trigues at work that were undermining the influence of the Duchess
of Marlborough, and consequently of the Duke himself, at Court. Harley
was known to be working for the overthrow of Marlborough. He was
preparing to introduce a formidable rival to the Duchess in Anne's
regards.

The young men were nothing loth to go back to their respective
regiments, to say truth, when the time came. Inaction did not seem to
agree with their young blood. Matthew, his wound now quite healed, was
eager to get his next step. Fieldsend was already captain, and hoped
ere the close of the 1707 campaign to get his majority. As for George
Fairburn, he was quite content to be a soldier for soldiering's sake,
yet would thankfully take promotion if it came his way. Blackett had
paid a visit to the west-country home of the Fieldsends, and it was
whispered that he had there found a mighty attraction. But more of
this may come later.

The year, to the bitter disappointment of our young officers, proved
an unlucky one. In all directions things went wrong. As for
Marlborough, from the very opening he experienced the old Dutch
thwartings and oppositions, and, after a short and vexatious summer,
he closed the campaign almost abruptly, and much earlier than in
former years. There was to be no promotion for anybody yet awhile.

In Spain there was an overwhelming disaster. The French and Spanish
forces, commanded by the redoubtable Berwick, completely defeated the
combined English, Dutch, and Portuguese troops under Galway, at
Almanza. So great a misfortune was this that Galway declared that
Spain would have to be evacuated by the Allies. The cause of the
Archduke Charles was to all intents and purposes lost, and the
Bourbons were henceforth firmly seated on the throne of Spain.

Misfortune trod on the heels of misfortune. Prince Eugene attempted to
take Toulon, the chief naval station in the Mediterranean, but failed
to accomplish the task he had set himself. On the Rhine the Prince of
Baden was badly defeated by Villars, at Stollhofen, the disaster
laying Germany open to invasion by Louis. The gallant Sir Cloudesley
Shovel, who had risen from the position of cabin-boy, was drowned in a
great storm off the Scilly Islands, England thereby losing one of her
ablest admirals.

Glad were George and Matthew when, after a dull winter, the Duke
opened his campaign of 1708. The young men were now greater friends
than ever, and not unnaturally so, after all t