3. Abigail must take charge of the whistle. AWV.
4. The author creates tension with the stress of the situation, the bad weather, the captain is shouting, Mr. Oliver is
not moving fast enough, they must hurry to avoid another collision, it is difficult communicating this way, they
must relay their instructions, lightening is flashing, then thunder. Pa is bellowing., Thad is feeling desperate, they
are all yelling and working but the ships aren't moving. AWV.
5. AWV.
6. AWV.
Chapter 5
1. More power from the engine gets the ships moving.
2. The weather is getting worse, the pilothouse is wet, waves are making it hard for Thad to keep the wheel steady.
3. Mr. Oliver is also getting worse: dizzy, turns pale, staggers away, can't man the wheel.
4. AWV.
5. Thad is not tall enough to see over the wheel and view the entire scene and situation.
6. AWV. Patience, problem solving, quick thinking, etc.
7. AWV.
Chapter 6
1. The weather is a soupy mist with limited visibility marked only by red buoys. AWV.
2. Thad is doing the best he can but he must certainly be extremely nervous and afraid of making a mistake. AWV.
3. AWV. An iron ship hitting a wooden ship would cause extreme damage. Thad keeps Abigail pulling the whistle
with an emergency signal, has Mr. Pordine stop the engines and then reverse engines.
4. The ghastly realization is that the Neptune stopped moving when the engines were reversed but the Columbine
did not because it was just following the Neptune. So he and Abigail put all their weight onto the wheel just
managing to turn the Neptune out of the path of the oncoming Columbine. Thad's weight would not have
turned the wheel alone so he probably could not have done it without Abigail.
5. Once the towrope is tight, Thad knows the Neptune is pulling the Columbine and thus controlling her speed.
6. AWV.
Chapter 7
1. Thad realizes the situation he is in with the Albany bearing down on them. He must think fast, use the whistle,
and turn the Neptune sharply toward the center of the river.
2. Thad realizes they will have to do a complete circle , now that they are in the center of the river, in order to get
both boats back to the pier.
3. Abigail follows his instructions and works the whistle (even though the chain is broken), and also she helps him
turn the wheel quickly. She also relays the messages to the engine room for him. It is probably comforting for
Thad to know he is not alone in the pilothouse.
4. The hardest part is Thad must time perfectly when the Neptune heads towards the pier, then he turns the ship
away from the pier, with the Columbine floating into its place along side the pier.
5. A rope bumper provides a cushion between the ship and the pier and protects the ship from smashing into the
pier and breaking up. The workers are placing the bumpers trying to help the Neptune.
6. AWV.
7. AWV.
Chapter 8
1. Thad and Abigail feel cold, wet, shaky, and relieved.
2. The captain and crew honor the brother and sister by saluting them, appointing them second and third mate
respectively, and cheering for them. AWV.
3. AWV. A salute is one of the highest forms of respect and honor that could be shown to the youngsters by the
sailors.
4. AWV.
5. AWV.
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