“We’ll soon have you out of there, Ben. We’ll dig from the outside, and you dig from the inside, and we’ll soon have an opening big enough for you to crawl through.” “I can’t dig, Dick. My hands are tied.” “What!” exclaimed Dick. “How did that happen?” “I was captured by some redcoats, but managed to break away and took to my heels. They chased me, and I fell over the edge of the creek-bank, and landed on the ledge and rolled into the cave, and just then the bank caved off and the dirt closed up the opening. I was just wondering how I was ever to get out of here. I guess it is lucky for me that you boys happened along here.” “I judge you are right, for you could not have dug a hole through the dirt with your hands tied. Tom and I will soon have an opening though that you can crawl through, however.” “Good for you.” Dick and Tom went to work, digging, and in fifteen or twenty minutes had made a hole through which Ben managed to crawl, with their assistance. They cut the rope binding his arms, and then the three climbed up the bank, to the level ground, where they sat down to rest a few minutes, and Ben told his adventure in detail, and Tom and Dick each told of their experiences. A little later, all mightily happy, they were on their way again in the direction of the patriot encampment. CHAPTER XXV—Beating Arnold “I wonder how the battle went?” said Dick, as they walked onward at a swift pace. “We drove them away,” said Ben. “I was there till the battle was over, and then, missing Tom, set out to find him.” “Oh, you didn’t leave the encampment till after the battle, then.” “No. We got rather the better of the redcoats, I am certain. They lost a greater number killed, and a larger number were wounded, than of our men. And we forced them to retreat.” “That is good,” said Dick. “I wish I had been there to help fight the redcoats,” said Tom. “So do I,” said Dick. And as the readers of the Dare Boys books will readily believe, this was true. But that they were to take part in many exciting battles before the end of the war will be seen, as the reader may if he wishes discover in the next volume of the series, which will be entitled, “The Dare Boys With General Greene.” “Was Tim or Fritz wounded?” asked Tom, anxiously. “No,” replied Ben. “They were not hurt.” Presently they reached the encampment, and were given a cordial welcome by their comrades, Tim, Fritz and Herbert Miller being delighted. Dick went to the house occupied by Colonel Morris and the other officers and made a report, telling what he knew of the strength of the British force, and then went back and rejoined his comrades, and they sat around and talked of the battle for a while, after which they lay down and were soon asleep. This first battle was the beginning of an exciting and vigorous campaign between Arnold’s force of redcoats and Tories, and the patriot force under Colonel Morris.