Vinnie and Mandy were in the attic putting old books into boxes.
Their father popped his head in the door.
"How's it going?" he asked cheerfully.
He stepped into the room and began to measure a wall.
"Dad, what are you doing?" asked Vinnie.
"Just planning some changes,"
he replied, writing in a notebook.
"Changes?" Mandy asked, worried.
"The attic is going to become my new den," said Dad.
"Your den? Why?" the children cried.
"Oh, I just need a little space to myself," he explained.
"Can't you use the basement?" said Vinnie, a bit rudely.
"It's too damp down there," Dad said.
"What's wrong with the attic?
You're not hiding something up here, are you?"
"Of course not, Dad," laughed Mandy.
Dad put his notebook in his pocket.
"Once you clear this space out, I'll start moving in," he said.
He went downstairs, whistling happily.
"What are we going to do?" asked Mandy.
"We still have some time," said Vinnie.
"But let's not waste another moment."
He went and got the photo album.
"Look, Mandy," he said.
In the picture, the old man was standing in front of a large elm tree by a building.
Something was sticking out of its branches on a long pole.
It was glowing.
"What do you think this is?" asked Mandy.
"We're about to find out!"
said Vinnie, closing his eyes.
The children fell down the dark tunnel.
"Ow!" cried Vinnie.
"Oh!" yelled Mandy.
Vinnie landed on a damp surface.
Mandy landed nearby.
The air smelled of the ocean.
They were on a long, wide pier.
"Are you okay?" Vinnie asked, opening his eyes.
"Yes," Mandy answered.
She sat up and looked around, rubbing her arm.
The pier was in the harbor of a city.
Brick and wooden buildings lined narrow streets.
She could see a white church tower in the distance.
"It looks like we're in a seaport," she said.
"I wonder where?"
Several tall-masted ships were tied to the pier with heavy rope.
One ship was just coming in to dock.
"I can see the ship's name," Mandy said. "The Liberty."
Vinnie pointed.
"It looks like the men over there are waiting for the ship."
Suddenly, the children heard marching feet.
They turned around.
Soldiers wearing red coats and black hats were heading toward the ship in a line.
They held long, thin rifles.
"The Redcoats!" shouted a man on the dock.
Everyone turned to watch the soldiers approach.
"Who are they?" asked Vinnie nervously.
"They look angry."
The Redcoats stopped and held their rifles in front of them.
The leader stepped forward and spoke to one of the men on the dock.
"Vinnie! I think I know where we are!" Mandy almost shouted.
"The Redcoats! Aren't they the British Army?"
Vinnie stared at the soldiers.
"Their uniforms do look familiar . . ." He paused.
"We're still in America!"