Other officers
speedily came to help, rather ashamed to think that they had allowed
the youngster to set them a lead.
"It's nothing," cried Matthew, cheerfully, as he toiled with a will.
"Many's the time I've stood up to my waist in deadly-cold water
digging out an old dog otter."
The lad's good-humour and willingness were infectious, and in a
remarkably short space of time the track had been repaired. Then, with
many a joke at each other's expense, the men remounted and pursued
their journey, covered from head to foot with mire, but cheered by the
colonel's approving, "It will serve for all the rest of the horse, my
lads."
All this time the cavalry were wondering why Tallard took no steps to
stop their passage, and none was more surprised than Marlborough
himself. He did not at the time know that Tallard had left his centre
weak, by sending so many men into the village on the right. Still
less, of course, could the Duke know that Tallard was expecting a very
easy victory. Be that as it may, the Marshal made no move till
Marlborough had got a large part of his men across the stream and had
formed his first line.
When Blackett arrived on the scene with his regiment he found that a
force of Eugene's cavalry had taken the village of Oberglau, near the
spot.
Pages:
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103