"I will," and Dick hastened to General Putnam and made his wish known. General Putnam listened, but shook his head. "No, I can't permit you to go down there," he said. "You must stay here with your company. If it should go, of course you would go too. But I don't think it will leave the works." Dick nodded, a disappointed look on his face. "Very well, sir," he said, and turning, started to rejoin his comrades. "It is possible that I may make use of you boys as messengers during the battle, Dick," the general said. He had noted the disappointed look on the youth's face, and doubtless thought the idea of being used as messengers would please the boys. It evidently pleased Dick, for he turned a beaming face toward the general and said: "Thank you, General Putnam. If you have any messages to send to the commanders of the other forces, at the front, we will be glad to take them." "Very well, Dick. It is likely that I shall want to send some messages. You boys hold yourselves in readiness to take them." "We will do so, sir." Then Dick hastened back to his comrades and told them the result of the interview. They were slightly disappointed because of not being permitted to go and join the troops already engaged in fighting the British, but were pleased with the idea of being sent to the commanders with orders. "I hope General Putnam will have a lot of messages to send," said Tom Dare, his eyes shining with excitement. "So do I," said Ben Foster. Chapter XVI The Battle of Long Island Down on the Narrows Road, General Stirling's force was holding its own against the British. The patriot soldiers were steady and calm, and loaded and fired regularly and with considerable effect, and had fortune gone well with Sullivan's division, the Continental soldiers would probably have won the battle. But General Sullivan, stationed on the hills south of Bedford, was attacked fiercely in front by a strong force of British, and another force under Generals Howe and Cornwallis, having marched around to the north of this position, by way of the Jamaica Road, attacked Sullivan from the rear, and his force, thus caught between two fires, was driven back and forth among the trees, with disastrous results. General Putnam, watching the battle from the Heights, through his glass, saw that Sullivan was in difficulties and in danger of capture, and he decided to send a message to Stirling, warning him of this fact, and ordering him to retreat toward the Heights as quickly as possible-for as soon as Sullivan's force was overpowered, the British would sweep on across the fields and fall upon the rear of Stirling's force and capture it. So, having written a brief note, General Putnam summoned Dick Dare. "Do you think you can find General Stirling?" the general asked. "I think so, sir," was the reply.