Catch the Wind: My Journey with Caroline

“Yes,” I tell Caroline, “Let’s go on the raid.” My heart pounds. But all I can think about is how I’d feel if Mom were the one held prisoner, and how badly I’d want someone doing everything they could to bring her home.

In a whisper, Caroline asks if I’ll back her up when she talks to Captain Miller. Of course I will. It’s almost funny; even a girl brave enough to sail a tiny skiff across Lake Ontario still needs a friend beside her to argue with a Revolutionary War veteran.

We hurry toward the cluster of men and boys. Caroline calls out to Captain Miller, who snaps back that he has no time to spare, since surprise only works if his men keep moving.

Talking fast, Caroline lays out what we have to offer. She proposes sailing Captain Miller and his men to Pine Island, then waiting with the boats while they take the fort. Without us, the skiffs will need to get beached, meaning it’ll be hard to get away fast. So she suggests keeping them in shallow water, ready to go in case they need to get away quickly. In my head, I realize it’s in case their attack fails and they need to retreat.

Captain Miller hesitates, clearly weighing the offer, before warning that once the attack starts, he won’t have a spare second for girls who cry or faint. Before my nerve can give way, I blurt out that he can count on us. I hope to death that I haven’t just made a terrible mistake.