Read Online Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker - Free Book Online

pulling her slowly to her feet.
    â€œI’m leading us back a ways from the river,” Lester called. “The trees are thicker and the brush is thinner.”
    They walked on as before, Lester in the lead, Julilly and Liza between them, and Adam behind, humming softly and making a rhythm for their steps. There was no stopping now. The running waters of the Mississippi filled their ears, and the North Star gleamed above them.
    Not until the night began melting into the black earth and a streak of pink rimmed the eastern sky did Lester stop. The giant trunks of two fallen pines blocked their path. Underneath the solid logs was a rippling brook of clean water, and beside it a hollow place almost hidden by the rotting limbs.
    â€œThis is where we eat and where we sleep,” Lester yawned, finally exhausted. The others agreed. They ate slowly, putting aside a portion for the next day’s meal. Julilly passed her gourd from one to the other. The water they dipped up with it was cold and sweet and there was plenty.
    â€œAdam and I will take turns staying awake on guard until sunhigh.” Lester’s eyes followed the widening pink strip along the sky. “Then, Julilly, you and Liza will watch until sundown.”
    â€œThank the Lord that we’ve had one safe night.” Liza bowed her head briefly. “I ask you, God, keep special watch on us tomorrow when Massa Sims finds out we are gone, and starts out lookin’ for us.”
    The others were silent.
    Julilly and Liza crawled into the hollow place beneath the logs and slept. They were too exhausted to say a word.
    At sunhigh, when Lester shook Julilly’s shoulder, she sat up frightened and confused. Had she overslept? Was Massa Sims ringing the morning bell on the plantation? Why were her feet so sore and bruised?
    Then she saw Lester’s drawn, tired face and she knew where she was. It was her turn to watch and soon it would be Liza’s. Adam lay face down on the soft grass beneath a sheltering willow near the fallen logs.
    â€œIf you hear any noise at all, you wake me, Julilly.” Lester rubbed his long fingers over his eyes to smooth out the tired lines.
    â€œYou can trust me, Lester,” she answered.
    â€œAnd when the sun goes down, we’ll eat. Adam caught some catfish —just like he said. He cleaned and skinned them.” Lester smiled.
    â€œSomeone will see if we start a fire to cook them.” Julilly was alarmed.
    â€œMassa Ross told me how to do it,” Lester answered calmly. “He said, build a fire in a clear place far away. Then watch. If nobody comes, just lay whatever you catch on the hot coals . When they die down, the fish is ready to eat.”
    Julilly smiled too. She settled herself on a scattering of dry pine needles, behind a tangle of brambles and dead limbs and waited. Liza looked bent and shrivelled lying asleep near by. Twice she moaned, but didn’t wake.
    â€œI’m strong enough to watch for both of us,” Julilly decided. “She better rest her aching back.”
    A mockingbird sailed through the sky, then perched above her and sang its own clear song. A gentle deer walked serenely to the river’s edge and dipped its head for a long drink.
    It was peaceful to sit so quiet. But it didn’t last. The deer jerked its head upright. It listened and then ran back among the trees. The mockingbirds chirped a mixed-up song of many birds, then sped away.
    Julilly sat tense. Softly at first and then louder came the cry of baying dogs. Bloodhounds! Somehow their scent had been found and they or other slaves like them were being followed. Lester heard too. He shook Adam. Julilly called Liza.
    â€œPack everything in your bags.” Lester spoke quickly. “Roll up your pants, and we’ll walk north, straight through the middle of this stream. It will kill our scent.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    THE DAYS AND NIGHTS strung together for Julilly, Liza, Lester, and Adam