Chapters 4, 5 and 6 Summary

Early one morning Tobias guides his oxen-pulled wagon to the trading post in the marsh area of the St. Johns River. Tobias wants to trade some coon skins for supplies but the proprietor informs Tobias that Rebel soldiers had purchased everything in the store last week. The prospect of receiving any items such as flour, bacon, salt or cornmeal is slim because Federal troops are intercepting all ships bound for the South. The proprietor does have some gunpowder that Tobias can have in order to kill wild animals for food for his family.

The proprietor also tells Tobias about a Cow Cavalry in which local men are forced to protect the wild cattle from raiding Federal soldiers. Tobias decides to not tell Emma and Zech about the desperate circumstances related to the war and says only that the trading post should...