We have lost
heavily, and our temper's a bit ruffled for the moment. If you care to
come with me as my prisoner I'll see you through safe. What's more,
I'll do my best to get you exchanged for the man you saved."
"Thank you, captain; that's my best card to play, as things are going.
But I'd have given something to have it the other way about."
"Of course you would, my good fellow. It's the fortune of war; I'm up
to-day, you're up to-morrow. And you've no cause to be anything but
mighty proud of yourselves--you of the Irish Brigade. I never saw
better stuff than you've turned out this day."
"And many's the thanks, son. A bit o' praise comes sweet even from an
enemy."
"Enemies only professionally, Oborne; in private life we're from
to-day the best of friends."
At a later hour Sergeant Oborne informed Fairburn that he had carried
Captain Blackett's paper about with him for some little time, having
had no opportunity of passing it on to any likely Englishman, or
having forgotten it when he had the opportunity.
The slaughter at Malplaquet was terrible on the side of the Allies,
amounting to 20,000, or one-fifth of the whole number engaged. The
French, who had fought under shelter, lost only about one half of that
total.
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