The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1920-03-04


Rene rested her cheek on her hand
and gazed straight ahead into the
night. Far off to the left a few wink
ing lights appeared, barely perceptble,
and touched the negro, pointing them
out to him and whispering my ques-
ton so as not to disturb the motion
less girl
as that the Landing over thereT
"Ah certainly 'spects 1t must be,
sab; dar amt no other town directly
round desc parts"
"Then those lights higher up must
be on the bluff at BeaucaireW
"Yes, sab; looks like de whole house
was lit up. I reckon things am right
| lively up thar bout now." He
chuckled to himself, smothering IA
laugh. IT'S sure goin' fer ter bother
Massa Donaldson ter lose dis niger,
sab, fer Abs de only one he's got"
The lights slowly faded away in the
far distance, finally disappearing alto
gether as we rounded a sharp bend in
! the river bank. The engine Increased
| its stroke, giving vent to louder chug-
! ging, and l could feel the strain Of the
planks beneath us as we battled the
current. This new noise may have
aroused her, for Rene lifted her head
as though suddenly startled and
glanced about in my direction.
1--WE have passed the village2" she
asked, rather listlessly.
eyes; it is already out Of sight.
From the number of lights burning l
imagine our escape has been dlsCov-
cred"
"And what will they doY-an echo
of dismay in her voice.
All fear of any treachery on the
part Of the negro had completely de-
serted me, and l slipped down from
my perch on the edge Of the cockpit
to a place on the bench at her side.
She made no motion to draw away,
but her eyes were upon my face as
though seeking to read the meaning
of my sudden action.
1--WE can talk better here" I ex-
planned. "The engine makes so much
noise"
"You have not yet explained to me
what we were TO do. Your plans for
tomorrow"
because I scarcely have any," I re-
piled. "This has all occurred so sud-
denly have only acted upon impulse
No doubt those back at the Landing
will endeavor to pursue US; they may
have discovered already our means Ok
escape and procured boats. My prin-
cipal hope is that they may take 1t
, for granted that we have chosen the
easier way and gone downstream. If
so we shall gain so much more time
to get beyond their reach"
r But why have you chosen the
northern route? Surely you had a
2 reasOn"
4 "Certainly; It was to deceive them
> and get out of slave territory as quick
t ly as possible. There are friends in
, this direction and none in the other.
/ If we should endeavor to fee by way
s Of the Ohio we would be compelled to
a run a thousand-mlle gantlet. There
are slaves in Illinols-it has never
] been declared free state-but these
= are held almost exclusively In the
o more southern counties. North of the
u river the settlers are largely from
0 New England, and the majority OF
G them hate slavery and are ready to
assist any runaway to freedom"
3 "But you have spoken of a man
r Amos Shrunk-who is hep
e "You have certainly heard rumOrs
J. at least, that there are regular routes
e Of escape from here to CanadaP
"Yes; 1t has been discussed at the
house 1 have never clearly under
y stood, but l do know that slaves dis
D.. appear and are never caught, was
:, told white men helped them"
- at is accomplished through organ
- lied effort by these men-BlaCk AbO
~ ltonists, as they are Called-hater!
Of slavery. They are banded to
gether in a secret society for this onC
o. purpose and have what they call sta
tiOns scattered all along at a certain
G distance apart-a nights travel-frOn
the Mississippi to the Canadian line
,e where the fugitlves are hidden ant
fed A station keeper l am told, Il
,r only permitted to know n few mile
,r Of the route those he must Cover-th
,e system is perfect, and many are en-
ID gagged in 1t who are never even sus
N pected."
81 "And this man-is he oneW
Is "Yes-a leader; he operates tn
ID most dangerous station Of all. Tn