Duke and his generals stretched to a distance of thirteen miles.
Berwick and Vendome were at no great distance away.

The siege of Lille lasted a full two months, and few military
operations have produced more splendid examples of individual dash and
courage.

Blackett and his friend found themselves one day taking part in a
risky bit of business. Throughout the siege there had been some
difficulty in procuring provisions for the Allies, and supplies were
drawn from Ostend. On this occasion an expected convoy had not arrived
to time, and a reconnoitring party had accordingly been sent out to
glean tidings of it. From a wooded knoll a glimpse of the missing
train was caught, and at the same moment a large body of French was
perceived approaching from the opposite direction. The Frenchmen had
not yet seen the convoy, being distant from it some miles, the
intervening country thickly studded with plantations. But in half an
hour the two bodies would have met, and the provisions sorely needed
would have fallen into the enemy's hands. It was a disconcerting pass,
and George Fairburn set his wits to work.

"I have a plan!" he cried a moment later, and he hastily told it to
the officer in command, Major Wilson. That gentleman gave an emphatic
approval.

Behold then, a quarter of an hour later, a couple of young peasants at
work in a hayfield down below. Stolidly they tossed the hay as they
slowly crossed the field, giving no heed to the tramp of horses near.
A voice, authoritative and impatient, caused them to look round in
wonderment, as a mounted officer came galloping up. He inquired of the
peasants whether they had seen anything of the convoy, describing its
probable appearance. The listeners grinned in response, and the face
of one of them lit up with intelligence, as he made answer in voluble
but countrified French.

"Where have you picked up such vile French?" inquired the officer.

"I'm from Dunkirk, please your honour," the man replied with another
grin, to which the other muttered, "Ah! I suppose the French of
Dunkirk is pretty bad!"

In another minute the yokels were leading the way through a
plantation, along which ran a little stream. At one spot the water was
very muddy, and the marks of hoofs were plentiful. "We are evidently
close upon them," remarked the officer jubilantly, and at a brisk trot
he and his men rode on, a gold louis jingling down at the feet of the
peasants as the party dashed away.

"