porter in that part of the world, his advance post. For some time
Louis had been secretly encouraging Hungary in the rebellion she was
contemplating. He trusted, therefore, that the Emperor would find
himself attacked by his Hungarian subjects to rearward, while he was
engaged with the combined French and Bavarian forces in front. It was
a very fine scheme.

But there was one man, and only one, who saw through it--Marlborough.
At once the Duke set off southwards, carrying with him also a force of
Dutchmen, deceiving their rulers by a ruse. He sent for the valiant
Prince Eugene to meet him, and the two famous generals saw each other
for the first time. Mutual admiration and friendship sprang up between
them, to last through the rest of their lives. Prince Louis of Baden
had given some trouble by wishing to share the command with
Marlborough. Him they at last got rid of by sending him to take the
important fortress of Ingolstadt, commanding the Danube. Marlborough's
magnificent march from the Netherlands to the upper Danube is one of
the finest things in military story.

Marlborough and Prince Eugene met with the French and Bavarian forces
near the village of Blenheim, on the same river, and close to
Hochstaedt, the scene of the defeat of the allied troops the year
before, and joyfully the leaders prepared to join battle. The
commanders on the side of the enemy were Marshal Marsin, the Prince of
Bavaria, and Marshal Tallard. The last of these had managed to slip
past Eugene some time before and join his colleagues.

The order of battle on the side of the Allies was this. The right was
commanded by Eugene, the left by Lord Cutts, a gallant officer, the
centre, a vast body of cavalry mainly, by Marlborough himself. Opposed
to Eugene were the Elector and Marsin, while Tallard faced the Duke,
but on the farther bank of the little brook Nebel, which empties
itself into the Danube just below. Tallard's centre was weak, as he
had crowded no fewer than seventeen battalions into the village of
Blenheim, on his extreme right and close to the bank of the great
river.

"Now, gentlemen, to your posts." These words, quietly and pleasantly
spoken by Marlborough, began the great battle of Blenheim. It was
about midday, August 13, 1704. The Duke had been waiting till he heard
that Prince Eugene was ready, and he had occupied the interval in
breakfast and prayers. Every man of his division was provided with a
good meal. He himself had