About half-past nine it was reported to General Washington that all of the first division had crossed, and the boat was now ready for him according to his orders. The largest and best boat had been selected for the commander-in-chief, one sufficiently12 capacious to receive his horses and those of his staff who accompanied him. Seymour was to steer the boat; Bentley stood in the bow; Colonel Glover stationed himself amidships, with three or four of his trustiest men, to superintend the crossing, and all the oars were manned by the hardy13 fishermen instead of the soldiers. The general dismounted and walked toward the boat, leading his horse. Just as he was about to enter, an officer on a panting steed rode up rapidly, and saluted14.
"General Washington?"
"Yes, sir."
"A letter, sir!"
"What a time is this to hand me letters!"
"Your excellency, I have been charged to do so by General Gates."
"By General Gates! Where is he?"
"I left him this morning in Philadelphia, sir."
"What was he doing there?"
"I understood him that he was on his way to Congress."
"On his way to Congress!" said the general earnestly, with much surprise and disgust in his tone. And then, after a pause, he broke the seal and read the letter, frowning; after which he crumpled15 the paper up in his hand, and then turned again to the officer. "How did you find us, sir?"
"I followed the bloody16 footprints of the men on the snow, sir."
"Poor fellows! Did you learn anything of General Ewing or General
Cadwalader?"
"No, sir."
"And General Putnam?"
"He bade me say that there were symptoms of an insurrection in the city, and he felt obliged to stay there. He has detached six hundred of the Pennsylvania militia17, however, under Colonel Griffin, to advance toward Bordentown."
"'T is well, sir. Do you remain to participate in our attack?"
"Yes, sir, I belong to General St. Clair's brigade."
"You will find it over there; it has not yet crossed. Now, gentlemen, let us get aboard."
The general stepped forward in the boat, where Bentley, an enormous pole in his hands, was stationed, and the remainder of the party soon embarked18. The order was given to shove off. The usual difficulties and the usual fortune attended the passage of the boat with its precious freight, until it neared the east bank, when one of the largest cakes that had passed swiftly floated down upon it.
"Pull, men, pull hard!" cried Colonel Glover, as he saw its huge bulk alongside. "Head the boat up the stream, Mr. Seymour. Forward, there—be ready to push off with your poles." As the result of these prompt manoeuvres, the oncoming mass of ice, which was too large to be avoided, instead of crashing into them amidships and sinking the boat, struck them a quartering blow on the bow, and commenced to grind along the sides of the boat, which heeled so far over that the water began to trickle19 in through the oar3-locks on the other side.
"Steady, men," said Glover, calmly. "Sit still, for your lives."
Bentley had thrown his pole over on the ice-cake promptly20, and was now bearing down upon it with all the strength of his powerful arms. But the task was beyond him; the ice and the boat clung together, and the ice was reinforced by several other cakes which its checked motion permitted to close with it. The vast mass crashed against the side of the boat; the oar of the first rower was broken short off at the oar-lock; if the others went the situation of the helpless boat would be, indeed, hopeless. The general himself came to the rescue. Promptly divining the situation, he stepped forward to Bentley's side, and threw his own immense strength upon the pole. Great beads21 of sweat stood out on Bentley's bronzed forehead as he renewed his efforts; the stout22 hickory sapling bent11 and crackled beneath the pressure of the two men, but held on, and the boat slowly but steadily23 began to swing clear of the ice. These two Homeric men held it off by sheer strength, until the boat was in freewater, and the men, who had sat like statues in their places, could once more use their oars. The general stepped back into his place, cool and calm as usual, and entirely24 unruffled by his great exertions25. Bentley wiped the sweat from his face, and turned and looked back at him in admiration26.
"Friend Bentley," he said quietly, "you are a man of mighty27 thews and sinews. Had it not been for your powerful arms, I fear we would have had a ducking—or worse."
"Lord love you, your honor," said the astonished tailor, "I 've met my match! It was your arm that saved us. I was almost done for. I never saw such strength as that, though when I was younger I would have done better. What a man you would be for reefing topsails in a gale28 o' wind, your honor, sir!" he continued, thrusting his pole vigorously into a small and impertinent cake of ice in the way. The general was proud of his great strength, and not ill pleased at the genuine and hearty29 admiration of this genuine and hearty man.
A few moments later they stepped ashore30, and a mighty cheer went up from the men who had crowded upon the banks, at the safety of their beloved general. Greene met him at the landing, and the two men clasped hands. The general immediately mounted his powerful white horse, and stationed himself on a little hillock to watch the landing of the rest of the men, engaging General Greene in a low conversation the while.
"Do you know, Greene, that Gates has refused my entreaty31 to stop one day at Bristol, and take command of Reed's and Cadwalader's troops and help us in the attack! I did not positively32 order him to do so; only requested him to delay his journey by a day or two. I can't understand his action. A letter was handed me just before we crossed by Wilkinson, telling me that he had gone on to Congress."
"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, nay33 open, attempts to minimize your authority and check your plans."
"It seems so, Greene; but with a just cause to sustain, and the blessing34 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, passionately35. "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 artillery36 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, simultaneously37. The most of them, however, said nothing. The general waited a moment, looking about him.
"Gentlemen, it is too late to retreat. I promised myself I would not return without a fight, and I intend to keep that promise. We will carry out the plan ourselves, as much of it at least as we can. I trust Putnam got Griffin off, and that his skirmishers may draw out Von Donop. But be that as it may, we will have a dash at Trenton, and try to bag the game, and get away before the enemy can fall upon us in force. General Greene, you, of course have sent out pickets38?"
"Yes, sir, the first men who crossed over, a mile up the road, on the hill yonder."
"Good! Ha, what was that? Snow, as I live, and the moon 's gone, too! How dark it has grown! I think you might allow the men to light fires in those hollows, and let them move about a little; they will freeze to death standing39 still—I wonder they don't, anyway. How unfortunate is this snow!"
"Beg pardon, your excellency?" said the first of the two messengers.
"What is it, man? Speak out!"
"Can we stay here and take part in your attack, sir?"
"Certainly you may. Fall in with the men there. Where are your horses?"
"We left them on the other side, sir."
"Well, they will have to stay there for this time, and you 'll have to go on foot with the rest."
"Thank you, sir," said the men, eagerly, darting40 off in the darkness.
"That's a proper spirit, isn't it? Well, to your stations, gentlemen! We have nothing to do now but wait. Don't allow the men to lie down or to sleep, on any account."
And wait they did, for four long hours, the general sitting motionless and silent on his horse, wrapped in his heavy cloak, unheeding, alike, the whirling snow or the cutting sleet41 of the storm, which grew fiercer every moment. He strained his eyes out into the blackness of the river from time to time, or looked anxiously at the troops, clustered about the fires, or tramping restlessly up and down in their places to ward4 off the deadly attack of the awful winter night, while some of them sought shelter, behind trees and hillocks, from the fury of the storm. Filled with his own pregnant thoughts, and speaking to no one, he waited, and no man ventured to break his silence. At half after three General Knox, whose resolute42 will and iron strength had been exerted to the full, and whose mighty voice had been heard from time to time above the shriek43 of the fierce wind, was able to report that he had got all the artillery over without the loss of a man, a horse, or a gun, and was ready to proceed. The men were hastily assembled, and, leaving a strong detail to guard the boats, at four o'clock in the morning the long and awful march to Trenton was begun, the general and his staff, escorted by the Philadelphia City Troop, in the lead. The storm was at its height. All hopes of a night attack and surprise had necessarily to be abandoned. Still the general pressed on, determined44 to abide45 the issue, and make the attack as soon as he reached the enemy. It was the last effort of liberty, conceived in desperation and born in the throes of hunger and cold! What would the bringing forth46 be?
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1
squads
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| n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍 | |
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2
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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3
oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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4
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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7
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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8
banking
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| n.银行业，银行学，金融业 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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11
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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12
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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13
hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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14
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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15
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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16
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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20
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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23
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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24
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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25
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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26
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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27
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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28
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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29
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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30
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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33
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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34
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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35
passionately
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| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
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36
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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37
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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38
pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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39
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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40
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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41
sleet
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| n.雨雪；v.下雨雪，下冰雹 | |
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42
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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43
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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44
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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45
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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46
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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