Woods Runner

The informational passage preceding this chapter is “The British”; it discusses the poor conditions and low survival rate of the British enlisted soldier.

Samuel follows the trail of the attackers. From the tracks, he can see that the tied prisoners were “constantly jerked and pulled to increase their speed” (41). He realizes that there may be scouts traveling to the sides of the trail, moving through the woods. When he explores, he finds tracks to verify his theory and, soon after, the body of a man who had been picking berries. Samuel digs a shallow trench for the body and covers it quickly. He soon comes upon another settlement called Draper’s Crossing; like the previous settlements he’d seen, it’s been destroyed, and its people slaughtered. There is an old man burying bodies and singing a song he’s making up about the attack. Samuel asks the man if there is food or water, but the traumatized man only continues singing. Samuel remembers stories he’d been told about the Indians: “[S]ome tribes saw crazy people as graced by the higher power” and protected them (45). He wonders if this is why the singing man has been left unharmed. Samuel returns to his pursuit, realizing he must be gaining on them. 

The informational passage, “The World,” briefly discusses the allies involved in the War for Independence.

Samuel passes a partially burned cornfield on the outskirts of Draper’s Crossing. He grabs six ears of corn and eats them as he walks. The food makes him thirsty, so he finds a creek to drink. As he’s ducking to drink, he hears two native men nearby. They’re carrying muskets and weapons with fresh scalps adorning them. Samuel’s reaction is strong: “For the first time in his life Samuel wanted to kill a man” (47). He knows that he cannot win outnumbered, so he waits until they move and follows them to the camp where his parents are being held. He watches, waiting to formulate a plan for dark. The chapter ends with Samuel waiting and, as he thinks, “the whole world blew up” (50).

“Warfare” is an informational passage that describes some of the common British maneuvers on the battlefield.

Samuel is surprised when a group of rebels attacks the camp. Several Indians and one British soldier are killed in the initial volleys. Samuel realizes he should help, so he emerges into the clearing. As he’s preparing to fire on the redcoats, the two Indians he saw at the river are running towards him. He shoots and kills one of them, but the other reaches him and swings a tomahawk at his head. Samuel feels the pain and then passes out.