Chapter 22: Oudenarde.

The trumpet call which summoned Rupert and his friends to horse was, as he suspected, an indication that there was a general movement of the troops in front.

Vendome had declined to attack the allies in the position they had taken up, but had moved by his right to Braine le Leude, a village close to the ground on which, more than a hundred years later, Waterloo was fought, and whence he threatened alike Louvain and Brussels. Marlborough moved his army on a parallel line to Anderleet. No sooner had he arrived there, than he found that Vendome was still moving towards his right--a proof that Louvain was really the object of the attack. Again the allied troops were set in motion, and all night, through torrents of rain, they tramped wearily along, until at daybreak they were in position at Parc, covering the fortress of Louvain. Vendome, finding himself anticipated, fell back to Braine le Leude without firing a shot.

But though Marlborough had so far foiled the enemy, it was clear that he was not in a condition to take the offensive before the arrival of Prince Eugene, who would, he trusted, be able to come to his assistance; and for weeks the armies watched each other without movement.

On the 4th of July, Vendome suddenly marched from Braine le Leude, intending to capture the fortress of Oudenarde. Small bodies of troops were sent off at the same time to Ghent and Bruges, whose inhabitants rose and admitted the French. Marlborough, seeing the danger which threatened the very important fortress of Oudenarde, sent orders to Lord Chandos who commanded at Ath, to collect all the small garrisons in the neighbourhood, and to throw himself into Oudenarde. This was done before Vendome could reach the place, which was thus secured against a coup de main. Vendome invested the fortress, brought up his siege train from Tournay, and moved towards Lessines with his main army, to cover the siege. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. who was called up?
2. what called them?
3. where were they called to?
4. what is the first town mentioned?
5. is a famous battle mentioned?
6. which one?
7. is the month that follow june mentioned?
8. is a specific date in that month mentioned?
9. what is it?
10. did someone do something on that date?
11. who?
12. what did he do?
13. why?
Answer: 1. Rupert and his friends
2. The trumpet
3. To horse
4. Braine le Leude
5. Yes
6. Waterloo
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. The 4th of July
10. Yes
11. Vendome
12. He marched from Braine le Leud
13. He intending to capture the fortress of Oudenarde

CHAPTER I

MABEL PONDERS

It was four o'clock in the afternoon and Marston sat by a window in an English country house. His pose was limp and his face was thin, for the fever had shaken him, but he felt his strength coming back. Outside, bare trees shook their branches in a fresh west wind, and a white belt of surf crept across the shining sands in the broad estuary. On the other side, the Welsh hills rose against the sunset in a smooth black line.

Marston felt pleasantly languid and altogether satisfied. Mabel had put a cushion under his head and given him a footstool. It was soothing to be taken care of by one whom one loved, and after the glare of the Caribbean and the gloom of the swamps, the soft colors and changing lights of the English landscape rested his eyes. For all that, they did not wander long from Mabel, who sat close by, quietly pondering. With her yellow hair and delicate pink skin she looked very English, and all that was English had an extra charm for Marston. He liked her thoughtful calm. Mabel was normal; she, so to speak, walked in the light, and the extravagant imaginings he had indulged at the lagoon vanished when she was about.

Yet he had been forced to remember much, for Chisholm and Flora had come to hear his story, and he had felt he must make them understand in order to do his comrade justice. Flora's grateful glance and the sparkle in Chisholm's eyes hinted that he had not altogether failed. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. What way was the wind blowing?
2. What rose against the sunset?
3. Was the wind fresh?
4. What shook their branches?
5. Were they outside?
6. What time was it?
7. Who sat?
8. What did he sit by?
9. Where?
10. Did he have a fever recently?
11. How did Marston feel?
12. Who was taking care of him?
13. What did she put under his head
14. What rested his eyes?
15. What color was Mabel's hair
16. Was she calm?
17. What color was her skin
18. Did people come to hear his story?
19. Who?
20. Had he failed?
Answer:
1. west
2. the Welsh hills
3. yes
4. bare trees
5. yes
6. four o'clock
7. Marston
8. they sat by a window
9. in an English country house
10. yes
11. he felt his strength coming back
12. Mabel
13. a cushion
14. the English landscape
15. yellow
16. yes
17. pink
18. yes
19. Chisholm and Flora
20. not altogether