Maria was wholly uninjured, although she was days before she was able to speak with comfort, so roughly had the gag been thrust into her mouth. She had not seen her chief abductor after she had been carried off, as Sir Richard must have felt that it was in vain either to threaten or to sue until he had got her in safety far from Dort.
Leaving the rest of the gang to be dealt with by the authorities, Rupert with his followers2 left Dort two days later, happy in having finally freed his friends from the danger which had so long menaced them. Mynheer van Duyk said but little; but Rupert knew how deep were his feelings of gratitude3; and he again sighed deeply over the fact that Rupert was still but little over eighteen. Maria herself was equally grateful.
Van Duyk would have freighted a shipful of presents to Rupert's friends in England, but the latter would not hear of it. He insisted, however, on sending a pipe of magnificent old Burgundy for the colonel's drinking; while Maria sent a stomacher of antique workmanship, with valuable gems4, to Madame Holliday.
No adventure marked their homeward journey. Their ship took them rapidly with a fair wind to London Bridge; and Rupert and Hugh started next day by the coach for Derby, the former having made Joe Sedley a handsome present, to enable him to enjoy his holiday, and an invitation to come down to Windthorpe Chace when he was tired of London.
A letter had been written from Holland a few days before starting, to announce their coming, but it was, of course, impossible in the days of sailing ships to fix a day for arrival.
Hiring a chaise, they drove to Windthorpe Chace, where the delight both of Mistress Holliday and of the colonel was unbounded. Hugh, too, was greeted very warmly by both, for Rupert had done full justice to the services he had rendered him. It was difficult to recognize in the dashing looking young officer and the stalwart trooper the lads who but two years and a half before had ridden away posthaste from the Chace. Hugh was driven off to the farm; and Rupert remained alone with his mother and the colonel, who overwhelmed him with questions.
The colonel had changed but little, and bid fair to live to a great age. His eye was bright, and his bearing still erect6. He scarcely looked sixty-five, although he was more than ten years older.
Mistress Dorothy was, Rupert thought, softer and kinder than of old. Her pride, and to some extent her heart, had met with a rude shock, but her eyes were now fully7 open to the worthlessness of her former suitor, who had lately been obliged to fly the country, having been detected at cheating at cards.
Colonel Holliday rejoiced when he heard of the pipe of prime Burgundy, which started from London on the day Rupert left; while Mistress Dorothy was enchanted8 with the stomacher, which her son produced from his trunk.
"Have you ever heard from Monsieur Dessin, grandfather? You told me that he said he would write and tell you his real name."
"I doubt not that he did so, Rupert; but the carriage of letters between this and France is precarious9. Only smugglers or such like bring them over, and these, except when specially10 paid, care but little for the trouble. That he wrote I am certain, but his letter has not reached me, which I regret much."
The six months at home passed rapidly. Rupert fell into his old ways; rode and hawked11, and occasionally paid state visits to the gentry12 of the neighbourhood, by whom, as one of Marlborough's soldiers, he was made much of.
"I think this soldiering life makes one restless, Master Rupert," Hugh said one day when the time was approaching for their start. "I feel a longing13 to be with the troop again, to be at work and doing."
"I feel the same, Hugh; but you would not find it so, I think, if you had come home for good. Then you would have your regular pursuits on the farm, while now you have simply got tired of having no work to do. When the war is over, and we have done soldiering, you will settle down on one of the farms of the Chace. Madame says you shall have the first that falls vacant when you come home. Then you will take a wife, and be well content that you have seen the world, and have something to look back upon beyond a six miles circuit of Derby."
The next campaign may be passed over briefly14. The parsimony15 of England and Holland, and the indifference16 of Germany, spoiled all the plans of Marlborough, and lost the allies all the benefits of the victory of Blenheim. The French, in spite of their heavy losses, took the field in far greater force than the allies; and instead of the brilliant offensive campaign he had planned, Marlborough had to stand on the defensive17.
The gallantry of his English troops, and the effect which Blenheim had produced upon the morale19 of the French, enabled him to hold the ground won, and to obtain several minor20 successes; one notably21 at the Dyle, where Villeroi's troops were driven out of lines considered impregnable, but where the pusillanimity22 and ill will of the Dutch generals prevented any substantial results being obtained; but no important action took place, and the end of 1705 found things in nearly the same state that 1704 had left them.
The non success of the campaign undid23 some of the harm which the success of that of 1704 had effected. In Flanders the genius of the duke had enabled the allies to maintain their ground; but on the Rhine they had done badly, and in Italy the French had carried all before them. Therefore while after Blenheim an apathy24 had fallen on the victors, so now the extent of the danger moved them to fresh exertions25.
Marlborough, after seeing his army into winter quarters, visited the capitals of Vienna, Berlin, and the Hague, and again by the charm of his manner succeeded in pacifying26 jealousies27, in healing quarrels, and in obtaining the promises of vigorous action and larger armaments in the spring.
The bad conduct of the Dutch generals had created such a general cry of indignation through Europe, that the States General were compelled, by the pressure of public opinion, to dismiss several of the men who had most distinguished28 themselves by thwarting29 the plans of Marlborough, and interposing on every occasion between him and victory. Consequently the campaign of 1706 seemed likely to open with far brighter prospects30 of success than its predecessors31 had done.
Suddenly, however, all the arrangements broke down. The Imperialists had just suffered another reverse in Italy; and matters looked so desperate there, that Marlborough proposed to pass the Alps with an army of 40,000 men to their assistance, and there, as he would have the warm cooperation of Prince Eugene instead of the cowardice32 of the Dutch generals, and the incapacity and obstinacy33 of the Prince of Baden, he anticipated the complete discomfiture34 of the French.
In these hopes, however, he was thwarted35. The Prince of Baden would do nothing beyond defending his own dominion36. The cabinets of Berlin and Copenhagen fell to quarrelling, and both refused to supply their promised contingents38. The Hanoverians and Hessians had also grievances39, and refused to join in any general plan, or to send their troops to form part of the allied40 army. Thus all ideas of a campaign in the south were destroyed; but Marlborough persuaded the Dutch to send 10,000 of the troops in their pay across the Alps to assist Prince Eugene, under the promise that he with the English and Dutch troops would defend Flanders.
So the campaign commenced; and on the 19th of May Marlborough joined his army, which lay encamped on the Dyle, on the French frontier. On the 22nd a Danish contingent37, which had at the last moment been dispatched in answer to an urgent appeal of the duke, arrived; and his army now consisted of 73 battalions41 and 123 squadrons, in all 60,000 men, with 120 guns. Marshal Villeroi's force, which lay on the other side of the Dyle, consisted of 74 battalions and 128 squadrons--62,000 men, with 130 guns. They had also, as at Blenheim, the advantage that the troops were all of one nationality, and accustomed to act together, while Marlborough's army consisted of troops of three nations, at least half of them new to war, and unused to act with each other.
Marlborough opened the campaign by moving towards Tirlemont, with a view of laying siege to Namur, where many of the citizens were anxious to throw off the French yoke42. Villeroi, anxious to cover Namur, moved his troops out from their quarters on the Dyle to stop the advance of the allies, and bring on a battle in the open field.
The ground taken up by the French marshal was exceedingly strong. Marlborough was aware of the great importance of the position, and had made every effort to be the first to seize it; but the French had less distance to march, and when the allied troops arrived within sight of the ground, the French were already in camp upon Mont Saint Andre.
Mont Saint Andre is an extensive and elevated plateau, being, indeed, the highest ground in Brabant. From it four rivers take their rise--the Great Gheet, the Little Gheet, the Dyle, and the Mehaigne. The French camp was placed immediately above the sources of the two Gheets.
The plan of the battle should be examined carefully, and the events of the great battle will then be understood without difficulty.
The descents from the plateau to the Great Gheet are steep and abrupt43. The other rivers rise in wet marshes44, in some places impassable. The French left was on the crest45 of the ridge5, above the marshes of the Little Gheet, and extended to the village of Autre Eglise; while the extreme right stood on the high ground overlooking the sources of the Mehaigne. The village of Tavieres, in front of the right, was strongly held; while in the villages of Offuz and Ramilies, opposite their centre, were numerous infantry46, no less than twenty battalions occupying Ramilies.
The great bulk of the French cavalry47 were arranged in two lines on their right, the extreme right of their cavalry being in front of the tomb, or barrow, of the ancient German hero Ottomond; the highest part of the ridge, and commanding the whole field of battle.
Marlborough, having with the Dutch General Overkirk, a loyal and gallant18 old man, reconnoitred the ground, immediately formed his plan of attack.
The French position was somewhat in the form of a bow, the ends being advanced. They would therefore have more difficulty in sending troops from one end to the other of their line than would the allies, who could move in a direct line along, as it were, the string of the bow; and the ground was sufficiently48 undulating to enable the movements of troops to be concealed49 from the enemy on the plateau.
The commanding position of Ottomond's tomb appeared the key of the whole battleground; and Marlborough determined50 to make his main attack on this point, first deceiving the enemy by a feigned51 attack on their left. Accordingly, he formed, in a conspicuous52 position, a heavy column of attack, opposite the French left, and menacing the village of Autre Eglise.
Villeroi, believing that the main attack would be made there, moved a considerable body of his infantry from his centre behind Offuz, to reinforce Autre Eglise.
As the column of attack advanced, a large portion was withdrawn53 by a dip behind the rising ground on which the others advanced, and moved rapidly towards the left centre; the Danish horse, twenty squadrons strong, being directed to the same spot. The smoke of the advance towards Autre Eglise, and the nature of the ground, concealed all these movements from the French, who directed a very heavy artillery54 fire on the column advancing against Autre Eglise.
Suddenly the real attack began. Five Dutch battalions advanced against Tavieres; twelve battalions under General Schultz, supported by a strong reserve, moved to attack Ramilies.
The vehemence55 of their attack showed Villeroi that he had been deceived; but he had now no infantry available to move to reinforce the troops in the threatened villages. He therefore ordered fourteen squadrons of dragoons to dismount, and with two Swiss battalions to advance to the support of Tavieres. They arrived, however, too late, for before they could reach the spot, the Dutch battalions had, with great gallantry, carried the village; and the Duke of Marlborough, launching the Danish horse on the supports as they came up, cut them up terribly, and threw back the remnant in confusion upon the French cavalry, advancing to charge.
Overkirk now charged the French cavalry with the first of the allied horse, broke and drove them back; but at this moment, when the allied cavalry were in disorder56 after their success, the second line of French cavalry, among whom were the Royal life guards, burst upon them, drove them back in great confusion, and restored the battle in that quarter.
The danger was great, for the victorious57 cavalry might have swept round, and fallen upon the rear of the infantry engaged in the attack upon Ramilies. Marlborough saw the danger, and putting himself at the head of seventeen squadrons of dragoons, and sending an aide-de-camp to order up twenty squadrons still in reserve, charged the French life guards. The French batteries on the heights behind Ramilies poured in so dreadful a fire that the cavalry hesitated, and some French troopers, recognizing the duke, made a dash at him as he rode ahead of the troops.
In an instant he was surrounded; but before any of his troops could ride to his rescue, he cut his way through the French troopers, sword in hand. As his horse tried to leap a wall it fell, and the enemy were again upon him. At this moment Rupert Holliday. whose troop was in the front line, arrived on the spot, followed by Hugh and half a dozen other troopers, and some of the Duke's personal staff.
A desperate fight raged round the general, until the cavalry charged heavily down to the rescue of their beloved leader. But they were still over matched and pressed backwards58 by the French guards. At this critical time, however, the twenty squadrons of the reserve arrived on the ground, and charged the French cavalry in front, while the Danish cavalry, who had been detained by morasses59, fell at the same moment on their flank, and the French cavalry fell back in confusion. Forming the allied cavalry in two lines, Marlborough led them forward in person, and sweeping60 aside all resistance, they halted not until they reached the summit of Ottomond's tomb, where they were visible to the whole army, while a tremendous shout told friend and foe61 alike that the key of the whole position had been gained, and victory in that part of the field secured.
All this time the twenty French battalions in Ramilies under the Marquis Maffie had fought obstinately62, although far removed from succour. Gradually, however, they were driven out of the village. The British had fresh battalions of infantry available, and these were sent against them, and the victorious horse charging them in flank, they were almost all made prisoners or destroyed.
The fight had lasted but three hours, and the victory was complete on the right and left. The confusion was, however, great, and Marlborough halted his troops and reformed them, before advancing to the final attack; while Marshal Villeroi strove on his part also to reform his troops, and to take up a new front. The roads, were, however, choked with baggage waggons63 and artillery, and before the troops could take up their fresh posts, the allies were ready. The charge was sounded, and horse and foot advanced to the attack on the centre, while the troops who had commenced the battle by their demonstration64 against Autre Eglise joined in the general attack.
Confused and disheartened, the French did not await the onslaught, but broke and fled. The Spanish and Bavarian horse guards made a gallant attempt to stem the tide of defeat, but were cut to pieces. The battle was now over. It was a rout65 and a pursuit, and the British horse, under Lord Orkney, pursued the fugitives66 until they reached Louvain, at two o'clock in the morning.
In the battle of Ramilies the French lost in killed and wounded 7000 men, and 6000 were taken prisoners. They lost 52 guns, their whole baggage and pontoon train, and 80 standards. Among the prisoners were the Princes de Soubise and Rohan, while among the killed were many nobles of the best blood of France.
The Allies lost 1066 killed, and 2567 wounded, in all 3633 men.
But great as was the victory itself, the consequences were even more important. Brussels, Louvain, Mechlin, Alost, Luise, and all the chief towns of Brabant, speedily opened their gates to the conqueror67. Ghent and Bruges, Darn and Oudenarde, followed the example. Of all the cities of Flanders, Antwerp, Ostend, Nieuport, and Dunkirk, with some smaller fortresses68, alone held out for the French.
The Duke of Marlborough issued the most stringent70 orders for the protection and fair treatment of the inhabitants, and so won such general goodwill71 among the populations, that when he advanced on Antwerp the local troops and citizens insisted on a surrender; and the French troops capitulated, on condition of being allowed to march out with the honours of war, and to be escorted safely to the French frontier. Ostend was then besieged72, and captured after a brave resistance; and then, after a desperate resistance, the important and very strong fortress69 of Menin was carried by assault, 1400 of the storming party, principally British, being slain73 at the breach74. Dindermande and Ath were next taken, and the allied army then went into winter quarters, after a campaign as successful, and far more important in its results, than that of Blenheim.
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1
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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hawked
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| 通过叫卖主动兜售（hawk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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morale
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| n.道德准则，士气，斗志 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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notably
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| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
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pusillanimity
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| n.无气力，胆怯 | |
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Undid
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| v. 解开, 复原 | |
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apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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pacifying
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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jealousies
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| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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thwarting
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| 阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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contingent
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| adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队 | |
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contingents
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| （志趣相投、尤指来自同一地方的）一组与会者( contingent的名词复数 )； 代表团； （军队的）分遣队； 小分队 | |
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grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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battalions
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| n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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marshes
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| n.沼泽，湿地( marsh的名词复数 ) | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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46
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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48
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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52
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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53
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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54
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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vehemence
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| n.热切；激烈；愤怒 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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morasses
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| n.缠作一团( morass的名词复数 )；困境；沼泽；陷阱 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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63
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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64
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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fortresses
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| 堡垒，要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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