Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18 6 MONTHS LATER FEBRUARY 2, 1777 2:00 P.M. Nate walked quickly along the quiet dirt road. It was very cold, but the sun was warm on his back. He'd been traveling for three days. He'd journeyed first by boat, then by wagon. Now he

was on foot. Very soon his long journey would be over. Nate's mind was filled up with memories of all that had happened to him over these past seven months. He thought of the scared and lonely boy who had run away from Storch's house. Had that really been Nate? Somehow he'd left that boy behind, maybe in that bloody forest in Brooklyn. Oh, that terrible battle! What a disaster it had been for the Americans. The British had outmanned them, outgunned them, and outsmarted them. Hundreds of Americans had been killed. Many more had been injured and captured. It could have been far worse. The British could have captured most of the American army, including General Washington! But they kept delaying their attack on the American forts. The stormy weather kept the big British warships from laying their trap in the East River. The delay gave General Washington a chance to pull off a miracle. On the dark and

foggy night of August 27, almost ten thousand American troops snuck off Brooklyn in a fleet of small boats. They made it safely back to New York City. When the British finally attacked the forts, they found them empty. Most of the American army had managed to survive the Battle of Brooklyn. But General Washington's troubles were just beginning. Within weeks, the British had attacked New York City. By the end of November, all of Manhattan Island was in British hands. America's fight for freedom was melting away. Soldiers fled the army until there were only about three thousand men left. The Connecticut 5th had dwindled down to just thirty men. But Paul never gave up hope. And neither did General Washington. On December 26, the Americans launched a surprise attack on a Hessian camp in Trenton, New Jersey. A week later, the Americans battled

the British in Princeton, New Jersey — and won. Those small victories put the spirit back into the American fight. Even Captain Marsh smiled a little. Nate had planned to stay with the Connecticut 5th. He'd moved with them to the American army's winter camp, in Morristown, New Jersey. But then, just seven days ago, Nate had received a letter. It was from Mr. Marston, Storch's friend. Somehow word must have gotten back to Norwalk that Nate was in the Connecticut 5th. Mr. Marston had managed to track Nate down. Nothing could have prepared Nate for what that letter said. Storch was dead, of smallpox. Returning American soldiers had brought the disease back to Norwalk. More than one hundred people had died. But the truly shocking news came at the end of the letter.

Mr. Marston explained that Storch had left no will — no letter saying what should be done with his property. You are your uncle's only living family member. Because he left no will, all of your uncle's assests go to you. Nate read that sentence about twenty times until he fully understood what this meant for him — and for Eliza and Theo. They could be free. That's why Nate was heading back to Norwalk. So he could get Eliza and Theo their freedom papers. Captain Marsh, Martin, and Paul had helped Nate plan his trip back to Norwalk. They'd hugged him good-bye, even Captain Marsh. Paul took his ugly green hat and put it onto Nate's head, to bring him luck. "You better come back soon!" Paul had said, the flash in his eyes brighter than ever. "We're going to win this fight!"

Nate didn't doubt it. The Americans would keep fighting for as long as it took. But for now, at least, Nate's army days were over. He'd seen enough blood. His dreams were filled with horror — of unblinking Hessian eyes, Samuel's body crumpled on the ground, the explosions of cannons and muskets. And he never stopped hearing those British battle drums, that ghostly RAT, tat, tat, tat, tat. Even when he was awake that terrible rattle echoed through his mind. Nate walked more quickly now. He could see the roof of the house in the distance. What would happen next? Eliza would have plans of her own. She'd want to find her husband, Gregory. Maybe Theo could go to school. As for Nate, he wasn't sure. Papa had been right: You never knew what was ahead in life. And these past seven months had taught Nate something else: that nothing was impossible.