CHAPTER XX.
THE VICTORS.
Enoch obeyed General Lafayette's order at the best speed of his horse, and, arriving at that point where the commander-in-chief was directing the movements of his men, the young aid, breathless and excited, repeated that which the marquis had said.
The words were hardly spoken, and Washington had had no opportunity for comment, when a horseman, riding hard, his steed covered with foam, spurred up to the group of officers, and saluting the commander, said hurriedly:
"I am sent by General Lee to say that all is well with the advance corps; success is certain."
Then, saluting, this second messenger rode away, leaving Washington and his staff gazing at each other in something very nearly approaching bewilderment.
Either Lee or Lafayette was mistaken in his estimate of the condition of affairs.
The opinion of one of these gentlemen must be correct, and the fate of the battle depended upon the decision which the commander-in-chief should arrive at concerning the reliability of the two officers.
It seemed to Enoch as if this second message deliberately gave him the lie. He felt positive General Lafayette had only the good of the American cause at heart, and because of that told him by Greene, in addition to what he had heard Dr. Griffith say, he believed Lee simply awaited an opportunity to show himself a traitor.
Washington remained silent while one might have counted twenty, and then turning to the aid nearest, said calmly:
"Tell General Greene[H] to press forward to the church, and prevent the turning of that flank of the army."