"To Congress! What wants he there? Oh, general, it seems as if you had to fight two campaigns,--one against the enemy, and the other against secret, nay open, attempts to minimize your authority and check your plans." "It seems so, Greene; but with a just cause to sustain, and the blessing of God to help our efforts, we cannot ultimately fail, though, indeed, it may be better that I give place to another man, more able to save the country," went on the general, solemnly. "Forbid it, Heaven!" cried Greene, passionately. "We, at least, in the army, know to whom has been committed this work; ay, and who has done it, and will do it, too! We will stand by you to the last. Could you not feel in the cheers of those frozen men, when you landed, the love they bear you?" "Yes, I know that you are with me, and they too. 'T is that alone that gives me heart. Did you publish the orders about the capture of the transport?" "Yes, sir, and it put new heart in the men, I could see. I wish we had the supplies, the clothing especially, now. It grows colder every moment." "Ay, and darker, too; I think we shall have snow again before we get through with the night. I wonder how the others down the river have got along. But who comes here?" continued the general, as two men walked hastily up to him and saluted. "Well, sir?" he said to the first. "Message from General Ewing, sir." "Did he get across?" "No, sir, the ice was so heavy he bade me say he deemed it useless to try it." "One piece removed from the game, General Greene," said Washington, smiling bitterly. "Now your news, sir?" to the other. "General Cadwalader got a part of his men across, but the ice banks so against the east side that not a single horse or piece of artillery could be landed, so he bade me say he has recrossed with his men, sir." "And there's the other piece gone, too! Now, what is to be done?" General Sullivan, having crossed with the last of his division, at this moment rode up. "The troops are all across, general," he said. "Well done! What time is it, some one?" "Half after eleven, sir," answered a voice. "Very well, indeed! We have now only to wait for the guns. But, gentlemen, I have just heard that Ewing made no attempt to cross, and that Cadwalader, having tried it, failed. He could get his men over, but no horses and guns, on account of the ice on the bank, and therefore he returned, and we are here alone. What, think you, is to be done now?" There was a moment's silence. "Perhaps we would better recross and try it again on a more favorable night," finally said De Fermoy, in his broken accents. "Yes, yes, that might be well," said one or two others, simultaneously. The most of them, however, said nothing. The general waited a moment, looking about him.