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men are nervous about little matters; they may be frightened at a mouse or at a spider; but in the presence of real danger, when shells are bursting in the streets, and rifle bullets flying thickly, I have seen them standing kitting at their doors and talking to their friends across the street when not a single man was to be seen.
There is no greater mistake than to think women cowards because they are sometimes nervous over trifles. Were it necessary, innumerable cases could be quoted from history to prove that women can, upon occasion, fight as courageously as men. Cæsar found that the women of the German tribes could fight bravely side by side with the men, and the Amazons of the King of Dahomey are more feared by the neighboring tribes than are his male soldiers. Almost every siege has its female heroines, and in the Dutch War of Independence the female companies at Sluys and Haarlem proved themselves a match for the best soldiers of Spain. Above all, in patient endurance of pain and suffering, women are immeasurably superior to men. I emphasize this point because I know that many boys, simply because they are stronger than girls, are apt to regard them with a sort of contempt, and to fancy themselves without the least justification, not only stronger but braver and more courageous--in fact superior beings in every way.
G. A. HENTY
CONTENTS.
* CHAPTER I. Unexpected News
* CHAPTER II. A Country Visit
* CHAPTER III. Run Down
* CHAPTER IV. The Privateer's Rendezvous
* CHAPTER V. The British Cruisers
* CHAPTER VI. Home Again
* CHAPTER VII. A Commission
* CHAPTER VIII. Startling News
* CHAPTER IX. Mr. Tallboys' Visitor
* CHAPTER X. On Detachment
* CHAPTER XI. Still-Hunting
* CHAPTER XII. The Cave Among the Rocks
* CHAPTER XIII. More Startling News
* CHAPTER XIV. The New Housemaid
* CHAPTER XV. In Belgium
* CHAPTER XVI. Found at Last
* CHAPTER XVII. Quatre Bras
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