to George.  “You are a born soldier, Fairburn, but you never seem to be able to remember when you are in danger; you forget it like a thoughtless schoolboy.  Well, now, for our sakes, if not for your own, take care of yourself, so far as it is possible, there’s a good fellow.”  And with a kindly smile and a fatherly shake of the hand, the colonel turned away.  He had said the last word he was ever to say to George.

An hour later a terrific explosion was heard; a cloud of dust flew into the air.  A mine had been exploded, and the report came in that more than a hundred poor fellows of Marlborough’s forces had perished.  George Fairburn was more than ever determined to do what he could to discover hidden mines.

That very afternoon a company of men, who had prosecuted their search in spite of the deadly hail of bullets that came from a neighbouring battery, found another mine, a particularly formidable affair.  Eagerly George Fairburn pressed forward, his friend Matthew close behind.  Suddenly Colonel Rhodes dashed up, crying, “Fall back, for Heaven’s sake!  There’s another mine below this, I have just learnt.  For your lives!” And the brave man galloped off, his retreat followed by a startled rush for safety on the part of the men.

“Come along, George!  What are you after?” cried Matthew, observing that his friend did not budge.

“I’m not going till I’ve settled this mine,” Fairburn answered.

Even as they spoke the ground heaved with a mighty convulsion beneath their feet, and an appalling roar rent the air, the echo resounding far and near.

“Ah!  You’re feeling better?  That’s right.”

George Fairburn opened his eyes and beheld the face of none other than the Duke himself gazing kindly down upon him!  It was the evening after the fearful explosion, and Marlborough was making a tour of the hospital wards, where lay long rows of wounded men.  George had been unconscious, and the Duke’s words were caused by the fact that the young man happened to open his eyes for the first time as the General passed him.  Before the sick man could answer a word, Marlborough had passed on, with a quiet remark to Major Wilson, “I know the lad’s face well.”

“Where’s Blackett?” George now inquired.  The Major shook his head.  “And the Colonel?” Another mournful shake.  George closed his eyes dazed, stupefied.

Three hundred poor fellows had perished in that double explosion.  Colonel Rhodes’s battered body had been picked up; Blackett’s could not be distinguished, but doubtless the gallant lad was one of the mass of victims whose remains were mangled beyond recognition.

Captain Fairburn took no further part in the siege of Tournai.  After a month of terrible fighting, all but the citadel was captured by the Allies, and five weeks saw that also in their possession.