Lee looked uglier and dirtier than usual, and the very seat of his breeches scowled as he rode forward leisurely.  In a few moments he halted, word having been brought him that the main body of the British was advancing.

“If we could but court-martial him on the spot,” groaned Lafayette, whose delicate boyish face was crumpled with anxiety.

“He meditates treason!” exclaimed Hamilton.  “It is writ all over him.”

Having ascertained that the rumour was false, Lee consented to move on again, and the division entered the forest, their advance covered from the British on the plains beyond.  For a time Lee manoeuvred so cleverly that Hamilton and Lafayette permitted themselves to hope.  Under cover of the forest he formed a portion of his line for action, and with Wayne, Hamilton, and others, rode forward to reconnoitre.  Concluding that the column of the British deploying on the right was only a covering party of two thousand, he manoeuvred to cut them off from the main army.  Wayne was detached with seven hundred men to attack the covering party in the rear.  Lee, with a stronger force, was to gain its front by a road to the left.  Small detachments were concealed in the woods.  At nine o’clock, the Queen’s dragoons being observed upon an eminence near the wood, Lee ordered his light-horse to decoy them to the point where Wayne was posted.  The dragoons appeared to fall into the trap, but upon being attacked from the wood, galloped off toward the main column.  Wayne started in pursuit; his artillery was raking them, and he had ordered a charge at the point of the bayonet, when, to his amazement, he received an order from Lee to make but a feint of attack and pursuit.  He had no choice but to obey, brilliant as might be the victory wrested from him.  Lee, meanwhile, dawdled about, although his troops were on one foot with impatience.

Suddenly Sir Henry Clinton, learning that the Americans were marching in force on both his flanks, with the design of capturing his baggage, changed the front of his army by facing about in order to attack Wayne with such deadly fire that the enemy on his flanks would be obliged to fly to the succour of that small detachment.  Lafayette immediately saw the opportunity for victory in the rear of the enemy, and rode up to Lee asking permission to make the attempt.

Lee swung his loose head about and scowled at the ardent young Frenchman.  “Sir,” he replied witheringly, “you do not know British soldiers.  We cannot stand against them.  We certainly shall be driven back at first.  We must be cautious.”

“It may be so, General,” replied Lafayette, who would have given much to see that head rolling on the sands; “but British soldiers have been beaten, and they may be again.  At any rate, I am disposed to make the trial.”