*80
"We've made it through the forest!"
says Libby.<
<
"Whew!" you whisper. "It was pitch-
black in there. It would've been mighty
hard to find our way if we didn't have
the North Star as our guide."
|3
@ENTER,81
*81
You all sit on the soft, cool moss
under a few large trees. "Want some
water and salt beef?" asks Libby. You
and Asa nod.<
<
"When I was on the run one night,"
remarks Asa as he chews, "I couldn't
find drinkin' water. I had to drink
muddy water from horse tracks in the
road!"<
<
The thought makes you feel sick to your
stomach.<
<
Suddenly you look up. "Hey! Look at the
sign nailed on this tree!"
|3
@ENTER,82
*82
ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS--Paid for the
apprehension of one Negro who escaped
on Sunday last. Last seen heading to
Ohio en route to Canada West. Called
Asa, 6'2", thin, age 22. Plays
harmonica. Wore black suit. If found,
address T. Dooley, Louisville,
Kentucky.
|19
..LoadGraphic"G12.CBF"
..Window(32,288)
..StartY(84)
..Color(0)
@ENTER,83
*83
Asa stands up and glares at the sign.<
<
"I figured he would put up signs," Asa
says bitterly. "That buzzard Dooley
wants me to work on his new tobacco
farm until I drop. I'll die before I go
back!"
|3
@ENTER,84
*84
You hear a noise on the path and
scramble to hide in some bushes.
Peeking between the branches, you see a
white man in a ragged coat. He's
carrying a gun and stops to read the
reward sign.<
<
"I'll get your hide yet, Asa!" he
laughs and walks on down the path.
|3
@ENTER,85
*85
"Yikes!" you whisper. "That slave
catcher will probably be back." Goose
bumps pop up on your arms!<
<
"It's almost rooster-crowing," Asa says
nervously. "We better hurry to Ham 'n'
Eggs."<
<
You see a house on a distant hill and
hurry toward it. The North Star
sparkles above it.
|3
@ENTER,86
*86
You creep closer to the house. A
lantern shines on a post near the
door.<
<
"There's the lantern signal," says
Asa.<
<
"Do you know what that means?" asks
Libby.
|2
@"SAF",88
@ELSE,87
*87
"I don't think that's what the lantern
signal means," comments Libby. A sudden
gust of wind blows out the flame in the
lantern.
|3
@ENTER,89
*88
You walk up to the door and knock. An
elderly white woman with spectacles and
a shawl answers the door.<
<
"Can I help you?" she asks. You know
that you have to make sure she's a
stationmaster or a conductor. You
answer by giving the password.
|2
@"A FRIEND WITH FRIENDS",91
@ELSE,88.5
*88.5
"I'm sorry," says the woman behind the
door. "I don't understand what you're
saying. I can't help you. You can try
the house down the path." She quickly
shuts the door.
|3
@ENTER,89
*89
You feel fear creep over you. Asa
shivers.<
<
"Now we're stuck out here without a
safe place to go--and there's a slave
catcher nearby," Libby says as she
sniffles back tears.<
<
You all hear a gunshot ring out in the
darkness.<
<
"Run!" you shout. "That was a gunshot!
That slave catcher must be close by!"
|3
@ENTER,90
*90
Asa and Libby run into the woods. You
dash after them, but trip on a log and
twist your ankle.<
<
Now you've lost Asa and Libby! You
hobble back to the wagon as the sun
peeks over the horizon. You hope they
make it safely to the next station.< <
<
THE END
|6
@"Y",1
@"N",21.5
*91
The lady opens the door wide. "Welcome,
friend with friends," she says. "Would
you like some ham 'n' eggs?" You smile
and nod your head.<
<
"We made it to the next station!" say
Asa and Libby with relief.
|3
@ENTER,92
*92
"You younguns must be dreadful sleepy,"
says 'Mrs. Eggs'. "You can bed down in
the barn. You'll be safe there."<
<
You hear a rooster crow as the
first rays of the sun light up the sky.
<
You realize how tired you are and you
can't wait to sink into some fresh hay
and sleep!
|3
@ENTER,93
*93
In the evening, 'Mrs. Eggs' makes you
all a batch of buckwheat cakes with
blueberries and fresh cream.<
<
Asa and Libby say good-bye to you.
"Thank you kindly, [NAME]. I'll never
forget your help," says Asa.<
<
"You're welcome," you say. "Bye Libby.
I hope to see you both again someday."<
<
You hop in 'Mr. Ham's' wagon. He'll
give you a ride back to Cincinnati.<
<
"I'll never forget you!" you holler as
the wagon pulls away.
|3
@ENTER,94
*94
The next day you receive a letter from
Levi and Catherine Coffin, sealed with
wax. You open it.<
<
Dear [NAME]:<
<
Because you were such an excellent
conductor, we'd like to send you on an
important mission. We have one large
and two small shipments in Philadelphia
that need help getting to St.
Catherines, Canada West. Your mother
has given her approval for your brief
stagecoach trip to Philadelphia.
|19
@ENTER,95
*95
Remember two things before your trip:<
<
(1) Memorize your code book. You cannot
take it with you. The information is
too dangerous if it falls into the
wrong hands.<
<
(2) Use this password: MOSES SENT ME<
<
Good luck! L.C. & C.C.
|3
..StartY(2)
@ENTER,96
*96
You pack a bag with clothes, bread, and
water. The stagecoach leaves in a few
hours. You feel butterflies in your
stomach! You've never been to
Philadelphia before!<
<
"Be careful," says your sister Abby as
she gives you a hug good-bye. You give
her your code book for safekeeping.<
<
Abby asks, "Do you want to look at the
Code Book one more time, [NAME]?"
|25
@ENTER,97
*97
"No thanks, Abby," you say. "I think I
know the Code Book by heart."<
<
You wave good-bye and climb aboard the
waiting stagecoach.
|9
@ENTER,97.5
*97.5
The stagecoach ride lasts for several
long, tiring, and dusty weeks.<
<
You've never seen such large buildings!
You report to the Philadelphia
Vigilance Committee Office to begin
your mission.
|9
@ENTER,98
*98
William Still, a free black and the
director of the office, greets you.
"I'd like you to meet someone," he
says.<
<
"[NAME]," Mr. Still says. "This is
Harriet Tubman. Harriet, this is
[NAME]."<
<
You can't believe you're meeting the
famous Harriet Tubman, the former slave
who has escaped and led other
runaways to Canada many times!<
<
"I'm honored to meet you!" you exclaim.
|9
@ENTER,99
*99
"It's a pleasure to meet you too,
[NAME]," says Harriet.
|19
..LoadGraphic"G13.CBF"
..Caption
@ENTER,100