ughing, "but as a matter of
fact at that time the Duke was taking alternate days of command with
the Prince of Baden."

"A queer go!" the listener interjected.

"Well, to cut my tale short, we made two attacks on that hill, and
both times were driven back. Things began to look like a drawn game,
when up comes Louis, the Prince, you know, with a lot of his Germans,
and at it we went again. In the thick of it, my colonel suddenly
called out, 'Can you ride, Blackett?' 'Try me, sir,' I says. And he
gave me a note for the Duke, telling me that he had not another
officer left who could ride, all our fellows had been laid low or
dispersed. I galloped off like the wind, on a big hard-mouthed brute.
Just as I was nearing the spot where the Duke stood, a dozen Bavarians
suddenly blocked my path and levelled their muskets. I was on a bit of
a slope and above their heads, in a manner, so I kicked up my nag and
in an instant I flew over them, guns and all. It was a clean jump, and
not a shot hit me, by good luck. My horse managed to carry me on to
the Duke, and then fell dead. The poor beggar had caught what had been
intended for me. Well, now I've done. The Duke, who had seen it all,
had me transferred to a cavalry regiment, with the rank of lieutenant,
and here I am."

"Yes, and here am I, a private, talking in this off-hand sort of way
to a commissioned officer."

"That's all right, Fairburn," laughed Blackett, "we haven't entered
you yet. It'll be quite time enough to bother about that sort of thing
then. Officially we shall have to be master and man; actually we shall
be brothers."

Thus the ancient rivals became comrades in arms, and members of the
same regiment, for George from that time was a cavalry man. His other
friend, Fieldsend, was attached to a line regiment again.

Bit by bit Lieutenant Blackett, during the next days, contrived to
give his friend a full and vivid account of the great battle of
Blenheim, just won by the Allies. He was not a great hand at a tale,
whatever he might be on the field, and we may piece together his story
for him. His adventures and his doings in that memorable fight may
well delay our tale for a little space.

That year Louis of France had determined to make a vigorous effort, or
rather a series of efforts, and sent various armies to oppose the
different members of the Grand Alliance. But his main plan was to
attack the Empire, making Bavaria, the Elector of which was his only
sup