3. Pa feels schooling is very important. He wants Thad to amount to something and use his head. He thinks Thad
is smarter than he is and so should do better than being a ship's captain. Pa promised his dead wife that Thad
would get schooling. He doesn't want him to end up on the water. According to Abigail, Pa thinks Thad could
be president. It isn't clear what he wants for Abigail, but it is implied that schooling is not as important for her.
4. Captain Bates keeps Thad and Abigail home from school to keep that day's accounts for loading and unloading
the boat. Mr. Oliver usually does this but he is feeling poorly and when that happens he often makes mistakes.
AWV.
5. The whistle blast means the Mermaid is leaving port - to the Neptune this means they are leaving port first,
before the Neptune. The two ships compete to get to New York Harbor first - the first ship that arrives gets the
best prices on their produce.
6. A squall could interfere in their sailing, delay their arrival, veer them off course, shut them down completely or
smash the boat. AWV.
7. AWV.
Chapter 2
1. The account books hold each farmer's name, the type of produce, and how many were sent. It will also hold what
and how many were sold, to whom, and for what price. This information is important because it represents the
success (or lack of success) of their business.
2. The war was the Civil War (1861-1865). The times would fit with Captain Bates' age and Abraham Lincoln,
who was his hero, was president during this time. Mr. Oliver's hero was U.S. Grant, another hero during the
Civil War, so they would have fought for the North. The Battle of Vicksburg was during this time as well as the
sailing of the Monitor.
3. AWV. The harbor would be a busy place. All manner of ships would be visible, smokestacks billowing. People
busy loading and unloading ships. Some still in harbor, others heading out for their day. AWV.
4. Mr. Oliver is feeling peckish, doesn't care to eat, says his stomach is acting up, and he keeps mopping his brow.
5. The whistle is a way to signal the other boats in the waterways - a way for ships to communicate with each
other. On the ship they communicate through a brass speaking tube that runs from the pilothouse to the engine
room below.
6. AWV. Captain Bates seems a little gruff with Thad, gives him a lot of orders. He doesn't feel that Thad should
steer, that the squall will make steering difficult. AWV.
Chapter 3
1. The ships are racing to their destination trying to outrun the weather, to be the first into port. Under these
circumstances they might take risks with their speed, their positions, how long they sail, etc. AWV.
2. A captain could not halt the forward motion of a boat quickly. A boat needs lots of time and space.
3. AWV. If you are a good captain, bad weather will only bring your skills out. If you are a bad seaman, the bad
weather will sink you and cause your boat to come to a bad end.
4. The Bonnie Brea and the Columbine collided, the Bonnie Brea lost its topsail, and the Columbine lost its
rudder. Without a rudder the Columbine cannot steer and it will be tossed by the waves and weather into
other ships.
5. Captain Bates decides to tow the Columbine in to port but will lose his race to be in New York City port first.
This shows Bates cares more about others and their safety than he does about profits for his business. AWV.
6. It means the race to beat the weather now has become the second race. AWV.
7. AWV.
Chapter 4
1. The Neptune leaves the harbor after the Mermaid with a squall brewing. Once out in the harbor they see two
ships collide leaving one disabled. Captain Bates decides to tow this ship into harbor so he puts Thad in charge
of steering temporarily while Mr. Oliver comes to the pilothouse. Harbor rules say “if we tow her it's me that has
to pilot her in” so Captain Bates is piloting the Columbine.
2. Thad will be challenged by the weather, by the stress of towing another ship, he was only tall enough to see out
the forward window, he is inexperienced. Thad is nervous so he may have some doubts. AWV.
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