ce the female companies at
Sluys and Haarlem proved themselves a match for the best soldiers of
Spain. Above all, in patient endurance of pain and suffering, women
are immeasurably superior to men. I emphasize this point because I
know that many boys, simply because they are stronger than girls, are
apt to regard them with a sort of contempt, and to fancy themselves
without the least justification, not only stronger but braver and more
courageous--in fact superior beings in every way.

G. A. HENTY

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
Unexpected News

CHAPTER II.
A Country Visit

CHAPTER III.
Run Down

CHAPTER IV.
The Privateer's Rendezvous

CHAPTER V.
The British Cruisers

CHAPTER VI.
Home Again

CHAPTER VII.
A Commission

CHAPTER VIII.
Startling News

CHAPTER IX.
Mr. Tallboys' Visitor

CHAPTER X.
On Detachment

CHAPTER XI.
Still-Hunting

CHAPTER XII.
The Cave Among the Rocks

CHAPTER XIII.
More Startling News

CHAPTER XIV.
The New Housemaid

CHAPTER XV.
In Belgium

CHAPTER XVI.
Found at Last

CHAPTER XVII.
Quatre Bras

CHAPTER XVIII.
Waterloo

CHAPTER XIX.
The Rout

CHAPTER I.

UNEXPECTED NEWS.

"I have written to ask Ralph Conway to come and stay for a time with
me." The announcement was a simple one, but it fell like a bombshell
in the midst of the party at breakfast at Penfold Hall. The party
consisted only of the speaker, Herbert Penfold, and his two sisters.
The latter both exclaimed "Herbert!" in a tone of shocked surprise.
Mr. Penfold was evidently prepared for disapprobation; he had spoken
in a somewhat nervous tone, but with a decision quite unusual to him.
He had finished his last piece of toast and emptied his last cup of
tea before making the announcement, and he now pushed back his chair,
rose to his feet, and said: "Yes; I have been thinking of having him
here for some time, and I suppose that as master of this house I am at
liberty to ask whom I like; at any rate I would rather have no
discussion on the subject."

So saying, without giving his sisters time to reply, he walked hastily
to the door and went out. Miss Penfold and Miss Eleanor Penfold gazed
at each other in speechless astonishment. So accustomed were they to
settle everything that took place at Penfold Hall, that this sudden
assumption of authority on the part of their brother fairly staggered
them. Miss Penf