attended divine service and had received the
sacrament the evening before.

Lieutenant Blackett found himself one of a body of 8,000 cavalry,
which were ordered to cross the Nebel so as to be within striking
distance of Tallard's troops drawn up beyond the brook. This work of
crossing was likely to be a long and tedious, not to say a difficult
bit of business, the intervening ground being very boggy. Matthew was
far towards the rear of this large body of horse, and it was evident
that it would be hours before his turn came to cross. In company with
hundreds of his comrades, he began to long for something more
exciting.

The first division to get into serious action was that under the brave
Lord Cutts, to the left of the allied forces. Cutts went by the
nickname of Salamander, so indifferent was he to danger when under
fire. This gallant leader led his men to attack the village of
Blenheim. Twice the assault was made with the utmost vigour and
determination; twice Cutts was driven back. The village was not only
filled with an immense force of French, but was protected by a strong
palisade.

A horseman was presently seen galloping towards the spot where the
Duke was posted, and his movements were watched with interest by
Blackett and others of the cavalry waiting their orders to cross.

"Seems to me he is wounded," the lieutenant observed to a man near
him; to which the other replied, "Yes, he does seem wobbly, doesn't
he?"

Hardly had the words been spoken when the advancing rider suddenly
fell from his horse, which kept on, however, dragging his master along
by the stirrup. Without a second's delay, Blackett threw his own beast
across the track of the runaway steed, caught his head, and pulled him
up. Then in a moment the youngster was down on the ground to the
assistance of the poor fellow who had fallen.

"To the Duke!" the man cried, glancing at a note he held tightly
clutched in his hand. "Quick!" he moaned; "I'm shot through the back,
and done for!"

"Poor fellow!" murmured the lieutenant, and he seized the letter,
sprang with a bound into his saddle, and was off like the wind, before
his companions had quite realized what it all meant. Thus for the
second time within a few days Matthew Blackett presented himself
before his commander in the part of unofficial aide-de-camp. The Duke
nodded as he recognized the lad, and, pencilling a few words of reply,
said, "To Lord Cutts; then back to your post." And as