All had gone well, all promised well, and everything was smiling and harmonious.

Yet they were on the eve of the greatest peril which occurred in the campaign.

Washington had managed to scrape together enough transports; but his almost unassisted labors had taken time, and delay had followed.

Then the transports were slow, and winds and tides were uncertain, and there was further delay.

The interval permitted De Grasse to hear that the British fleet had received reinforcements, and to become nervous in consequence.