In order that such a step might be made
possible, it was necessary that no stronghold should be left behind.
Accordingly the Allies set about reducing the three that still
remained,--Mons, Valenciennes, and Tournai, not forgetting that they
had also Villars to deal with. A beginning was made with Tournai, an
enormously strong place, and reckoned to be of the best of all
Vauban's works.
Marlborough employed stratagem, and it succeeded as usual. He made a
pretence of advancing, and Villars, to strengthen his force, withdrew
a number of troops from Tournai. Then the Duke, with a swift night
movement, invested the town. The garrison made a stout defence, and
our two captains had their work cut out for them. Never in all his
career had George Fairburn been so careless of his own safety, his
brother officers declared. It was not that he despised danger, or was
ignorant of its existence; he simply did not think of it, his mind
being occupied solely with the problem of reducing this impregnable
fortress.
"Be not rash, gentlemen," Colonel Rhodes thought it advisable to say
to the younger men among his officers. "There are mines in all
directions, if rumour is to be believed. Do not expose yourselves to
needless risk. We are already losing heavily, and men are not to be
had for the whistling.
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