On Dick ran, at top speed, and presently he emerged upon the Narrows Road, and caught sight of the patriot force, and also of the British. The battle between these two divisions of the armies was still going on, and Dick quickly caught sight of General Stirling, who was seated on his big bay charger, watching the progress of the battle.
Dick hastened up to the general, and saluting, said: “I have message for you, General Stirling, from General Putnam.”
General Stirling took the message and quickly read the few words written there.
“Ah!” he exclaimed. “Sullivan is in sore straits, being attacked from both front and rear, and I must retreat, or my force will be treated to the same fate.”
Then he turned to Dick, and said: “Tel General Putnam I will begin retreating toward the Heights at once.”
“Yes, General Stirling,” said Dick, and then he moved away, in the direction from which he had come, while General Stirling gave the order for his force to beat a retreat. They obeyed, though reluctantly, for they did not know that Sullivan's force was practically in the hands of the British, and so could not understand why the order to retreat was given. They knew there was a strong force of redcoats over to their left hand, however, and so they kept a sharp lookout in that direction as they fell back. They were attacked from that side, by a part of the force, and General Stirling, while fighting valiantly, was surrounded and made a prisoner.
Dick, from quite a distance, saw the capture of General Stirling, and he remained where he was for a little while, until he saw that the main force under Stirling succeeded in getting past the British and were coming toward the Heights, which they would undoubtedly succeed in reaching, and then he turned and hastened on up to the Heights, and made his way to General Putnam.
“I delivered the message to General Stirling, sir,” the youth said, “and he told me to say to you that he would begin a retreat at once.”
“Very well, Dick,” said Putnam. “You did well to deliver the message.”
“I saw his force retreating, sir, from down the slope a ways,” went on Dick, “and I saw some of the redcoats make a prisoner of General Stirling.”