Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 54 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with Ian getting to the fort. The British have already taken over, and Ian fears the worst. Then he realizes that the camp doesn’t look like there’s been a skirmish. What does this mean? Does it mean Claire and Jamie are out of trouble? Are they still alive?

He does see Captain Stebbings and Guinea Dick. He also sees Mr. Ormiston. This offers some good sights for Ian, suggesting that there hasn’t been a mass slaughter.

He holds onto hope, and then he thinks about the Hunters. While they are on the Revolutionary side, they could survive in British hands. He wants the best for Rachel and finds himself thinking about her and her safety throughout the chapter.

When there’s an explosion, Ian is pulled out of his thoughts. The cannon from the night before has gone off, and Ian notes that there was a trail of gunpowder. That was lit the night before and it’s finally exploded. Of course, we know what that cannon was for, but Ian doesn’t. He’s a smart man though, and he can figure most of it out.

The explosion has confused the British and forced them to search for the culprit. Ian decides it’s a good time to get out of dodge. Besides, he needs to find his family. Nobody really takes much notice of Ian, though. Does that foreshadow something? I’m going to get to that.