Thump! As they slowly opened their eyes, the friends were no longer on High Street, but instead, they found themselves in front of a building with a sign that read: Batsto Iron Works, Wharton Forest.
They could hear metal pounding metal coming from the direction of the building. They could see sparks flying through the air. Immediately, they went toward the building to investigate. As they peered through the window of the building, they saw iron workers shoveling rocks into what looked like a furnace. They saw hot irons and something that looked like liquid metal being poured into a round mold.

“ What are they doing in there?” wondered Ryan.

" Turn around and I’ll tell you,” said a man’s voice.

As the children turned around, they saw a soldier standing behind them holding a rifle.

“I’m Joseph Bloomfield, a soldier in General George Washington’s army. So, you want to know what’s going on in there? Here at Batsto, these men are making cannons, cannonballs, and ammunition for the revolution. They also make shallow pans that are used for evaporating ocean water to get salt, because England has stopped shipping salt to the colonies. You see, we desperately need salt to preserve meats and make gunpowder.”

Alyssa interrupted, “Hold up! Hold up! First of all, don’t you have refrigerators? And what’s this about England and a war?”

“Refrigerators? I have no idea what you are talking about. But, let’s sit by the banks of the Mullica River and I’ll tell you about my experiences,” suggested Joseph. “Here, in Burlington County and throughout the land we, the colonists, have been very upset with the laws that have been made by our government in England.”

“Wait a minute! Are you telling us that the people in England, all the way across the Atlantic Ocean, rule the people in Burlington County? That’s so hard to believe!” exclaimed Ryan.

“Believe it or not, yes, England claims to own this land and makes all our laws. We have obeyed these laws long enough. We have had no say in creating these laws. The crown now wants us to pay taxes. It’s time for us to break away from England and make decisions about our land and where we live. This is why I am part of the revolution, and I’m fighting in a war against England. This revolution began on July 8, 1776. My friends Elias Boudinot, Thomas Paine, and Francis Hopkinson and many others in Burlington County are working hard to free us from England.”

Nina turned and whispered to the others, “You remember! We learned about The American Revolutionary War in social studies!”

“We are behind you and the colonists. You can do it! Thank goodness for Batsto!” continued Nina in an encouraging voice.

“I need to get back to work. I have an important meeting with my friend, Elias,” said Joseph.

“Thank you so much for fighting for our freedom!” the children said as they headed back to the trunk.
Nina wasted no time at all, opened the trunk, and pulled out a bunch of peppermint leaves.

As the friends grabbed hold of the leaves, they suddenly began to spin...and spin…and spin. Hand in hand, with eyes shut tightly, they spiraled down…down…down… until…