67 pages • 2-hour read
Midnight Rider
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Chapters 28-38Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness and death.
Chapter 28 Summary: “I Beg, Go Not to Arms”
Several days into winter, Meg receives multiple love notes and a poem from Lieutenant Pratt, which she reads to Hannah before declaring it drivel and burning it.
Hannah assists with Mrs. Gage’s ladies’ tea, which is attended by 12 women, including Mrs. Wheatley and her protégé Phillis Wheatley, the famous poet. Conversation covers city difficulties, the tea situation, and Loyalist hardships. Phillis references how the Whig leaders averted violence during the Powder House incident.
Mrs. Gage expresses anxiety about potential war, quoting William Shakespeare: “Upon my knee I beg, go not to arms” (247). Phillis joins Mrs. Gage in sharing Shakespeare quotations that lament the difficulties of holding loyalty to two opposing sides. After the tea, Mrs. Gage questions Hannah about Meg’s habit of meeting young men. Hannah denies that there are any current meetings, but Mrs. Gage presses for greater honesty, reminding Hannah that her primary loyalty should be to her and to General Gage. Hannah later reports this conversation to Meg, and they reaffirm their vow about the tunnel’s secrecy. A disagreement arises when Meg asserts that Hannah owes her loyalty because Mrs. Gage “gave” Hannah to her. Hannah refutes this, exclaiming, “I don’t belong to anyone but myself” (252). Hannah then declares that unlike Meg, she dreams of freedom.
Chapter 29 Summary: “Warning Messages”
Two weeks later, on a December morning, Mrs. Gage sends Hannah to deliver a sealed letter with an iris outline to Phillis Wheatley.
On a different occasion, Hannah asks to see Catherine’s book about flower language and soon learns that the iris is a coded signal meaning “I have a message for you” (255).
One day, while cleaning near General Gage’s office, Hannah overhears him complaining about the king’s rejection of his request for more troops. He also laments that Parliament has dismissed his warnings about the rising rebellion. General Gage reveals to his officers that he has an American informant within the Patriot movement; he then discusses plans to seize the arms stored at Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Recognizing the importance of this intelligence, Hannah disguises herself as Hans and rides Promise bareback to Paul Revere’s house. She informs him about the Portsmouth plan and Gage’s informant. Paul promises to keep her identity secret for her own protection and then warns of the danger she faces.
Chapter 30 Summary: “A Stranger in the Tunnel”
On Hannah’s return journey, three local boys suspect that she is the Midnight Rider and point her out to soldiers, forcing her to flee. She returns Promise to the stable, and when she arrives near the tunnel entrance, Hannah discovers large footprints and sees a tall, gaunt, graying man emerge from the tunnel. She recognizes him as the man whom she saw entering General Gage’s private office on her first day at the Province House. She realizes that this must be the person Caleb saw emerging from the underground passage months ago.
As soldiers on horseback approach, searching for the Midnight Rider, Hannah pulls open the hatch and hurls herself into the tunnel to escape.
Chapter 31 Summary: “A Gift of Friendship”
Early the next morning, Hannah does not get a chance to speak with Caleb about the stranger because the stables are filled with soldiers. The Province House buzzes with news that Paul Revere’s warning has allowed the Portsmouth militia to seize the munitions before British marines could arrive in the HMS Canceaux, which ran aground. Hannah tells Caleb about the mysterious man in the tunnel, and they both agree to avoid using the tunnel for now.
Meg and Hannah enjoy a sleigh ride driven by Joseph, the coachman, and shop for Christmas gifts. Although Hannah explains that she does not celebrate Christmas because her Puritan upbringing doesn’t allow it, Meg insists on giving her a gift anyway. That evening, Mrs. Gage presents Hannah and Catherine with £10 notes as a show of appreciation for their service. On Christmas Day, Hannah receives a basket filled with ribbons from Meg. When Hannah tells Catherine that she should return it, Catherine suggests that doing so would hurt Meg’s feelings and that Meg clearly considers Hannah to be her best friend.
Chapter 32 Summary: “A Strange Sabbath”
During a January Sunday service, Dr. Warren (a member of the Sons of Liberty) preaches about freedom to an audience of both Patriots and British soldiers. Hannah sees Dr. Benjamin Church interacting with Paul Revere and recognizes him as the tunnel stranger. Despite his good reputation among the Sons of Liberty, she knows that he must be General Gage’s informant. She also observes Phillis Wheatley giving Dr. Warren an envelope similar to those that she had delivered for Mrs. Gage. In the garden, Hannah sees Catherine with Joseph Greenleaf and encounters Will, who is limping due to a foot injury that required Dr. Warren to amputate several toes.
Hannah tells Will of her belief that Dr. Church is General Gage’s informant, but Will refuses to believe that a respected Patriot could betray them. He then informs Hannah that a redcoat has discovered Promise at Valley Acres and suspects him of being the Midnight Rider’s mount. Will plans to move Promise to Charlestown with Deacon Larkin. Hannah warns Will again about Dr. Church. Before they part, they each wish God’s protection on the other.
Chapter 33 Summary: “British Eyes on Salem”
A week later, on a bleak Thursday in February, a sore-throat distemper epidemic spreads throughout Boston. General Gage’s secretary dies, and Meg is quarantined away from the Province House. Hannah is reassigned to cleaning duties. While she cleans, Hannah overhears two officers discussing arms in Salem, where the Salemites are converting old ships’ cannons into field pieces.
General Gage invites the officers, including Colonel Leslie, into his office, and Hannah eavesdrops on their conversation. She learns that on the following Sabbath, Leslie and the 64th Foot Regiment will sail from Castle William to Marblehead and then march to Salem to seize Salem’s arms. Hannah resolves to warn Caleb or Paul Revere about this imminent threat to Salem.
Chapter 34 Summary: “Caleb’s Illness”
Hannah rushes to the stables and finds Caleb ill with throat distemper, his voice hoarse and garbled. He informs her that Will is sick in Mr. Hubbard’s attic, still recovering from having two toes amputated. Caleb confirms that Promise is safely with Deacon Larkin in Charlestown, just across the river.
When Hannah reveals the British plan for Salem, Caleb urges her to use the tunnel to warn Paul Revere despite his own illness. Hannah changes into Caleb’s warm clothes, adding his jerkin, boots, stockings, and hat for a disguise. As she enters the frozen tunnel, she prays not to meet Dr. Church, fearing both the treacherous man and the possibility of the ancient timbers collapsing around her.
Chapter 35 Summary: “A Trap for Paul Revere!”
Hannah exits the tunnel and walks cautiously to Paul Revere’s house. On the way, she sees Dr. Benjamin Church leaving Paul’s home and hides until he passes. She then knocks on the door, and Paul invites “Hans” inside. Hannah reports Caleb’s illness and the Salem raid plan that is scheduled for the Sabbath.
Paul reveals that Dr. Church has already informed him that the raid will occur on Saturday, not Sunday as Hannah claims. Paul plans to investigate Castle William on Friday. Hannah suddenly realizes that Dr. Church’s misinformation is a trap to lure Paul to Castle William, where he can be captured and prevented from warning Salem.
Chapter 36 Summary: “Webs of Lies”
Despite her warning about the trap, Paul dismisses her concerns, saying that she’s “just a little girl” (300). Hannah leaves, feeling helpless and wondering what to do if Paul is captured.
On the following day, Hannah tells a still-sick Caleb about Dr. Church’s likely deception. She declares that if Paul is captured, she will ride to Salem and warn the townspeople herself. That afternoon, Hannah overhears redcoats in the courtyard celebrating Paul’s capture at Castle William, confirming her suspicions about the trap.
Realizing that Paul cannot warn Salem, Hannah decides to ride there herself. She feigns illness to Mrs. Dudley that evening, and Catherine brings food to her room. Hannah confides her plan to ride to Salem, and Catherine reluctantly agrees to cover for her absence. Hannah prepares for her journey by packing food and her £10 Christmas note from Mrs. Gage, ironically observing that the British will be unknowingly funding her resistance activities.
Chapter 37 Summary: “Godspeed”
Before sunrise on Saturday morning, Hannah travels through the tunnel to Mr. Hubbard’s house. He takes her to Will, who is recovering in the attic. Hannah explains that Paul Revere is imprisoned and that she must warn Salem herself. Though initially reluctant, Mr. Hubbard agrees to help.
Will provides Hannah with directions, a note for Deacon Larkin, and his saddlebag, lending her his distinctive gold-braided tricorn hat for her disguise. Hannah kisses his cheek before departing, and Will wishes her “Godspeed.”
At dawn, Mr. Hubbard rows Hannah across the ice-filled Charles River to Charlestown. Hannah delivers Will’s letter to Deacon Larkin, who provides Promise and saddles him for her journey. As Hannah rides off toward Salem, Deacon Larkin echoes Will’s blessing of “Godspeed.”
Chapter 38 Summary: “The Journey”
Hannah and Promise ride exuberantly from Charlestown toward Salem. As a snowstorm begins, Will’s directions grow wet and become illegible. At a fork in the road, Promise refuses to take the path toward Malden and insists on the Saugus route. Hannah trusts her horse’s instincts and follows his lead, realizing that he has been this way many times before. As the snow deepens, they encounter many obstacles.
By dusk, exhausted and cold, Hannah reaches the Great Elm Tavern and arranges for Promise’s care with a stable hand. The innkeeper has no private beds available, so Hannah secures permission to sleep in the barn near Promise. Upon waking at dawn, Hannah realizes that she slept longer than intended and hurriedly continues toward Salem. As they approach their destination, Promise gallops eagerly but slips on ice hidden beneath the snow. He falls and seriously injures his right foreleg, leaving Hannah distraught about both her horse and her mission.
Chapters 28-38 Analysis
The novel’s focus on Navigating the Challenges of Divided Loyalties is intensified in these chapters as Mrs. Gage openly articulates her tortured position as both American born and British aligned. Through a literary allusion to the rhetorical question from Shakespeare—“Which is the side that I must go withal? I am with both” (327)—Harlow demonstrates the difficult ethical dilemmas that run rampant during revolutionary periods, when many different individuals find themselves forced into impossible positions. While Mrs. Gage’s literary allusions emphasize her sophisticated upbringing and privileged social status, they also articulate her painful understanding of her own difficult circumstances, for no matter which metaphorical “master” she chooses (the colonies or Britain), she recognizes that she will face loss regardless. By making creative use of this Shakespearean quotation, Harlow elevates Mrs. Gage’s personal dilemma to the level of classical tragedy, suggesting that the American Revolution resulted in profound human costs. As Hannah witnesses this emotional complexity firsthand, it complicates her own journey toward greater political commitment, and the very fact that this scene takes place amid the intimate domestic setting of the tea party shows that revolutionary tensions penetrated even the most private spheres of colonial life.
Although the secret tunnel has functioned as a symbol of hidden resistance, Dr. Church’s treacherous comings and goings through this same passage create a different significance, imbuing the space with a sense of infiltration and betrayal. In this new context, Harlow uses the tunnel’s darkness and rickety timbers to suggest the precarious nature of resistance activities that operate beneath the surface of official British control. Ironically, just as Hannah uses the tunnel to keep the Sons of Liberty informed of British movements, Dr. Church conducts similar missions of espionage for General Gage. The tunnel’s symbolic function therefore extends beyond mere practical utility to represent the hidden infrastructure of revolution and its inevitable ties to deception and treachery.
Hannah’s experience of Finding Personal Growth Amid Political Awakening accelerates dramatically throughout these chapters as she actively risks her own safety and position to gather intelligence for the Sons of Liberty. When she begins using her servant status as cover for espionage, she transforms her marginalized position into an unconventional source of power. Similarly, she sheds the limitations associated with her status as a woman whenever she masquerades as “Hans,” thereby gaining great personal liberty in her pursuit of national freedom. Her growing ability to manipulate social expectations becomes apparent when she exploits the Gage household’s tendency to treat servants as if they are invisible, and her determination to gather crucial intel marks her transformation from dependent girl into autonomous agent.
As Hannah’s life and outlook radically shift, the ever-steady Promise emerges as the dominant symbol connecting Hannah’s personal heritage with her political destiny. The horse represents her only remaining connection to her father’s memory and to her former life in Salem—both of which are elements that British control can never fully suppress. During the dangerous ride to Salem, the physical demands that she faces mirror the internal obstacles that Hannah must overcome if she is ever to reclaim her full agency. Harlow therefore structures the journey as a series of escalating tests that require Hannah to rely on her own judgment. As she walks the injured Promise to Salem rather than abandoning her mission, her choice to risk the health and life of her horse for the revolutionary cause creates a final symbolic parallel between personal sacrifice and political commitment.
In addition to illustrating the extreme challenges that revolutionaries endured, Harlow also takes a more distinctly political stance when she employs sophisticated narrative techniques to explore the ironic contradictions embedded in these circumstances. For example, the narrative explicitly highlights the irony of Hannah’s decision to use Mrs. Gage’s gift of the £10 note to fund her betrayal of British interests. Likewise, another reversal takes place when a series of failures to take action from male figures—Paul, Will, and Caleb—necessitates Hannah’s assumption of a traditionally masculine role. As Hannah finally takes center stage in the story’s political action, Harlow builds suspense by creating a sense of inevitable confrontation that reflects the historical momentum toward armed conflict that characterized the American Revolutionary War. Ultimately, Harlow demonstrates that individual agency emerges through the intersection of personal capability, historical circumstance, and moral necessity, suggesting that revolutionary periods create opportunities for ordinary people to make extraordinary differences in the broader course of the world.
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