The pass we had expired 6 days ago; we were getting so close to freedom. We darted into the bushes before I could think. I was so scared! The people went past and I was right, it was Slave Hunters. That really scared me! I wished I was back on that wretched old train. I don't care how bad it was. I want to be back on it but I know Momma is right. The way we are going is the fastest and safest way to travel for us. After the time the slave hunters stopped the train, we don't need to take any more chances like that and that was enough to scare us both really bad.

After they went by we waited for a little while, then we started walking and we forgot about them. We are almost there. I don't want to turn back now.

Later that day, we came to a log cabin. It was starting to get dark so we waited. This was the first day we traveled with Moses. The whole time we traveled Moses had her pistol on her side. That kind of scared me but she told me the story of why she carried it. It was partly for protection from slave hunters and others that tried to stop us but there was another reason. Sometimes the slaves she tried to help would change their minds and want to go back. She couldn't allow that to happen. If someone returned that she tried to help they would know too much information about the Underground Railroad. She could not take the chance of one slave putting hundreds more in jeopardy. Once you started on the trip, you continued it to freedom.

As soon as it got dark, Moses walked up to the front door. We waited in the woods till she came back out. After a few minutes she returned and told us we had to wait a little longer. The owner told her that there was a group of men that had been searching for some slaves that ran away from a plantation in Alabama. She said it was a Momma and her daughter. Momma and I looked at each other, we was scared. I told Moses I didn't want to go back. Moses said, "It will be alright child, we won't let that happen!" I think that was the most scared I'd been. Me and Momma just hugged each other.

While we were hiding, we saw a group of men come down the road. I had to lean up so I could take a look at them. The blood in my veins ran cold when I recognized a face. It was our Master, Fredrick John Myers. I knew then that we were going to get caught. Moses could see the look in my face and she didn't want me to panic. She grabbed me and held me close to her. She whispered in my ear, "Child, don't make a sound! Everything will be alright." It did make me feel a little better but I was still scared.

After about an hour of searching, Master came out on the porch and was looking around toward the woods. We thought for a minute he seen us when he held his stare in our direction. He was standing there by himself and started yelling for us. "Clara Mae, you and that child of yours better come out here right now!" he yelled. Momma started to stand up and Moses grabbed her arm and wouldn't let her move. She held up a finger to her lips and told her to be quiet. Momma sat back down. "Clara Mae, it isn't going to be good for that little girl of yours if you don't come out right now!" Master said. He looked around for a few more minutes then walked off the porch and got back on his horse. A few minutes later the rest of the men came out of the house. They all rode off in a storm of dust.

We waited in the woods for about another 20 minutes, none of us being able to move. Moses told us that he probably came out on the porch of every house they checked and yelled out for us. Most of the slaves would have been scared enough to stand up and walk out to him. She wasn't going to let that happen to us. We had come too far to turn around now.

The owner of the house came outside and motioned for us to come inside. As soon as we were in he leads us to a door that went down into a secret room. He told Moses the men would be back in a few hours. We needed to stay down there and get some rest. He would bring us some food and water in a few minutes. Moses gave the man a hug and thanked him. He was a very dedicated man to the Underground Railroad.

A few minutes later he brought us some food and blankets. He told Moses there would be some men coming in the morning that would take us all the way to the state line. We was going to be crossing into Indiana, I was getting excited!

We all ate the food and fell asleep until we heard a gunshot in the room above us. We all were so scared. There was men yelling and stomping around up there. We heard our Master telling someone he would burn this house down if he didn't tell them where we were. The man that owned the house told him he had seen some people walking down by the creek a couple of days ago. He hadn't seen anyone since then. I wasn't sure the master was going to believe him but he did. After they left everything got quiet again. We didn't go upstairs and the man never opened the door.

The next thing we knew it was morning. The man opened up the door and leads us all up the stairs. When we get up there the room is full of a bunch of men. I was scared! Moses looked around then all of a sudden she starts laughing and giving them all hugs. She was so happy to see them all. They were a very special group of men that worked with her all the time. She turned around and introduced us to all of them. She told us we were safe now. These men would take care of us and no one would harm us.

They all sat around and talked for a little while then got us all ready to head out. We were very excited until Moses told us she would not be making the rest of the trip with us. She said, "You all go on with these men. They will protect you and get you to freedom. I have to go back to help more slaves on their journey. I am sure our paths will cross again!" We were all sad but we knew she was doing what she had to do. We all were just very honored to have met her and knew by meeting her, our lives would never be the same again.

After we crossed the state line we stopped at a house that was in the middle of a field. There were lots of horses and wagons pulling in and out of the gate. We was scared until a man came and helped us down from the wagon and said, "Don't be afraid, you are safe! Welcome to Freedom!" I looked at Momma and she looked at me, we both just smiled and started hugging each other. Then after a few minutes Momma felt someone's hand on her shoulder, it was Mr. Crude. They had just arrived right before us. We all starting laughing and hugging each other!

o-spacVK