Guiding Questions

Chapter 1

1. Where is Sam coming from when he arrives at home?

2. Who is Captain Benedict Arnold?

3. What is Sam’s real reason for going home?

4. Why are Sam and Father arguing?

Chapter 2

1. What excuse does Tim give his father so he can visit Sam at Tom Warrup’s place?

2. How does Sam ask Tim to help at the tavern while he is gone?

Chapter 3

1. What does Tim expect from the war the summer of 1775 and what actually happens?

2. Why is it illegal to have a copy of Rivingston’s Gazette from Verplanks?

3. Why does Betsy Read linger at the tavern when she’d stop by to shop?

Chapter 4

1. What do the Continental soldiers want from Tim’s dad?

2. What does Tim do to try and help his parents while they are manhandled by the soldiers?

3. Why doesn’t Sam shout for Tim to stop running while he is chasing him back to the Tavern?

4. When Tim turns to face Sam, why is he crying?

5. Why can’t Sam help Tim and his parents again the Continental soldiers at the tavern?

6. Why does Sam run away?

Chapter 5

1. Why were guns so important to the people of Redding?

2. Why does Tim envy Sam?

3. What is the real reason for Mr. Heron’s visit? How did Father respond? How did Tim respond?

Chapter 6

1. How does Tim devise a way to deliver a note to Fairfield for Mr. Heron?

2. Why does Betsy want to intercept the letter Tim needs to deliver?

3. What does the letter say?

Chapter 7

1. Which items are in short supply as the war continues through the summer of 1776?

2. Why does Father insist that Mother not respond to Sam’s letters?

3. Why does Father travel to Verplanks Point every year?

4. Who are the six men who approach Father and Tim on the road to Verplanks Point?

5. How do Tim and his Father escape from the cow-boys?

Chapter 8

1. What is life like where the Platts live amongst the Rebels and Loyalists?

2. What dilemma does Father face on the way home from Verplanks Point?

Chapter 9

1. Why does Father ride ahead of Tim and the oxen on the way home?

2. Why does Tim become nervous on the way home from Verplanks Point?

3. What has happened to Father?

4. How does Tim outsmart the cow-boys who stop him on his way home?

Chapter 10

1. What is the biggest change in Tim’s life?

2. In the spring of 1777, what changes about the war?

3. What happens to the Rebel messenger who comes riding into town?

4. What does Tim witness as he races down the road to fetch a doctor?

5. What does Tim conclude as he continues on his way to find Dr. Hobart?

Chapter 11

1. Who approaches Redding after the British have left?

2. What does Tim discover about Sam by the end of the chapter? How does this change Tim’s attitude toward his brother?

Chapter 12

1. What do Tim and Mother find out in June 1777?

2. How has Betsy Read’s attitude about the war changed from the beginning of the novel?

3. What does Tim hope to do with the eight cows they have left? What does Sam advise him to do with the cattle?

4. How is Sam able to get into town every week or ten days?

5. Why is General Putnam so strict?

Chapter 13

1. How does Colonel Parsons respond when Tim tells him about the accusation against Sam?

2. What dilemma does Sam face according to the accusation?

3. When Tim finally gets in to see General Putnam, how does the General respond to Tim’s plea?

Chapter 14

1. What is General Putnam’s final decision about Sam’s case?

2. What is Tim’s plan for helping Sam before his execution?

3. When Tim turns back to look into the stockade, what does he discover?