It was a terrible scene of bloodshed, and it was an untold relief to
the Englishmen when their gallant foes in the village gave in. One
French regiment had actually burnt its colours to save them from being
taken.
Thus ended the great fight of Blenheim, a fight in which the enemy had
lost no fewer than forty out of their sixty thousand men. The Allies
had had fifty thousand troops and had lost eleven thousand of them.
The wonderful renown of the French army had received a mighty blow. No
longer could Louis boast that his troops were invincible.
To Marlborough the victory brought the royal manor of Woodstock and
the palace of Blenheim. To the humble Matthew Blackett it gave a place
near the great Duke's own person, as we have seen.
CHAPTER VIII
COMRADES IN ARMS
It was always a puzzle to George Fairburn that the Duke had so
unexpectedly assigned him to a cavalry regiment, and his friend
Lieutenant Blackett could not help with the solution.
"I suppose it was just an accident," Matthew said with a laugh; "he
saw a horse-soldier before him in the person of your servant here, and
so turned you over to me. I'm mighty delighted, anyhow, that we are
thrown together. We shall have a good time of it, I feel sure.
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