Desmond felt now that he would far rather be fighting in the thick of it, with O’Brien’s regiment, than making his way alone along the lanes, impeded constantly by columns advancing to the front, while he was met by a stream of wounded men making their way to the rear.

At first, all was exultation among the troops, for as the Hanoverians and Dutch were forced to give way before the assault of the main body of the French, shouts of victory rose; and it was confidently believed that they would, this day, avenge the two great victories Marlborough and Eugene had gained over them.

Having delivered his orders to the officer in command, Desmond rode back.  Vendome and Berwick had both dismounted, and were standing together, with a few of their staff, at the edge of the plateau, examining the field with their telescopes.

“I have delivered your message, sir,” he said, riding up and saluting.  “The general bade me tell you all was going well.  The enemy were falling back, and will soon be in full flight.”

“Very well, Mr. Kennedy.  By this time, he will have found out that he was a little too sanguine.”

The fire had, indeed, for the past few minutes broken out with augmented fury.  Marlborough had arrived at the threatened point, and had placed himself at the head of the Dutch and Hanoverians, and, animated by his presence, these had not only ceased to fall back, but were in turn advancing.

“The battle is not won yet, Kennedy,” O’Sullivan, who had returned a few minutes before from the front, said, as he joined him.  “On our left we are being driven back, for a large force has reinforced the enemy there, and unless our main column defeats the allied left, and pushes them into Oudenarde, we shall have night coming on before we have finished; and, as our cavalry cannot act in these cramped fields, Marlborough will be able to draw off without any great loss.”

For an hour, there was no change.  Then Berwick, looking round, beckoned to Desmond.

“Mr. Kennedy,” he said, “a strong force of the enemy moved, half an hour ago, towards their left.  I have lost sight of them, owing to the high hedges and trees, but it does not seem to me that they can have joined in the battle.  Our troops are strongly posted at Diepenbeck, and should be able to maintain themselves there against the whole allied army; but the enemy cannot see our dispositions, and would surely have pushed forward and made a desperate assault on the village, had they been joined by the strong force I saw moving in that direction.

“It may be that this force has been held in reserve, in case our line should be reinforced, and again advance.  Marlborough may be content to hold his own on his left, while Prince Eugene, who, we have heard, commands on their right, turns our flank on that side.