or his brother Tim is hesitant, but decides to hear the secret. Sam says that he is home in hopes that he will get the family's gun, Brown Bess. The next morning Sam tries to steal the Brown Bess and his father catches him. Life and Sam get into an immense argument about weather Sam is going to go and fight the British or not. Finally Life flies into a rage and kicks Sam out of the house. On Sunday, while the rest of the family is at church Sam goes back to the tavern and steals the gun. A bit later in the novel the Patriots passed through their town going door to door taking peoples weapons and food stuffs. When they eventually got to the Meeker's tavern they demanded Life for the Brown Bess. When Eliphalet said that Sam stole the gun, the Patriots did not believe him because it was Loyal territory. They threatened to kill Life if
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