Chains

Isabel is weary from her night journey and almost falls asleep during church. She spends her days trying to keep Ruth away from Madam, and she practices the password so she is ready when needed.

Two days later, Goldbuttons appears at the door and frantically enters, looking for Master Lockton. Their assassination plot has been uncovered, and they must get Lockton out of the city immediately. He packs his belongings and burns all his documents. Madam Lockton pleads to escape with him, but he refuses and assaults her when she argues. He is carried away from the house in a cheese crate headed to Dr. Van Buskirk’s home in Bergen County. In the next few days, many citizens are arrested across the city, but when soldiers come for Master Lockton, he is long gone, leaving Becky and Isabel to care for Madam. Thomas Hickey, the insider soldier who intended to assassinate Washington, is sentenced to die by hanging on Friday, June 28, 1776. Everyone in town will attend the execution, including General Washington, but Becky stays home to attend to Madam Lockton, who is in bed and intoxicated. Ruth and Isabel fetch water from the pump and join the rest of the throng in viewing the execution.