The great war in England in 1897 . at liberty to act as you please. You know theirplans, and I have perfect confidence in you, Mackenzie, repliedthe officer. Do not, however, mention a word of the enemysintention to any one. It would terrify the men; and althoughI do not doubt their bravery, yet the knowledge of such ahorrible fate hanging over them must necessarily increase theiranxiety, and thus prevent them from doing their best. We areweak, but remember we are all Britons. iSTow come, he added, sit there, upon tliat box, and explain at once what is yourscheme of defence against this extrao
The great war in England in 1897 . at liberty to act as you please. You know theirplans, and I have perfect confidence in you, Mackenzie, repliedthe officer. Do not, however, mention a word of the enemysintention to any one. It would terrify the men; and althoughI do not doubt their bravery, yet the knowledge of such ahorrible fate hanging over them must necessarily increase theiranxiety, and thus prevent them from doing their best. We areweak, but remember we are all Britons. iSTow come, he added, sit there, upon tliat box, and explain at once what is yourscheme of defence against this extraordinary attack. And the fearless man to whom the General had entrustedthe defence of Edinburgh obeyed, and commenced to explainwhat means he intended to take—a desperate but well-devisedplan, which drew forth words of the highest commendationfrom the commanding officer and those witli liim. They knewthat the fate of Edinburgh hung in tlie balance, and that if thecity were taken it would be the first step towards their CHAPTER XXXI. THE DEMON OF WAR. WO hours later, just before the break of day,British bugles sounded, and the camp on theBraid Hills was immediately astir. That theenemy were about to test the efficiency of anew gigantic engine of war was unknownexcept to the otticers and the brave man whohad risked his life in order to obtain the secret of the foemansplans. To him the British General was trusting, and as with knitbrows and anxious face the grey-haired officer stood at the doorof his tent gazing across the burn to Blackford Hill, he waswondering wliether he had yet obtained his coign of the case slung round his shoulder he drew his fieldglasses and turned them upon a clump of trees near the top ofthe hill, straining his eyes to discover any movement. On the crest of the hill two Volunteer artillery batterieswere actively preparing for the coming fray, but as yet it wastoo dark to discern anything among the distant clump of trees ;so, repl
Size: 1499px × 1667px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidgreatwarinen, bookyear1895
