ER V

GEORGE RECONNOITRES

CHAPTER VI

THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR

CHAPTER VII

BLENHEIM

CHAPTER VIII

COMRADES IN ARMS

CHAPTER IX

ANNUS MIRABILIS

CHAPTER X

"OUR OWN MEN, SIR!"

CHAPTER XI

THE HARDEST FIGHT OF THEM ALL

CHAPTER XII

CONCLUSION

HISTORICAL SUMMARY

ILLUSTRATIONS

A MOUNTED OFFICER CAME GALLOPING UP

"NOW!" CAME THE ORDER

GEORGE FOUND HIMSELF ENGAGED IN A HAND TO HAND ENCOUNTER

THE RESCUE OF MARLBOROUGH

MAP OF WESTERN EUROPE IN THE TIME OF QUEEN ANNE

CHAPTER I

A BOUT AT SINGLESTICK

"Get thee down, laddie, I tell thee."

This injunction, given for the third time, and in a broad
north-country dialect, came from the guard of the York and Newcastle
coach, a strange new thing in England. A wonderful vehicle the York
and Newcastle coach, covering the eighty-six long miles between the
two towns in the space of two-and-thirty hours, and as yet an object
of delight, and almost of awe, to the rustics of the villages and
small towns on that portion of the Great North Road.

It was the darkening of a stinging day in the latter part of December,
in the year 1701--it wanted but forty-eight hours to Christmas
Eve--when the coach pulled up at the principal inn of the then quiet
little country town of Darlington, a place which roused itself from
its general sleepiness only on market and fair days, or now, since the
mail-coach had begun to run, on the arrival or departure of the
marvellous conveyance, whose rattle over the cobble-stones drew every
inhabitant of the main street to the door.

No reply coming from the boy on the roof, the guard went on, "Eh, but
the lad must be frozen stark," and swinging himself up to the top of
the coach, he seized the dilatory passenger by the arm, saying, "Now,
my hearty, come your ways down; we gang na further to-day. Ye are as
stiff as a frozen poker."

"And no wonder," came a voice from below; "'tis not a day fit for man
or dog to be out a minute longer than necessary. Bring the bairn in,
Charley." The invitation came from a kindly and portly dame, the
hostess, who had come to the door to welcome such passengers as might
be disposed to put up for the night at the inn.

"I don't think I can stir," the boy replied; "I'm about frozen."

He spoke in low tones and as if but half awake. He was, in fact, just
dropping into a doze.

"Here, mates, catch hold," the guard cried, and wit