Colonel Rhodes's battered body had been picked up; Blackett's could
not be distinguished, but doubtless the gallant lad was one of the
mass of victims whose remains were mangled beyond recognition.
Captain Fairburn took no further part in the siege of Tournai. After a
month of terrible fighting, all but the citadel was captured by the
Allies, and five weeks saw that also in their possession.
There was a long glade or clearing between two extensive plantations.
At the southern end of this glade, behind strong entrenchments, the
great army of Villars was drawn up, every man eager to fight, for
every Frenchman believed in the Marshal's luck, and that his presence
would certainly bring them victory. Away to the north was Marlborough,
equally eager to begin the combat, Eugene and the Dutch generals with
him. In deference to the wishes of the Prince the Duke had made the
fatal mistake of waiting two days, and all that time the enemy had
been throwing up their formidable trenches. It was the famous field of
Malplaquet, the last on which Marlborough was fated to fight a pitched
battle. The object of Villars was to prevent the Allies from taking
Mons, not far away, to northwards, the siege of which was in progress.
Marlborough had lost heavily at Tournai; Villars, behind his defences,
had suffered comparatively little.
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