day come about occurred to me; and although then I should have +regretted Adele's marrying an Englishman, yet I saw in your +character the making of a man to whom I could safely entrust her +happiness. When we met again, I found that you had answered my +expectation of you, and I should not have allowed so great an +intimacy to spring up between you had I not been willing that she +should, if she so wished it, marry you. + +"I no longer wish her to settle in France. After what I have seen +of your free England, the despotism of our kings and the feudal +power of our nobles disgust me, and I foresee that sooner or later +a terrible upheaval will take place. What Adele herself will say I +do not know, but imagine that she will not be so obstinate in +refusing to yield to the wishes of her father as she has been to +the commands of her king. + +"But she will not bring you a fortune, Rupert. If she marries you, +her estates will assuredly be forfeited by the crown. They are so +virtually now, royal receivers having been placed in possession, +but they will be formally declared forfeited on her marriage with +you. However, she will not come to you a dowerless bride. In seven +years I have laid by sufficient to enable me to give her a dowry +which will add a few farms to the Chace. + +"And now, Rupert, let us to sleep; day is breaking, and although +your twenty-three years may need no rest, I like a few hours' sleep +when I can get them." + +Upon the following day the conversation was renewed. + +"I think, Rupert, that my captivity is really a fortunate one for +our plans. So long as I remained in France my every movement would +be watched. I dared not even write to Adele, far less think of +going to see her. Now I am out of sight of the creatures of Louis, +and can do as I please. + +"I have been thinking it over. I will cross to England. Thence I +will make my way in a smuggler's craft to Nantes, where the +governor is a friend of mine. From him I will get papers under an +assumed name for my self and daughter, and with them journey to +Poitiers, and so fetch her to England." + +"You will let me go with you, will you not?" Rupert exclaimed. "No +one can tell I am not a Frenchman by my speech, and I might be +useful." + +"I don't know, Rupert. You might be useful, doubtless, but your +size and strength render you remarkable." + +"Well, but there are big Frenchmen as well as big Englishmen," +Rupert said. "If you travel as a merchant, I might very well go as +your serving man, and you and I together could, I think, carry +mademoiselle in safety through any odds. It will not be long to +wait. I cannot leave until Lille falls, but I am sure the duke will +give me leave as soon as the marshal surrenders the city, which +cannot be very many days now; for it is clear that Vendome will not +fight, and a desperate resistance at the end would be a mere waste +of life." + +So it was arranged, and shortly afterwards Rupert took his friend +Major Dillon into his confidence. The latter expressed the wildest +joy, shook Rupert's hand, patted him on the back, and absolutely +shouted in his enthusiasm. Rupert was astonished at the excess of +joy on his friend's part, and was mystified in the extreme when he +wound up: + +"You have taken a great load off my mind, Rupert. You have made Pat +Dillon even more eternally indebted to you than he was before." + +"What on earth do you mean, Dillon?" Rupert asked. "What is all +this extraordinary delight about? I know I am one of the luckiest +fellows in the world, but why are you so overjoyed because I am in +love?" + +"My dear Rupert, now I can tell you all about it. I told you, you +know, that in the two winters you were away I went, at the +invitation of Mynheer van Duyk, to Dort; in order that he might +hear whether there was any news of you, and what I thought of your +chance of being alive, and all that; didn't I?" + +"Yes, you told me all that, Dillon; but what on earth has that got +to do with it?" + +"Well, my boy, I stopped each time something like a month at Dort, +and, as a matter of course, I fell over head and ears in love with +Maria van Duyk. I never said a word, though I thought she liked me +well enough; but she was for ever talking about you and praising +you, and her father spoke of you as his son; and I made sure it was +all a settled thing between you, and thought what a sly dog you +were never to have breathed a word to me of your good fortune. If +you had never come back I should have tried my luck with her; but +when you turned up again, glad as I was to see you, Rupert, I made +sure that there was an end of any little corner of hope I had had. + +"When you told me about your gallivanting about France with a young +lady, I thought for a moment that you might have been in love with +her; but then I told myself that you were as good as married to +Maria van Duyk, and that the other was merely the daughter of your +old friend, to whom you were bound to be civil. Now I know you are +really in love with her, and not with Maria, I will try my luck +there, that is, if she doesn't break her heart and die when she +hears of the French girl." + +"Break her heart! Nonsense, man!" Rupert laughed. "She was two +years older than I was, and looked upon me as a younger brother. +Her father lamented that I was not older, but admitted that any +idea of a marriage between us was out of the question. But I don't +know what he will say to your proposal to take her over to +Ireland." + +"My proposal to take her over to Ireland!" repeated Dillon, in +astonishment. "I should as soon think of proposing to take her to +the moon! Why, man, I have not an acre of ground in Ireland, nor a +shilling in the world, except my pay. No; if she will have me, I'll +settle down in Dort and turn Dutchman, and wear big breeches, and +take to being a merchant." + +Rupert burst into a roar of laughter. + +"You a merchant, Pat! Mynheer van Duyk and Dillon! Why, man, you'd +bring the house to ruin in a year. No, no; if Maria will have you, +I shall be delighted; but her fortune will be ample without your +efforts--you who, to my positive knowledge, could never keep your +company's accounts without the aid of your sergeant." + +Dillon burst out laughing, too. + +"True for you, Rupert. Figures were never in my line, except it is +such a neat figure as Maria has. Ah, Rupert! I always thought you a +nice lad; but how you managed not to fall in love with her, though +she was a year or so older than yourself, beats Pat Dillon +entirely. Now the sooner the campaign is over, and the army goes +into winter quarters, the better I shall be pleased." + +It was a dark and squally evening in November, when La Belle +Jeanne, one of the fastest luggers which carried on a contraband +trade between England and France, ran up the river to Nantes. She +had been chased for twelve hours by a British war ship, but had at +last fairly outsailed her pursuers, and had run in without mishap. +On her deck were two passengers; Maitre Antoine Perrot, a merchant, +who had been over to England to open relations with a large house +who dealt in silks and cloths; and his servant Jacques Bontemps, +whose sturdy frame and powerful limbs had created the admiration of +the crew of the Belle Jeanne. + +An hour later the lugger was moored against the quay, her crew had +scattered to their homes, and the two travellers were housed in a +quiet cabaret near, where they had called for a private room. + +Half an hour later Maitre Perrot left the house, inquired the way +to the governor's residence, left a letter at the door, and then +returned to the cabaret. At nine o'clock a cloaked stranger was +shown into the room. When the door was closed he threw off his hat +and cloak. + +"My dear marquis, I am delighted to see you; but what means this +wild freak of yours?" + +"I will tell you frankly, de Brissac." + +And the Marquis de Pignerolles confided to the Count de Brissac his +plan for getting his daughter away to England. + +"It is a matter for the Bastille of his most Christian Majesty, +should he learn that I have aided you in carrying your daughter +away; but I will risk it, marquis, for our old friendship's sake. +You want a passport saying that Maitre Antoine Perrot, merchant of +Nantes, with his servant, Jacques Bontemps, is on his way to +Poitiers, to fetch his daughter, residing near that town, and that +that damsel will return with him to Nantes?" + +"That is it, de Brissac. What a pity that it is not with us as in +England, where every man may travel where he lists without a soul +asking him where he goes, or why." + +"Ah! Well, I don't know," said the count, who had the usual +aristocratic prejudice of a French noble of his time. "It may suit +the islanders of whom you are so fond, marquis, but I doubt whether +it would do here. We should have plotters and conspirators going +all over the country, and stirring up the people." + +"Ah! Yes, count; but if the people had nothing to complain of, they +would not listen to the conspirators. But there, I know we shall +never agree about this. When the war is over you must cross the +channel, and see me there." + +"No, no," de Brissac said, laughing. "I love you, de Pignerolles, +but none of the fogs and mists of that chilly country for me. His +Majesty will forgive you one of these days, and then we will meet +at Versailles." + +"So be it," the marquis said. "When Adele's estates have been +bestowed upon one of his favourites, he will have no reason for +keeping me in exile; but we shall see." + +"You shall have your papers without fail tomorrow early, so you can +safely make your preparations. And now goodbye, and may fortune +attend you." + +It was not until noon next day that Maitre Perrot and his servant +rode out from Nantes, for they had had some trouble in obtaining +two horses such as they required, but had at last succeeded in +obtaining two animals of great strength and excellent breeding. The +saddle of Maitre Perrot had a pillion attached behind for a lady, +but this was at present untenanted. + +Both travellers carried weapons, for in those days a journey across +France was not without its perils. Discharged soldiers, escaped +serfs, and others, banded together in the woods and wild parts of +France; and although the governors of provinces did their best to +preserve order, the force at their command was but small, as every +man who could be raised was sent to the frontier, which the fall of +Lille had opened to an invading army. + +Until they were well beyond Nantes, Rupert rode behind the marquis, +but when they reached the open country he moved up alongside. + +"I do not know when I have enjoyed a week so much as the time we +spent at the Chace, Rupert. Your grandfather is a wonderful old +man, as hard as iron; and your lady mother was most kind and +cordial. She clearly bore no malice for my interference in her love +affair some years ago." + +"Upon the contrary," Rupert said. "I am sure that she feels +grateful to you for saving her from the consequences of her +infatuation." + +Six days later, the travellers rode into Poitiers. They had met +with no misadventure on the way. Once or twice they had met parties +of rough fellows, but the determined bearing and evident strength +of master and man had prevented any attempt at violence. + +The next morning they started early, and after two hours' riding +approached the cottage where Adele had for two years lived with her +old nurse. They dismounted at the door. + +"Go you in, sir," said Rupert. "I will hold the horses. Your +daughter will naturally like best to meet you alone." + +The marquis nodded, lifted the latch of the door, and went in. +There was a pause, and then he heard a cry of "Father!" just as the +door closed. In another instant it opened again, and Margot stole +out, escaping to leave her mistress alone with her father. + +She ran down to the gate, looked at Rupert, and gave a little +scream of pleasure, leaping and clapping her hands. + +"I said so, monsieur. I always said so. 'When monsieur le marquis +comes, mademoiselle, you be sure monsieur l'Anglais will come with +him.'" + +"And what did mademoiselle used to say?" + +"Oh, she used to pretend she did not believe you would. But I knew +better. I knew that when she said, over and over again, 'Is my +father never coming for me?' she was thinking of somebody else. And +are you come to take her away?" + +Rupert nodded. + +The girl's face clouded. + +"Oh, how I shall miss her! But there, monsieur, the fact is--the +fact is--" + +"You need not pretend to be shy," Rupert said, laughing. "I can +guess what 'the fact is.' I suppose that there is somebody in your +case too, and that you are just waiting to be married till +mademoiselle goes." + +Margot laughed and coloured, and was going to speak, when the door +opened, and the marquis beckoned him in. + +"Mr. Holliday," he said, as Rupert on entering found Adele leaning +on her father's shoulder, with a rosy colour, and a look of +happiness upon her face. "I have laid my commands upon my daughter, +Mademoiselle Adele de Pignerolles, to receive you as her future +husband, and I find no disposition whatever on her part to defy my +authority, as she has that of his Majesty. + +"There, my children, may you be happy together!" + +So saying, he left the room, and went to look after the horse, +leaving Adele and Rupert to their new-found happiness. + + + +Chapter 25: Flight and Pursuit. + +It was early in the afternoon when Monsieur Perrot, with his +daughter behind him on a pillion, and his servant riding a short +distance in the rear, rode under the gateway of Parthenay. A party +of soldiers were at the gateway, and a gendarmerie officer stood +near. The latter glanced carelessly at the passport which the +merchant showed him, and the travellers rode on. + +"Peste!" one of the soldiers said; "what is monsieur the Marquis de +Pignerolles doing here, riding about dressed as a bourgeois, with a +young woman at his back?" + +"Which is the Marquis de Pignerolles?" one of the others said. + +"He who has just ridden by. He was colonel of my regiment, and I +know him as well as I do you." + +"It can't be him, Pierre. I saw Louis Godier yesterday, he has come +home on leave--he belongs to this town, you know--wounded at Lille. +He was telling me about the siege, and he said that the marquis was +taken prisoner by the English." + +"Prisoner or not prisoner," the other said obstinately, "that is +the marquis. Why, man, do you think one could be mistaken in his +own colonel?--a good officer, too; rather strict perhaps, but a +good soldier, and a lion to fight." + +The gendarme moved quietly away, and repeated what he had heard to +his captain. + +"The Marquis de Pignerolles, travelling under the name of Monsieur +Perrot, silk merchant of Nantes, with a young lady behind him," the +officer exclaimed. "While he is supposed to be a prisoner in +England? This must be his daughter, for whom we made such a search +two years ago, and who has been on our lists ever since. + +"This is important, Andre. I will go at once to the prefecture, and +obtain an order for their arrest. They will be sure to have put up +at the Fleur de Lys, it is the only hostelry where they could find +decent accommodation. Go at once, and keep an eye on them. There is +no great hurry, for they will not think of going further today, and +the prefect will be at dinner just at present, and hates being +disturbed." + +The marquis and Adele were standing over a blazing fire of logs in +the best room of the Fleur de Lys, when Rupert, who was looking out +of the casemented window, said: + +"Monsieur le marquis, I do not want to alarm you unnecessarily, but +there is a gendarme on the other side of the street watching this +house. He was standing by a group of soldiers at the gate when we +rode through. I happened to notice him particularly. + +"He is walking slowly backwards and forwards. I saw him when I was +at the door a quarter of an hour ago, and he is there still, and +just now I saw him glance up at these windows. He is watching us. +That is why I made an excuse to come up here to ask you about the +horses." + +"Are you sure, Rupert?" + +"Quite sure," Rupert said, gravely. + +"Then there is no doubt about it," the marquis said; "for I know +that you would not alarm us unnecessarily. What do you advise?" + +"I will go down," Rupert said, "and put the saddles on quietly. The +stable opens into the street behind. There is a flight of stairs at +the end of the long passage here, which leads down into a passage +below, at the end of which is a door into the stable yard. I have +just been examining it. I should recommend Adele to put on her +things, and to be in readiness, and then to remain in her room. If +you keep a watch here, you will see everyone coming down the +street, and the moment you see an officer approaching, if you will +lock the door outside and take the key with you, then call Adele, +and come down the back stairs with her into the yard, I will have +the horses in readiness. There is only one man in the stable. A +crown piece will make him shut his eyes as we ride out, and they +will be five minutes at the door before they find that we have +gone." + +The marquis at once agreed to the plan, and Rupert went down into +the stable yard, and began to resaddle the horses. + +"What, off again?" the ostler said. + +"Yes," Rupert answered. "Between you and I, my master has just seen +a creditor to whom he owes a heavy bill, and he wants to slip away +quietly. Here is a crown for yourself, to keep your tongue between +your teeth. + +"Now lend me a hand with these saddles, and help bring them out +quickly when I give the word." + +The horses resaddled and turned in their stables ready to be +brought out without a moment's delay, Rupert took his place at the +entrance, and watched the door leading from the hotel. In ten +minutes it opened, and the marquis, followed by Adele, came out. + +"Quick with that horse," Rupert said to the ostler; and seeing to +the other, they were in the yard as soon as the marquis came up. + +"An officer and eight men," he whispered to Rupert as he leapt into +the saddle, while Rupert lifted Adele on to the pillion. + +"Mounted?" + +"No." + +"Then we have a good half-hour's start. + +"Which is the way to the west gate?" + +"Straight on, till you reach the wall; follow that to the right, it +will bring you to the gate." + +Rupert vaulted into his saddle, and the party rode out into the +street; and then briskly, but without any appearance of +extraordinary haste, until they reached the gate. + +The guardian of the gate was sitting on a low block of wood at the +door of the guardroom. There was, Rupert saw, no soldier about. +Indeed, the place was quiet, for the evening was falling, and but +few people cared to be about in those times after nightfall. + +An idea flashed across Rupert's mind, and he rode up to the +marquis: + +"Please lead my horse," he said. "Wait for me a hundred yards on. I +will be with you in three minutes." + +Without waiting for an answer, he leapt from his horse, threw the +reins to the marquis, and ran back to the gate, which was but +thirty yards back. + +"A word with you, good man," he said, going straight into the +guardroom. + +"Hullo!" the man said, getting up and following him in. "And who +may you be, I should like to know, who makes so free?" + +Rupert, without a word, sprang upon the man and bore him to the +ground. Then, seeing that there was an inner room, he lifted him, +and ran him in there, the man being too astonished to offer the +slightest resistance. Then Rupert locked him in, and taking down +the great key of the gate, which hung over the fireplace, went out, +closed the great gate of the town, locked it on the outside, and +threw the key into the moat. Then he went off at a run and joined +the marquis, who with Adele was waiting anxiously at the distance +he had asked him. + +"What have you been doing, Rupert?" + +"I have just locked the great gate and thrown the key into the +moat," Rupert said. "The gate is a solid one, and they will not get +it open tonight. If they are to pursue us, they must go round to +one of the other gates, and then make a circuit to get into this +road again. I have locked the porter up, and I don't suppose they +will find it out till they ride up, half an hour hence. They will +try for another quarter of an hour to open the gate, and it will be +another good half-hour's ride to get round by the road, so we have +over one hour's start." + +"Capital, indeed," the marquis said, as they galloped forward. "The +dangers you have gone through have made you quick witted indeed, +Rupert. + +"I see you have changed saddles." + +"Yes, your horse had been carrying double all day, so I thought it +better to give a turn to the other. It is fortunate that we have +been making short journeys each day, and that our horses are +comparatively fresh." + +"Why did you come out by the west gate, Rupert? The north was our +way." + +"Yes, our direct way," Rupert said; "but I was thinking it over +while waiting for you. You see with the start we have got and good +horses, we might have kept ahead of them for a day; but with one +horse carrying double, there is no chance of us doing so for eighty +miles. We must hide up somewhere to let the horses rest. They would +make sure that we were going to take ship, and would be certain to +send on straight to Nantes, so that we should be arrested when we +arrive there. + +"As it is we can follow this road for thirty miles, as if going to +La Rochelle, and then strike up for a forty miles ride across to +Nantes." + +"Well thought of, indeed," Monsieur de Pignerolles said. + +"Adele, this future lord and master of yours is as long headed as +he is long limbed." + +Adele laughed happily. The excitement, and the fresh air and the +brisk pace, had raised her spirits; and with her father and lover +to protect her, she had no fear of the danger that threatened them. + +"With a ten miles start they ought not to overtake us till morning, +Rupert." + +"No," Rupert said, "supposing that we could keep on, but we cannot. +The horses have done twenty-five miles today. They have had an hour +and a half's rest, but we must not do more than as much farther, or +we shall run the risk of knocking them up." + +So they rode on at a fast trot for three hours. + +"Here is a little road to the right," Rupert said. "Let us ride up +there, and stop at the first house we come to." + +It was a mere byroad, and as once out of the main road they were +for the present safe from pursuit, they now suffered the horses to +break into a walk. It was not until two miles had been passed that +they came to a small farmhouse. Rupert dismounted and knocked at +the door. + +"Who is there?" a voice shouted within. + +"Travellers, who want shelter and are ready to pay well for it." + +"No, no," the voice said. "No travellers come along here, much less +at this time of night. Keep away. We are armed, I and my son, and +it will be worse for you if you do not leave us alone." + +"Look here, good man, we are what I say," Rupert said. "Open an +upstairs casement and show a light, and you will see that we have a +lady with us. We are but two men. Look out, I say. We will pay you +well. We need shelter for the lady." + +There was more talking within, and then a heavy step was heard +ascending the stairs. Then a light appeared in an upper room. The +casement opened and a long gun was first thrust out, then a face +appeared. + +The night was not a very dark one, and he was able to see the form +of the horse, and of a rider with a female figure behind him. So +far assured, he brought a light and again looked out. The +inspection was satisfactory, for he said: + +"I will open the door directly." + +Soon Adele was sitting before a fire bright with logs freshly +thrown on. The horses, still saddled, were placed in a shed with an +ample allowance of food. One of the sons, upon the promise of a +handsome reward, started to go a mile down the road, with +instructions to discharge his gun if he heard horsemen coming up +it. + +In a quarter of an hour Adele, thoroughly fatigued with her day's +exertions, went to lie down on the bed ordinarily used by the +farmer's daughter. The marquis wrapped himself in his cloak and lay +down in front of the fire, while Rupert took the first watch +outside. + +The night passed quietly, and at daybreak the next morning the +party were again in their saddles. Their intention was to ride by +cross lanes parallel to the main road, and to come into that road +again when they felt sure they were ahead of their pursuers, who, +with riding nearly all night, would be certain to come to the +conclusion that they were ahead of the fugitives, and would begin +to search for some signs of where they had left the road. + +They instructed their hosts to make no secret of their having been +there, but to tell the exact truth as to their time of arrival and +departure, and to say that from their conversation they were going +south to La Rochelle. + +The windings of the country roads that they traversed added greatly +to the length of the journey, and the marquis proposed that they +should strike at once across it for Nantes. Rupert, however, begged +him to continue the line that they had chosen and to show at least +once on the La Rochelle road, so as to lead their pursuers to the +conclusion that it was to that town that they were bound. + +In the middle of the day they halted for two hours at a farmhouse, +and allowed their horses to rest and feed, and then shifted the +saddles again, for Rupert had, since starting in the morning, run +the greater part of the way with his hand on the horse's saddle, so +that the animal was quite fresh when they reached their first +halting place. + +They then rode on and came down into the La Rochelle road, at a +spot near which they had heard that a wayside inn stood at which +they could obtain refreshments. The instant they drew rein at the +door, they saw from the face of the landlord that inquiries had +been made for them. + +"You had better not dismount, sir. These fellows may play you some +trick or other. I will bring some refreshments out, and learn the +news." + +So saying, Rupert leapt from his horse, took his pistols from their +holsters, placed one in his belt, and having cocked the other, went +up to the landlord. + +"Bring out five manchettes of bread," he said, "and a few bottles +of your best wine; and tell me how long is it since men came here +asking if you had seen us?" + +"This morning, about noon," the man said. "Two gendarmes came +along, and a troop of soldiers passed an hour since; they came from +Parthenay." + +"Did they say anything besides asking for us? Come, here is a louis +to quicken your recollection." + +"They said to each other, as they drank their wine, that you could +not have passed here yet, since you could not get fresh horses, as +they had done. Moreover, they said that troops from every place on +the road were out in search of you." + +"Call your man, and bid him bring out quickly the things I have +named," Rupert said. + +The man did so; and a lad, looking scared at the sight of Rupert's +drawn pistol, brought out the wine and bread, and three drinking +horns. + +"How far is it to La Rochelle?" Rupert asked. + +"Thirty-five miles." + +"Are there any byroads, by which we can make a detour, so as to +avoid this main road, and so come down either from the north or +south into the town?" + +The landlord gave some elaborate directions. + +"Good!" Rupert said. "I think we shall get through yet." + +Then he broke up two of the portions of bread, and gave them to the +horses, removed the bits from their mouths, and poured a bottle of +wine down each of their throats; then bridled up and mounted, +throwing two louis to the host, and saying: + +"We can trust you to be secret as to our having been here, can we +not?" + +The landlord swore a great oath that he would say nothing of their +having passed, and they then rode on. + +"That landlord had 'rogue' written on his face," Adele said. + +"Yes, indeed," Rupert said. "I warrant me by this time he has sent +off to the nearest post. Now we will take the first road to the +north, and make for Nantes. It is getting dark now, and we must not +make more than another ten miles. These poor brutes have gone +thirty already." + +Two hours' further riding at an easy pace brought them to a +village, where they were hospitably received at the house of the +maire of the place. + +The start was again made early. + +"We must do our best today," the marquis said. "We have a +fifty-five mile ride before us; and if the horses take us there, +their work is done, so we can press them to the utmost. The troops +will have been marching all night along the road on which the +innkeeper set them; but by this morning they will begin to suspect +that they have been put on a false scent, and as likely as not will +send to Nantes. We must be first there, if possible." + +The horses, however, tired by their long journeys on the two +preceding days, flagged greatly during the last half of the +journey, and it was late in the afternoon before they came in sight +of Nantes. At a slight rise half a mile from the town Rupert looked +back along the straight, level road on which they had ridden the +last few miles of the journey. + +"There is a body of men in the distance, marquis. A troop of +cavalry, I should say. They are a long way behind--three miles or +so; and if they are in chase of us, their horses must be fagged; +but in five-and-twenty minutes they will be here." + +They urged their weary steeds into a gallop as far as the town, and +then rode quietly along the streets into an inn yard. Here they +dismounted in a leisurely way. + +"Take the horses round to the stable, rub them down and give them +food," the marquis said to the ostler who came out. + +Then turning to the host, he said: + +"A sitting room, with a good fire. Two bedrooms for myself and my +daughter, a bedroom for my servant. Prepare a meal at once. We have +a friend to see before we enter." + +So saying, he turned with his daughter, as if to retrace his steps +up the street; but on reaching the first side street, turned, and +then, by another street, made his way down to the river, Rupert +following closely behind. + +"There is La Belle Jeanne," the marquis exclaimed. "That is +fortunate. The captain said he should be returning in a week or ten +days, so I hope he has his cargo on board, and will be open to make +a start at once." + + + +Chapter 26: The Siege of Tournai. + +In a few minutes they were alongside the lugger. + +"Maitre Nicolay! Maitre Nicolay!" the marquis shouted. + +"Holloa!" and a head showed up the companion. + +On seeing who it was, the speaker emerged. + +"It is you, Maitre Perrot." + +"Have you your cargo on board?" + +"Every barrel," said the skipper. "We sail tomorrow morning." + +"I will give you two hundred and fifty louis if you will sail in +ten minutes, and as much more if you land us safely in England." + +"Really?" + +"Really." + +"It is a bargain. Holloa! Pierre! Etienne!" + +Two lads ran up from below. + +"Run to the wine shops on the quay, fetch the crew. Just whisper in +their ears. Say I am casting off, that no man must wait to say +goodbye to his wife, and that each down in five minutes will have +as many louis, and that in ten I sail, if with only half the crew. +Run! Run!" + +The two boys set off at full speed. + +"I fear ten minutes will be impossible, Maitre Perrot; but all that +can be done, shall. Is ten absolutely necessary?" + +"Twenty may do, Maitre Nicolay; but if we are not off by that time, +we shall not be able to go at all." + +"You are pursued?" + +"Yes. In half an hour at latest a troop of soldiers will be here +after us." + +Maitre Nicolay looked at the sky. + +"There is wind enough when we once get well beyond the town; but +unless we get a good start they will overtake us in boats. Is it a +state affair, Maitre Perrot? For I own to you I don't like running +my head against the state." + +"I will tell you frankly, captain. I am the Marquis de Pignerolles. +This is my daughter. The king wants her to marry a man she does not +like, and I am running away with her, to save her from being shut +up in a convent till she agrees." + +"And this one?" Maitre Nicolay said, pointing to Rupert. + +"That is the gentleman whom both I and my daughter like better than +the king's choice." + +"That is all right," Maitre Nicolay said. "There is no hanging +matter in that. But look, sir; if you should be late, and they come +up with us in boats, or warn the forts at the entrance, mind, we +cannot fight; you must send us all below, with your swords and +pistols, you see, and batten us down, so that we shan't be +responsible, else I could never show my face in a French port +again. + +"Ah! Here come four of the men; yes, and two more after them. That +is good. + +"Now," he said, when the men came up, "not a question, not a word. +There is money, but it has to be earned. Now set to work. Loosen +the sails, and get all ready for casting off." + +In a quarter of an hour from the moment the party had reached the +Belle Jeanne eight men had arrived, and although these were but +half her crew, the captain, who had been throwing himself heart and +soul in the work, declared that he would wait for no more. The last +rope was thrown off, and the lugger dropped out into the stream. + +It was running rapidly out; and as the wind caught the sails, the +Belle Jeanne began to move, standing down towards the sea. + +During the time the lugger had been prepared for sea the passengers +had remained below, so as not to attract the attention of the +little crowd of sailors whom the sudden departure had assembled on +the quay. But they now came up on deck. Scarcely were they in the +middle of the stream, and the sails had fairly gathered way on her, +when Rupert exclaimed, "There they are!" as a party of horseman +rode down on to the quay, now nearly a quarter of a mile away. + +Then a faint shout came across the water, followed by a musket +shot, the ball splashing in the water a little way astern. The men +looked at each other and at their captain. + +"Look here, lads, I will tell you the truth about this matter; and +I know that, as men of La Vendee, you will agree with me. This +gentleman who crossed with us before is a noble, and the king wants +this lady, his daughter, to marry a man she does not like. The +father agrees with her; and he and her fiance, this gentleman here, +have run away with her, to prevent her being locked up. Now we are +bound, as true Vendeans, to assist them; and besides, they are +going to pay handsomely. Each of you will get ten louis if we land +them safe in England. + +"But you know we cannot resist the law; so we must let these +gentlemen, with their swords and pistols, drive us below, do you +see? And then we shan't be responsible if the 'Jeanne' does not +heave to when ordered. + +"Now let us make a bit of a scuffle; and will you fire a shot or +two, gentlemen? They will be watching us with glasses from the +shore, and will see that we make a fight for it." + +The sailors entered into the spirit of the thing, and a mock fight +took place. The marquis and Rupert flashed their swords and fired +their pistols, the crew being driven below, and the hatch put on +above them. + +The fugitives had time to look around. Two boats laden with +soldiers had put out, and were rowing after them. The marquis took +the helm. + +"The wind is freshening, and I think it will be a gale before +morning, Rupert; but they are gaining upon us. I fear they will +overtake us." + +"I don't think they will get on board if they do, sir," Rupert +said. "Had not Adele better sit down on deck under shelter of the +bulwarks? For they keep on firing, and a chance shot might hit +her." + +"It is no more likely to hit me than papa or you, Rupert." + +"No more likely, my dear," her father said; "but we must run the +risk, and you need not. Besides, if we are anxious about you, we +shall not be so well able to attend to what we have to do." + +Adele sat down by the bulwark, but presently said: + +"If they come up close, papa, I might take the helm, if you show me +which way to hold it. I could do it sitting down on deck, and you +could help Rupert keep them off." + +"Your proposal is a very good one, Adele, and it pleases me much to +see you so cool and steady." + +The bullets were now whistling past the lugger, sometimes striking +her sails, sometimes with a sharp tap hitting her hull or mast. + +"We may as well sit down out of sight till the time comes for +fighting, Rupert," the marquis said. "Our standing up does no good, +and only frightens this little girl." + +The firing ceased when they sat down, as it was clearly a waste of +powder and ball continuing. Rupert from time to time looked over +the stern. + +"The first boat is not more than fifty yards behind, the other +thirty or forty behind it. They gain on us very slowly, but I think +they will catch us." + +"Then we must do our best, Rupert. We have each our pistols, and I +think we might begin to fire at the rowers." + +"The pistols are not much good at that distance, sir. My idea is to +let them come alongside; then I will heave that cask of water down +into the boat, and there will be an end of it." + +"That water cask!" the marquis said. "That is an eighteen gallon +cask. It is as much as we can lift it, much less heave it through +the air." + +"I can do it, never fear," Rupert said. "You forget my exercises at +Loches, and as a miller's man. + +"My only fear," he said in a low voice, "is that they may shoot me +as I come to the side with it. For that reason we had better begin +to fire. I don't want to kill any of them, but just to draw their +fire. Then, just as they come alongside put a cap and a cloak on +that stick, and raise them suddenly. Any who are still loaded are +sure to fire the instant it appears." + +The marquis nodded, and they began to fire over the stern, just +raising their heads, and instantly lowering them. The boats again +began to fire heavily. Not a man in the boats was hit, for neither +of those in the lugger took aim. The men cheered, and rowed +lustily, and soon the boat was within ten yards of the lugger, +coming up to board at the side. Rupert went to the water barrel, +and rolled it to the bulwarks at the point towards which the boat +was making. The marquis stooped behind the bulwarks, a few paces +distant, with the dummy. + +"Now!" Rupert said, stooping over the barrel, as the boat made a +dash at the side. + +The marquis lifted the dummy, and five or six muskets were +simultaneously discharged. Then a cry of amazement and horror +arose, as Rupert, with the barrel poised above his head, reared +himself above the bulwarks. He bent back to gain impetus, and then +hurled the barrel into the boat as she came within a yard of the +side of the lugger. + +There was a wild shout, a crash of timber, and in an instant the +shattered boat was level with the water, and the men were holding +on, or swimming for their lives. A minute later the other boat was +on the spot, and the men were at work picking up their comrades. By +the time all were in, she was only an inch or two out of the water, +and there was only room for two men to pull; and the last thing +those on board the lugger saw of her in the gathering darkness, she +was slowly making her way towards shore. + +Now that all immediate danger was at an end, the marquis took the +tiller, and Rupert lifted the hatchway. + +"The captain and two of the crew may come on deck if they promise +to behave well," he said. + +There was a shout of laughter, and all the sailors pressed up, +eager to know how the pursuit had been shaken off. When Rupert told +them simply that he had tossed one of the water barrels into one of +the boats and staved it, the men refused to believe him; and it was +not until he took one of the carronades, weighing some five hundred +weight, from its carriage, and lifted it above his head as if to +hurl it overboard, that their doubts were changed into astonishment. + +"I suppose our danger is not over, captain?" the marquis asked. + +"No, we have the forts at the mouth of the river to pass, but we +shall be there before it is light. They will send off a horseman +when they get back to the town, but they will not be there for some +time, and the wind is rising fast. I hope we shall be through +before they get news of what has taken place. In any case, at the +speed we shall be going through the water in another hour or two, +no rowboat could stop us." + +"I think, Captain Nicolay, it would be as well for you to keep only +as many men as you absolutely want on deck, so that you can say we +only allowed two or three up, and kept watch over you with loaded +pistols." + +"It would be better, perhaps," Maitre Nicolay said. "There is sure +to be a nice row about it, and it is always as well to have as few +lies as possible to tell. + +"Perhaps mademoiselle will like to go below. My cabin is ready for +her, and I have told the boy to get supper for us all." + +The captain's prediction about the rising wind was correct, and in +another hour the Belle Jeanne was tearing down the river at a rate +of speed which, had the road from Nantes to the forts been no +longer than that by water, would have rendered the chance of any +horseman arriving before it slight indeed; but the river was +winding, and although they calculated that they had gained an hour +and a half start, Captain Nicolay acknowledged that it would be a +close thing. Long ere the forts were reached Adele was fast asleep +below, while her father and Rupert paced the deck anxiously. + +The night was not a dark one. The moon shone out at times bright +and clear between the hurrying clouds. + +"There are the forts," Maitre Nicolay said. "The prospect is +hopeful, for I do not see a light." + +The hands were all ordered below as they neared the forts, Maitre +Nicolay himself taking the helm. + +All was dark and silent as they approached, and as La Belle Jeanne +swept past them like a shadow, and all was still, a sigh of relief +burst from the marquis and Rupert. Five minutes later the wind +brought down the sound of a drum, a rocket soared into the air, and +a minute or two later lights appeared in every embrasure of the +forts on both sides. + +"It has been a near thing," the marquis said; "we have only won by +five minutes." + +Three minutes later came a flash, followed by the roar of a gun, +and almost at the same moment a shot struck the water, fifty yards +ahead of them on their beam. + +"We are nearly a mile away already," the captain said. "It is fifty +to one against their crippling us by this light, though they may +knock some holes in our sails, and perhaps splinter our timbers a +little. + +"Ah! Just what I thought, here come the chasse marees," and he +pointed to two vessels which had lain close under the shadow of the +forts, and which were now hoisting sail. + +"It is lucky that they are in there, instead of cruising outside, +as usual. I suppose they saw the gale coming, and ran in for a +quiet night." + +The forts were now hard at work, and the balls fell thickly around. +One or two went through the sails, but none touched her hull or +spars, and in another ten minutes she was so far away that the +forts ceased firing. + +By this time, however, the chasse marees were under full sail, and +were rapidly following in pursuit. La Belle Jeanne had, however, a +start of fully a mile and a half. + +"How do those craft sail with yours?" Rupert asked. + +"In ordinary weather the 'Jeanne' could beat them, though they are +fast boats; but they are heavier than we are, and can carry their +sail longer; besides, our being underhanded is against us. It will +be a close race, monsieur. It will be too rough when we are fairly +out for them to use their guns. But the best thing that can happen +for us is that there may be an English cruiser not far off. I must +have the hands up, and take in some sail; she will go just as fast, +for she has too much on to be doing her best now we are in the open +sea. + +"Now, gentlemen, I advise you to lie down for an hour or two. I +will call you if they gain much upon us." + +It was morning before the voyagers awoke, and made their way on +deck. They looked round, but no sail was in sight, only an expanse +of foaming sea and driving cloud. The captain was on deck. + +"I suspect they have given it up and run back," he said; "and no +fools either. It is not weather for anyone to be out who has a +choice in the matter. But the 'Jeanne' is a good sea boat, and has +been out in worse weather than this. Not but that it is a big gale, +but it is from the north, and the land shelters us a bit. If it +keeps on like this, I shall lie-to a few hours. The sea will be +tremendous when we get beyond Ushant." + +For three days the gale blew furiously, and the "Jeanne" lay-to. +Then the storm broke, and the wind veered round to the south, and +La Belle Jeanne flew along on her way towards England. + +It was at a point on the Hampshire coast, near Lymington, that she +was to run her cargo; and on the fifth day after leaving the river +she was within sight of land. They lowered their sails, and lay a +few miles off land until nightfall, and then ran in again. Two +lights on the shore, one above the other, told that the coast was +clear; and the boats were quickly lowered. The marquis, who had +come well provided with gold to meet all emergencies, handed over +to Maitre Nicolay fifty pounds over the sum agreed on, and in a few +minutes the travellers set foot on shore. + +Six days later, a post chaise brought them to the door of +Windthorpe Chace, where Madame Holliday and the colonel stood on +the steps to welcome Rupert's future wife. The very day after their +return, Rupert mooted to the marquis the subject of an early +marriage, but the latter said at once: + +"I must first take a place for Adele to be married from. +Mademoiselle Adele de Pignerolles must not be married like the +daughter of a little bourgeois. Moreover, Rupert, it is already +near the end of the year. In three months you will be setting out +to join your regiment again. It would be cruel to Adele for you to +marry her before the war is over, or until you at any rate have +done with soldiering. You tell me that you have gone through +enough, and that the next campaign shall be your last. At any rate +you can obtain a year's leave after nine years of campaigning. So +be it. When you return at the end of next year's campaign you shall +find all ready, and I will answer for it that Adele will not keep +you waiting. It is but a fortnight since you were affianced to each +other. You can well wait the year." + +And so it was arranged, for Rupert himself saw that it would be +cruel to expose Adele to the risk of being made a widow after a few +weeks only of married life. + +The winter passed very quietly and happily. The marquis was always +talking of taking a house, but Adele joined her voice with those of +the others in saying that it would be cruel indeed for him to take +her away from the Chace until it was time for Rupert to start for +the war again. + +In the middle of March he received orders to join his regiment, as +large numbers of recruits had been sent out, and every officer was +required at his post. + +During the winter of 1708, Marlborough had laboured strenuously to +obtain a peace which would satisfy all parties. Louis offered great +concessions, which the duke urged strongly should be accepted; but +the English and Dutch wanted terms so severe and humiliating that +Louis would not accept them, and both sides prepared for a great +final struggle. + +The King of France addressed an appeal to his people, telling them +that he had offered to make the greatest possible sacrifices to +obtain peace for them, but that the enemy demanded terms which +would place France at their mercy. He therefore appealed to their +patriotism to come forward to save the country. The people +responded readily to the summons, and Marshal Villars took the +field in the spring with 110,000 men, a force just equal to that of +the allies. + +The French had taken up a position of such extraordinary strength, +that it was hopeless for the allies to attempt to attack. His left +wing was covered by the stream of Roubaix; his centre by the marsh +of Cambriu; his right by the canal between Douai and Lille; and +this naturally strong position had been so strengthened by +artificial inundations, ditches, abattis, and earthworks, as to be +practically impregnable. + +Marlborough and Eugene made, however, as if they would attack, and +Villars called to him as many men as could be spared from the +garrisons round. The allies then by a sudden night march arrived +before Tournai, and at once commenced its investment. Tournai was +an immensely strong town, but its garrison was weak. The heavy +artillery was brought up from Ghent, and on the 6th of July the +approaches were commenced; and on the 29th of that month, the +governor, finding that the allies were gradually winning fort after +fort, and that Villars made no movement to relieve him, surrendered +the town, and retired into the citadel, which was then besieged. + +This was one of the most terrible sieges ever undertaken, for not +only were the fortifications enormously strong, but beneath each +bastion and outwork, and far extending beyond them, an immense +number of galleries had been driven for mines. At all times +soldiers, even the bravest, have found it difficult to withstand +the panic brought about by the explosion of mines, and by that +underground warfare in which bravery and strength were alike +unavailing, and where the bravest as well as the most cowardly were +liable at any moment to be blown into the air, or smothered +underground. The dangers of this service, at all times great; were +immensely aggravated by the extraordinary pains taken by those who +had constructed the fortifications to prepare for subterranean +warfare by the construction of galleries. + +The miners frequently met underground, breaking into each other's +galleries. Sometimes the troops, mistaking friend for foe, fought +with each other. Sometimes whole companies entered mines by mistake +at the very moment that they were primed for explosion. They were +often drowned, suffocated with smoke, or buried alive. Sometimes +scores were blown into the air. + +It was not surprising that even the hearts of the allied troops +were appalled at the new and extraordinary dangers which they had +to face at the siege of Tournai; and the bravest were indeed +exposed to the greatest danger. The first to mount a breach, to +effect a lodgment in an outwork, to enter a newly discovered mine, +was sure to perish. First there was a low rumbling noise, then the +earth heaved, and whole companies were scattered with a frightful +explosion. + +On the 5th of August, a sally made by the besieged was bravely +repulsed, and the besiegers, pressing closely upon them, effected a +lodgment; but immediately a mine was sprung, and 150 men blown into +the air. + +On the 20th, the besieged blew down a wall which overhung a sap, +and two officers and thirty-four soldiers were killed. + +On the 23rd a mine sixty feet long and twenty feet broad was +discovered, just as a whole battalion of Hanoverian troops had +taken up their place above it. All were congratulating themselves +on the narrow escape, when a mine placed below that they had +discovered exploded, burying all in the upper mine in the ruins. + +On the 25th, 300 men posted in a large mine which had been +discovered, were similarly destroyed by the explosion of another +mine below it; and the same night 100 men posted in the ditch were +killed by a wall being blown out upon them. + +In resisting the attack upon one side of the fortress only, +thirty-eight mines were sprung in twenty-six days, almost every one +with fatal effect. It is no detriment to the courage of the troops +to say, that they shrank appalled before such sudden and terrible a +mode of warfare, and Marlborough and Eugene in person visited the +trenches and braved the dangers in order to encourage the men. + +At last, on the 3rd of September, the garrison, reduced to 3000 +men, surrendered; and were permitted to march out with the honours +of war, and to return to France on the promise not to serve again. + +This siege cost the allies 5000 men. + + + +Chapter 27: Malplaquet, and the End of the War. + +During all the time that the allies had been employed upon the +siege of Tournai, Marshal Villars had laboured to form an +impregnable line of entrenchments, barring all farther advance. +Marlborough, however, a day or two previously to the fall of +Tournai, sent off the Prince of Hesse Cassel, who by a rapid and +most masterly march fell upon the French lines, at a part where the +French had no expectation of there being an enemy within thirty +miles of them. No opposition was made, and the prince marching +rapidly to the plateau of Jemappes, invested Mons on the French +side. The rest of the army followed. The effect caused throughout +France, and indeed through Europe, by the success of this masterly +movement, was immense; and it was evident that a great battle was +at hand. + +Villars moved his army rapidly up. A detachment of Eugene's troops +were left to watch Mons, and the allied army, 93,000 strong, +advanced to meet them, and on the night of the 7th bivouacked in a +line three miles long, and five from that occupied by the French. +Marshal Villars had with him 95,000 men. The forces therefore were +as nearly as possible equal; but the allies had 105 guns, against +eighty of the French. + +The position taken up by Villars was of great natural strength; +being a plateau, interspersed with woods and intersected with +streams, and elevated from a hundred and fifty to two hundred feet +above the meadowland of the Trouville, across which their +assailants must pass. Malplaquet stood on this plateau. On the +slopes from the plateau to the plain, the woods were extremely +thick, and the only access to the plateau, for troops, were two +clearings cut through the woods, known as the Trouees de la +Louviere, and d'Aulnoit. + +On the morning of the 8th, when the French definitely took up their +position, Marlborough and Eugene were in favour of making an +instant attack, before the French could add to the great natural +strength of their position by entrenchments. The Dutch deputies, +however, were altogether opposed to an assault on so formidable a +front. Finally a compromise was adopted--a compromise which, as is +often the case, was the very worst course which could have been +adopted. The army should neither fall back, as the Dutch wished; +nor attack at once, as Marlborough desired. It was resolved not to +abandon the siege of Mons, and to attack the enemy if they would +not take the offensive; but to wait until Saint Ghislain, which +commanded a passage on the Haine, was taken; and until twenty-six +battalions on the march from Tournai arrived. + +It was two days before these conditions were fulfilled; and Villars +had used these two precious days in throwing up a series of +immensely strong works. The heights he occupied formed a concave +semicircle, enfilading on all sides the little plain of Malplaquet, +and this semicircle now bristled with redoubts, palisades, abattis, +and stockades; while the two trouees, or openings, by which it was +presumed that the allies would endeavour to force an entrance, were +so enfiladed by cross batteries as to be well-nigh unassailable. +Half the French army by turns had laboured ceaselessly at the +works, during the two days which the cowardly folly of the Dutch +deputies had given them; and the result was the works resembled +rather the fortifications of a fortress, than ordinary field works. +Marlborough and Eugene had seen from hour to hour the progress of +these formidable works, and resolved to mask their front attack by +a strong demonstration on the enemy's rear. The troops coming up +from Tournai, under General Withers, were ordered not to join the +main army; but to cross the Haine at Saint Ghislain, and to attack +the extreme left of the enemy at the farm of La Folie. Baron +Schulemberg was to attack the left flank of the entrenchments in +the wood of Taisniere, with forty of Eugene's battalions, supported +by as many cannon; while Count Lottum was to attack the right flank +of the wood with twenty-two battalions. The rest of the army was to +attack in front; but it was from Eugene's attack in the wood of +Taisniere that success was chiefly hoped. + +At three o'clock on the morning of the 11th the men were got under +arms, divine service was performed at the head of each regiment, +and then the troops marched to the posts assigned to them in the +attack. Both armies were confident, the French enthusiastic. + +The allies relied on their unbroken series of victories. Never once +since the war begun had they suffered defeat; and with Eugene as +well as Marlborough with them, they felt confident of their power +to carry a position which, even to the eye of the least instructed +soldier, was yet formidable in the extreme. + +The French were confident in being commanded by their best and most +popular generals, Villars and Boufflers. They were strong in the +enthusiasm which the king's appeal had communicated to the whole +nation, and they considered it absolutely impossible for any enemy +to carry the wonderful series of works that they had erected. + +At half-past seven all was ready, and the fog which had hitherto +hung over the low ground cleared up, and the two armies came into +view of each other, and the artillery on both sides opened a heavy +fire. The whole line advanced; but the left was halted for awhile, +while Count Lottum, with his twenty-two battalions formed in three +lines, attacked the right of the wood of Taisniere; and +Schulemberg, with whom was Eugene himself, attacked their left. + +Without firing a single shot, Schulemberg's men marched through the +storm of grape which swept them until within twenty paces of the +entrenchments, when the musketry fire of the French troops was so +terrible that the attacking columns recoiled two hundred yards; +where they were steadied, and brought back to the charge by the +heroic efforts of Eugene, who exposed himself in front of the line. + +While this conflict was raging, some Austrian battalions which had +formed the extreme right of Schulemberg's corps, but had been +unable to advance, owing to a deep marsh, stole round unperceived +into the northeastern angle of the wood of Taisniere, and were soon +in conflict with the French. Lottum's division had, with immense +bravery, crossed a deep morass under a tremendous fire, and stormed +a portion of the entrenchments; but Villars, who was directly in +rear, led on a fresh brigade, who drove back the assailants. +Marlborough then charged at the head of d'Auvergne's cavalry, and +some of Lottum's battalion again forced their way in. + +Meanwhile Withers was quietly making his way through the wood from +La Folie, and had made considerable progress before the French +could muster in force at this point. As this threatened the rear of +his front position, Villars fell back from the entrenchments in +front of the wood, and took up the second and far stronger position +he had prepared on the high ground. + +On the left an even more desperate fight had been raging. The +Prince of Orange commanded here. The prince was full of courage and +impetuosity. The troops under him were Dutch, or auxiliaries in the +Dutch pay, among them a Scotch brigade under the Marquis of +Tullibardin. The corps advanced in the most gallant manner, the +Scotch and Dutch rivalling each other in bravery. Two lines of the +enemy's entrenchments were carried at the bayonet; and had there +been a reserve at hand, the battle would have been won at this +point. + +But the prince had thrown his whole force into the attack, and his +forty battalions were opposed by seventy French battalions, while +the assailants were swept by the fire from the high ground. +Tullibardin and General Spau were killed, and the assailants, +fighting with extraordinary obstinacy, were yet driven back, with a +loss of 3000 killed and twice as many wounded. The French sallied +out to attack them, but the Prince of Hesse Cassel charged them +with his cavalry, and drove them back into their works. + +The news of the terrible slaughter and repulse on the right brought +Eugene and Marlborough from the centre and left, where all was +going well. Reserves were brought up, and the battle restored. + +News now came that Villars, alarmed at the progress made on his +left by Withers, had withdrawn the Irish brigade and some other of +his best troops from his centre, to drive back the allies' right. + +Eugene galloped off with all haste to lead the right and hurry them +forward, while Marlborough directed Lord Orkney to attack the +weakened French centre with all his strength, and ordered the +cavalry to follow on the heels of the infantry. The fight on the +right was fierce indeed, for here Villars and Eugene alike led +their men. Both were wounded; Villars in the knee. He refused to +leave the field, but insisted on being placed in a chair where he +could see the battle and cheer on his men. The agony he suffered, +however, and the great loss of blood, weakened him so that at last +he fainted, and was carried off the field, the command devolving on +Marshal Boufflers. + +Eugene was wounded in the head. In vain his staff pressed him to +retire in order that the wound might be dressed. + +"If I am to die here," he said, "of what use to dress the wounds? +If I survive, it will be time enough in the evening." + +So with the blood streaming over his shoulders, he kept his place +at the head of his troops, who, animated by his example and +heroism, rushed forward with such impetuosity that the works were +carried. + +In the centre an even more decisive advantage had been gained. Lord +Orkney made the attack with such vigour, that the entrenchments, +weakened by the forces which had been withdrawn, were carried; and +the horse, following close behind, broke through the openings of +the works, and spread themselves over the plateau, cutting down the +fugitives. The guns in the works were wheeled round, and opened a +tremendous fire on the dense masses of the French drawn up behind +other parts of the entrenchments. + +Thrown into confusion by the fire, the French began to waver, and +Marlborough gave the order for the great battery of forty guns in +the allied centre to advance. These advanced up the hill, passed +through the entrenchments, and opened a fire right and left upon +the French. + +Although the French still strove gallantly, the battle was now +virtually over. The centre was pierced, the right turned, and +Boufflers prepared to cover the necessary retreat with his cavalry. +With 2000 picked horsemen of the royal horse guards, he charged the +allied cavalry when scattered and blown by their pursuit, and drove +them back; but was himself repulsed by the fire of Orkney's +infantry, and fell back, leaving half his force dead on the plain. + +Again and again Boufflers brought up fresh cavalry, and executed +the most desperate charges to cover the retreat of his infantry, +who were now falling back along the whole line, as the Prince of +Orange, benefiting by the confusion, had now carried the +entrenchments on the French left. Boufflers formed his infantry +into three great masses, and fell back in good order in the +direction of Bavai. + +Such was the victory of Malplaquet. A victory indeed, but won at +such a cost that a few more such successes would have been ruin. +The allies had gained the French position, had driven the enemy +from the field, and had prevented the raising of the siege of Mons, +the great object of the French; but beyond that their advantage was +slight, for the enemy retired in good order, and were ready to have +fought again, if attacked, on the following day. + +The allies captured fourteen guns and twenty-five standards. The +French carried off thirty-two standards, principally Dutch. The +French lost 14,000 men in killed and wounded, the allies fully +20,000. + +The French historians have done full justice to the extraordinary +bravery of the allied troops. One of their officers wrote after the +battle: + +"Eugene and Marlborough ought to be well satisfied with us on that +day, since up to that time they had not met with a resistance +worthy of them. They may now say with justice that nothing can +stand before them; and indeed what should be able to stay the rapid +progress of those heroes, if an army of 100,000 men of the best +troops, strongly posted between two woods, trebly entrenched, and +performing their duty as well as any brave men could do, were not +able to stop them one day? Will you not then own with me that they +surpass all the heroes of former ages?" + +The siege of Mons was now undertaken, and after a month's gallant +defence, fell, and the two armies then went into winter quarters, +there remaining now only the fortress of Valenciennes between the +allies and Paris. + +Rupert Holliday was not present with the army at the siege of Mons. +He had distinguished himself greatly in the desperate cavalry fight +which took place upon the plateau after the British infantry had +forced their way in. More than once, fighting in front of his +regiment, he had been cut off and surrounded when the allied +cavalry gave way before the valiant charge of the French cavalry; +but each time his strength, his weight, and the skill with which he +wielded the long, heavy sword he carried, enabled him to cut his +way through the enemy's ranks, and to rejoin his regiment. He had +not, however, come off scatheless, having received several severe +sabre cuts. Hugh had also been wounded, and Rupert readily obtained +leave to retire to England to be cured of his wounds, the Duke of +Marlborough raising him to the rank of colonel on the field of +battle. + +He had, during the campaign, received many letters from Adele, who +told him that the marquis had taken a house; but to each inquiry +that Rupert made as to its locality, she either did not answer the +question at all, or returned evasive answers. All he knew was that +she was staying at the Chace, and that the marquis was away, seeing +to the renovation of his house. + +It was not until Rupert returned that he obtained the clue to this +little mystery. The Marquis de Pignerolles had bought the Haugh, +formerly the property of Sir William Brownlow, and intended the +estate as a dowry for Adele. The Pignerolles estate was indeed very +large; and two or three years of his savings were sufficient, not +only to purchase the estate, but to add to and redecorate and +refurnish the house. + +Madame Holliday handed over to Rupert the title deeds of the whole +of the Windthorpe estate owned by her, as the income from her +savings was more than enough to maintain her at Windthorpe Chace. +One only condition the marquis exacted with the dowry, which was +that the combined estates should, after Rupert finally came into +possession of the Chace, be known not as the Haugh, but as +Windthorpe Chace. + +"It was at Windthorpe Chace, my dear Rupert, that you first knew +and drew sword for Adele, and the name is dear to her as to you. It +is only right that I should unite the two estates, since I +prevented their union some ten years ago. I am in treaty now for a +small estate two miles on the other side of Derby, so that, until +the king either forgives me or dies, I shall be near you." + +The wedding did not take place quite so soon as Rupert had hoped, +for his wounds were more severe than he had at first been willing +to allow, and it was not until the last week of the year that the +wedding took place. + +For many years after the event the marriage of Rupert Holliday with +Mademoiselle de Pignerolles was talked of as the most brilliant +event which had taken place in the county of Derby during the +memory of man. The great Duke of Marlborough himself, and his +duchess, came down to be present at the ceremony. From Holland came +over Major Dillon, and four or five others of the officers of the +5th dragoons. Lord Fairholm was also there, and Hugh was not the +least welcome to Rupert of those assembled at the wedding. + +Hugh was still a private, for although he could long ere this have +been a sergeant had he chosen, he had always refused promotion, as +it would have removed him from service as Rupert's orderly. + +There was also present at the wedding a young Dutch lady engaged to +be married to Major Dillon, and her father. Rupert had written over +to say how glad he should be to see them at his marriage, but that +he could not think of asking them to come so far. Mynheer van Duyk +had, however, written to say that he and his daughter would +certainly come, for that regarding Rupert as a son it would be +extraordinary indeed for him to be absent. And so they arrived at +the Chace two days before the wedding, and on the morning before +going to church he presented Rupert with a cheque which simply +astounded the young soldier. + +At first, indeed, he absolutely refused to accept it. The merchant, +however, insisted so strongly upon it--urging that his own wealth +was so large, that, as he had only Maria to inherit it, it was +really beyond his wants, or even his power to spend; and that he +had, ever since Rupert saved Maria from the attempts of Sir Richard +Fulke, which but for him must have succeeded, regarded him as his +adopted son--Rupert saw that his refusal would really give pain and +therefore, with warm gratitude, he accepted the cheque, whose value +exceeded that of the united estates of the Haugh and the Chace. +Maria brought a magnificent set of jewels for Adele--not indeed +that that young lady in any way required them, for the marquis had +had all her mother's jewels, which were superb, reset for the +occasion. They were married first at the Roman Catholic chapel at +Derby, for Adele was of course a Catholic, and then at the church +in the village of Windthorpe. After which there was a great dinner, +and much rejoicing and festivity at it. + +Rupert Holliday went no more to the wars. He obtained leave to +reside on his estate for a year. That year, 1710, little was done +in Flanders. The duke's enemies at home had now gained the upper +hand, and he was hampered in every way. The allies, seeing that a +change of government was imminent in England, and that the new +party would in all probability make peace at any cost and leave +them to themselves, carried on quiet negotiations with France; and +so throughout the summer no great battle took place, although the +allies gained several material advantages. + +In the following year envy, intrigue, and a woman's spite, +conquered. Godolphin fell, and the new ministry hastened to make +the most disgraceful peace recorded in the annals of the history of +this country. By it the allies of England were virtually deserted, +and the fruits of ten years of struggle and of victory for the most +part abandoned. Marlborough refused to sign the disgraceful peace +of Utrecht and, exiled and disgraced, lived quietly on the +continent until the death of Anne, a living monument of national +injustice. When George the First ascended the throne, the hero was +recalled, and remained the war minister of the country until within +a year or two of his death, honoured and loved by the people for +whom he had done so much. + +There is little more to tell about Rupert Holliday. His grandfather +lived until past ninety years of age, and Madame Holliday died +suddenly a few weeks after her father in law. Rupert was now one of +the largest landowners in the country, and was one of the most +popular men. The home farm round the Chace was held for generations +by the Parsons, for Hugh married not many months after his master. + +At the death of Louis, the Marquis de Pignerolles passed over again +to France, and there, at least when England and France were at +peace, Colonel Rupert Holliday and his wife paid him long visits. +As his daughter had married a foreigner she could not inherit the +estates, which went to a distant relation; but at the death of the +marquis, at a good old age, he left a fortune to his daughter, +which enabled her husband still further to extend his estates. Had +Rupert desired it, he could have been raised to the peerage, but he +preferred remaining one of the wealthiest private gentlemen in +England. + +From time to time they received visits from Major Dillon and his +wife, both of whom were great favourites with the young Hollidays. +Between Rupert and Hugh a real affection prevailed all through +their lives, and the latter was never so happy as when the children +first, and, years after, the grandchildren, of Rupert and Adele +came down to the farm to eat cake, drink syllabub, and listen to +wonderful tales about the doings of the "Cornet of Horse." + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CORNET OF HORSE*** + + +******* This file should be named 17403.txt or 17403.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/4/0/17403 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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