Crossing in Qarkness from Priend on Freedom River by Gloria hetan MUuserated by Gifsbert wan Prankenbuszen [EERIE How can someone find the courage te try 2 new and Wrightening task? ‘The time is 1850. Louts Les om ot farm at te edge of the Detroit Riven Canadas lies just aevonr the rivcr, Waggttbees saves tften pass trough "he ara on their tsty to Comte, bore there ts mo slavery, ‘One evening, Lows ts working le watsate, Winterts comin, sir this river is starting to je oven. Louis bars s Whestbinae mote net.” A swoman, Sarah, spa out from the bushes, slong with ber von Tiler wud baer deantor Lave. Tyler (We@Wehs, ittrastfully at Leute. Bat Sernebs explains ‘buat the three are escaping, 00 Canta Lowirsfater Ines ateoays balpod any rionausty shaves who aided. However, Papas ts aisiny. Lowir hrous the river’ Wbballe nd currents Dias i takes three bons to row 10 Carsudee, Slave catchers are toveling ose ebind the family, so tbe trip canmor wait until morning Is Lash wrong ‘noush for this taike? Is be brave enough? Should be take this ititers Louis's father boas told bitm, “Just ido bust you think | wuld bane done ‘So Louts mates the decision to take the family across Louis spon os monvent in the farmbouie kitchens It bs full of * ‘he ‘aronnas of spor cooking. Fle taker tone vbacatate baat Wo the trip. He ses ont svaron tothes snd guile. Hearst goalie to bis prthon, ‘Them be pocs back ont———— ee Louis gave che warm clothes, che quails, ane ee chocolare bread 46 Sarah and her children. Fhe boy looked Ike he wasn'e going NO PSS Gpbonie sind my boy, he's ceubborn,” Saeah suid. . there are good white people: Plenty of ehem helped ws along Our ay: “Together che two boys pushed the akeiff nso che Water breaking # thin sicin of ice. ‘They held che boae steady white Sara and Lucy climbed in. “You sure you can row a boat?" Louis asked Tyler. “Tim sure. Lrowed the boae for Master Harmon when he went cae fishin’ Towed hin all over Mud Taleo.” “Louis and ‘ler slipped the oat into the locks. Like a hand reaching up out of the waver the strong: current grabbed hold of the SKdEE. ‘The river that war such # ftiend to Louis in the daytime was a Gaegeroes momar ar nigh “To fight the current we Ot 10 padklle upstream 8s wwe paddle actoss;” Louis said. “The icy wig seung Cheir faces, The light from the farmhouse faded. “How did you get here?” Louis asked Sarah, “We crossed the Ohio River and come starion to station on ‘Underground Railway. “We Followed! the North Sear," Lucy said, “They sene big dogs sniffing and growling after us," Tyler said Sarah said, “There were kind folle rook us in, hunary, and sene us off Fall.” tell himThe boat truddered as ie plowed ehroush cer ehe other fishermen te keep him company. bu seine Tight from the farmbouse had long since fo ithe had = Siefe discovered, Louis would be sene 10 ji whey did touts, children would be sene back to slavery et er te tree ese Stop ming Loe whtapeed 69 tee —— from Canada. The v pacol iswepe by. The wake from the the slags bue che boat lancern didn’t cateh them: 1 boat was out of hearings the boys bes: niched from erying to make up the distance cow again. Their arms they had lose Tyler was as worried “Whar kind of fish you catch in this river? Soticcfiah, hecring, perch, sturgeon. My papa caughe have a bis Bah, You wor co be strong co cach it ‘Lamp along the bottom of the lake: 4 as Louis. To break the silence he asked, be amare to catch a cacfish: