The time- the Revolution; the place- the New Jersey hills; and the boy, Peter, , anxious to serve particularly after his older brother goes off to war. With an Indian boy, Blaknik, who saves his life, he spots some Continental soldiers, brings some papers (a coded message and a map- written in onion juice) to his father, and finally his further intelligence work alerts them to the fact that the ""redbirds are flying"". Peter, serving as a junior Paul Revere, goes off to warn General Washington... A well-detailed story which will serve as a background book without submerging the narrative interest, this is handled with respect for its young readers whom it can inform and entertain at the same time.