Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/69

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

49

Her master sold her for 1000 dollars, (£200). Slavery had crushed out a mother's affection, or, may we not say, It was affection that induced her to rescue the child from worse than death.

In the county of Fazette, State of Ohio, in a small village of about 1,000 inhabitants, was one of our underground Railway Stations, in charge of a good and faithful Conductor. Unwisely, not less than 10 or 12 Fugitive Slaves had stopped in this town, protected only by public opinion. True, the majority of the people were Abolitionists, yet their liberty was by no means secure. Unexpectedly, as a thief in the night, our town was invaded by four Slaveholders, who, with the Police, captured three of the Slaves, the others contrived to make their escape into the forest. The whole town was aroused in a few minutes. The three captured Slaves were in charge of one of their company, while the others were on the look out for the Fugitives who had fled to the forest. It was dangerous for us, under such circumstances, to harbour them in our houses, for fear they should be searched. There was no time to lose, what was done must be done quickly.

Sixteen of our party suddenly and furiously rushed upon the captured Slaves, cut the ropes with which their limbs were tightly bound, pushing them about from one to the other; not a word was spoken the whole of the