one attempt to be a soldier. This period lasted from 1727
to 1741. Then he was seven years a young officer in time
of war, from 1741 to 1748. Then he served seven years
more in time of peace, from 1748 to 1755. Lastly, he died
in the middle, at the very climax, of the world-famous
Seven Years' War, in 1759.

After the royal review at Blackheath in the spring of
1742 the army marched down to Deptford and embarked for
Flanders. Wolfe was now off to the very places he had
heard his father tell about again and again. The surly
Flemings were still the same as when his father knew
them. They hated their British allies almost as much as
they hated their enemies. The long column of redcoats
marched through a scowling mob of citizens, who meanly
grudged a night's lodging to the very men coming there
to fight for them. We may be sure that Wolfe thought
little enough of such mean people as he stepped out with
the colours flying above his head. The army halted at
Ghent, an ancient city, famous for its trade and wealth,
and defended by walls which had once resisted Marlborough.

At first there was a good deal to do and see; and George
Warde was there too, as an officer in a cavalry regiment.
But Warde had to march away; and Wolfe was left without
any companion of his own age, to pass his spare time the
best way he could. Like another famous soldier, Frederick
the Great, who first won his fame in this very war, he
was fond of music and took lessons on the flute. He also
did his best to improve his French; and when Warde came