Chapter One: Hello

Hello my name is Peter Van Rack. I live in Columbus, Ohio and I am also 13 years old. Today is February 12, 1859. My father is Mr. Rack, a house designer who also makes bricks. (But surprising we make a lot a money.) I don't know were my dad came from before he came to Ohio, no one does. After doing my chores, I play with my brothers, Juen Fin, Myles Rack and Luke Rock.  You are probably wondering why Luke and Juen have different last names then Myles and me. I will tell you why . Juen is from Canada. He and his dad, who was a preacher, came to the south to tell African Americans about God.  

Whoops, I almost forgot to tell you about slavey. Back 

then Africans were sold and worked for free at rice,

cotton, and tobacco plantations and if they did something wrong, they were whipped.  America was divided in two, the North and South. The North didn't like slavery and made it illegal to own slaves in the North but the south liked slavery for the non-paid work. (Won't want to be in the senate when they talk about it.) Now back to Juen’s story. When Juen’s dad was telling slaves about God at a plantation, his father was shot by the slave's owner. The slave owner didn’t want him to tell his slaves about God. Dad was ride home after visiting a family member when he saw what happened.  Juen was going to be a slave to 

send a message but Mr. Rake paid the slave owner to let Mr. Rake have him and Dad has taken care of Juen ever since. Thank the Lord. Luke is an African American. He ran away from the Tobacco plantation where he lived. His parents were sold as slaves.  When Mr. Rake found Luke in the woods, he made a fake letter that said that he is a free slave. Now let’s start our story.  

Chapter 2 The Strange Sounds

    It was a beautiful snowy evening and we were making snow angels waiting for Luke to finish his chores so we could go in the woods surrounding the house. Just then Dad called out to me, Juen and Myles. We ran inside where Dad was waiting for us at the kitchen table. “I need your help.” He said. “I’ve been hearing strange sounds coming from the woods the last three nights, I would check it myself but I need to rest after that big order I just finish yesterday day.  You two go find out what it is.” Dad said “Can I go too?” Luke asked as he ran inside after finishing his chores.

“No you are too young for this sort of thing,” Dad said. “But,” Luke started. “No buts now go help your mother get dinner ready,” He said. “Okay,” Luke sighed as he ran to help Mom. “Now the three of you go get some things you’ll need and when you're ready go to the tool shed,” Dad said. We all ran to our rooms to get the stuff we would need. I grabbed a Bottle of ink, a quill, some paper and two pieces of rope. Juen got some water and two bricks. Myles got a pan and flour. “Why do you need those things?” I asked. “You never know when you need a pan and some flour, now let's get going," Myles said. We grabbed our coats and went to the door but before we went outside Mom ran over to us with a basket. “Before you go I made you some bread with butter

 for you," She said.  “Thanks”, We said. Myles grabbed the basket. “Now can we go?” Juen asked. “Yes, now we can go”, Myles said. We went outside and went into the shack where we keep the bricks at.

     We waited and waited to hear the noises. Good thing we had delicious bread with butter and some water Juen had. Suddenly we heard something outside. "It sounds like whispering”, I said. We peeked out the door and saw two figures standing behind a tree and ran off. “Are they ghosts?” I asked. “Only one way to find out”, Juen said. He opened the door and chased the figures. “Juen, come back," I said. Myles and I ran and ran after Juen until we lost sight of him. “Where did he go?” I asked. We looked 

around a little more. “Look”, Myles said. He pointed at the two figures Juen was following.  We bent down faces flat on the ground. “They got Juen, we got to save him”, Myles said. Suddenly a person  with a hood and a lamp walks toward the figures. “Okay here's the plan, we'll run and grab Juen as fast as we can and then get Dad," I said. “That’s a terrible plan," Myles said. “Do you have any ideas'', I said. Myles sighed. We got up and started running. But we didn’t see the log in front of us and we fell face first on the ground.

    The people with Juen ran towards us. When they got to Myles and I we realized they were African Americans. “Are you guys okay?” Juen asked. “We’re fine but what are

you doing with them?” Myles asked. “They’re friends of my dad when we were telling slaves about God.” Juen said. Then Juen introduced us to the African americans. ”Myles and Peter meet Trap, Dylan and Owen. Dylan, Owen, Trap meet Myles and Peter,” He said. “Please to meet you,” They said. Suddenly an African women came over to us. “Trap, Dylan, Owen who are these kids?” The woman asked, We introduced ourselves. “I’m Peter and this is Myles and Juen.” I said. “It is nice to meet you my name is Harriet, Harriet Tubman,” She said. “Oh excuse me Miss Tubman but we are wondering what you are doing here,” Myles asked Harriet. “We are following a person named Moses to Canada where we can be free

but one of us is getting ill so we are waiting for one of his friends to come with some medicine,” She said. Just then I heard hoof steps coming into the woods. I turned around and saw three horses coming toward us.  When Harriet saw the horses she told us to run. We ran and ran until we saw a big tree on the ground. We jumped over the tree and hid behind it. The horses jumped over the tree as well but they kept going. ‘Who are they?” I  asked. “They are Slave catchers, who are trying to catch us and bring us back to our masters, we can’t wait for the medicine any more, we have to keep moving,” she said. “But what about the person who’s sick?” Juen ask. “I’m 

afraid we have to leave him,” Harriet said. “Maybe we can

help”,  Juen said.  “what, are you crazy,” Myles and I said together. “Uh can we have a moment with our friend please,” Myles asked. I grabbed Juen and we walked over to the tool shed. “Are you crazy, if we help them we will probably get caught, don’t you know what happens to people who help slaves escape, they throw them in jail, fine them and sometimes stab them with those ironing brands in their face that says slave stealer,” I said. “But what about the person who is sick?” Juen said. “It’s not our problem,” Myles said. “Now let’s go back in the house and tell dad what happened,” “Okay, but first can I tell them goodbye?” Juen asked. “Fine,” Myles and I said. Juen left for a few minutes then came back and we walked back to the house.

Chapter 3 The Fugitive Slave Act

    When we opened the door we saw Dad in a chair reading the newspaper and Mom in another chair reading a book. Whoops, I have to stop forgetting to tell things. Mom and Dad love to read and so do I. Guess you can say I inherited loving books from my parents. Now back to the story. Dad didn’t notice us when we came in until he put down the newspaper down to grab a glass of tea. “Oh boys I didn’t hear you come in? Did you find out what the sounds were," Dad asked "Yep, it was some slaves trying to escape to Canada and we need to help them,” Juen said.

“One of them is sick and they’re waiting for some medicine but they need to go now,” Dad stood up from his chair and walked over to Juen. “Juen, I know that you want to help slaves. We all do, but it's too dangerous,” Just then Luke came out. The door was open in his room and he heard us talking. “What’s going on?” Luke asked. We stopped talking because we didn’t want to tell Luke. “It’s nothing Luke, how about I read you another chapter of The Adventure's of Robin Hood,” Mom said as she went into his room to tuck him back to bed and close the door. When Luke went back to his room we started a conversation. “You should go to bed too,” Dad said. “But what about the slaves?” Juen asked. “It’s not our problem now go to bed,” Dad said. “Ok,” Juen said sadly. We all 

went into our rooms to go to bed but I couldn’t sleep. I

was too busy thinking about Dylan, John, Trap and Harriet who Juen wanted to help. 

     A few minutes later I heard some footsteps outside my door. I got out of my bed, grabbed my bag and opened the door. When I opened it I heard a big scream. I shut the door and saw Luke laying on the ground, rubbing his head. “What are you doing awake?” I asked Luke. “I heard footsteps and came out of my room to see what it was until you smacked me in the face with your door.” Luke said. “Sorry,” I said. “Wait…. if the footsteps weren’t mine or yours then who made them?” I asked. Just then we heard the outside door open. We crept behind the wall and saw Juen. He opened the door and 

went outside. “What’s Juen doing?” Luke asked. “I don’t know, let’s follow him.” I said. Being very sneaky, we follow Juen to the wagon. Juen put his bag in the wagon then he went to the horse barn and grabbed a horse. I realized that Juen was getting the wagon ready to leave but to where?  “We’ve got to follow him,” Luke said. “Let’s go on foot so Juen doesn’t hear us,” I said. We walked a half mile away from the house when Juen stopped his wagon. We ducked behind some trees so he wouldn’t see us. “Do you think Juen saw us?” Luke asked. “I don’t think so.” I said. A few seconds later we heard a coughing sound and then the slaves we met earlier. I also saw Dylan carrying 

another slave on his back. They got on the wagon and Juen started the wagon again when I realized what Juen was doing. “He’s taking the slaves to Canada,” I said. “Won’t that take awhile?” Luke asked. “Not if they cross Lake Erie, we have to stop him before someone sees him and we get police at are door step,” I said. Before we could stop them Juen got the wagon going. “We have to catch up,” Luke said. “We’re not far from home, we can go get the horses,” I said. We went back to the house and got the horses and went to lake Erie.

     It took us about eleven hours to get there. When we arrived we looked for Juen. “Peter look,” Luke said. He pointed to a wagon that was hidden in the woods. We ran over to it. "Do you suppose that they crashed?”  I 

asked. "No it looks perfectly fine,” Luke said as he looked

at it. Just then three riders came into the woods. The first one had a goatee, a hat and a whip, the second one had a scar on his head, a wound on his arm and also a gun and the third had a beard and was skinny . “Excuse me young man but I was wondering why you have that young slave with you?” He asked. “That’s Luke and he is not a slave,” I said. “Oh really then why does he look like this young man who is someone we been looking for a long time,” The third rider said. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. It had Luke on it and it had a reward prize for $600. “We’ll take that slave back home to the rice plantation now and we will give you 1% of the money,” The third rider said. “You can’t take him, we're in 

the North and there's no slavery in the North,” I said. “Well I guess you never heard of the Fugitive Slave Act that was passed nine years ago,” The First rider said. The third rider pulled another piece of paper from his pocket. It said that any slave found in the north and south would be returned to its owner. “Now are you going to give him to us or do we have to force you?”  The second rider asked. “What am I going to do?” I thought. There was only one thing to do. “Run,” I said.  Me and Luke started running. “Hey, come back here.” The second rider said. We ran as fast as we could but their horses were faster. “Let's try walking on the ice they won’t be able to follow,” We ran on the ice and the riders stopped following us but when we stopped running the ice broke into the 

freezing water. We tried to get out but the ice was too slippery.  Just as I thought it was the end, something grabbed and pulled me up but I was so cold I fainted.

Chapter 4 The Plan

    When I woke up Luke and I were wrapped in blankets and right next to a warm fire.  We were not alone. Sitting in front of us were the slaves we met earlier and Juen. Still a little bit cold I was able to talk.”J-J-Juen what a-a-are you doing, didn’t d-d-d-dad say we s-s-should not h-h-help them,” I scrambled. Man, that water was cold!  “Juen I thought you said that your family was okay with helping us." Harriet said. Then Owen chimed in, “Makes sense why your dad didn’t come with you in the wagon, I for one never believed him."  “Y-you're going t-t-to be in b-big trouble with Dad,” I said a little bit better. “So are you, because you brought Luke and look what

happened,” Juen said. “Well uhh I?” I scrambled. He was right, I brought Luke with me and he almost went back to the plantation and also turned into an ice cube “Good thing Trap found you or you would be a white and black iceberg,” Harriet said. Just then I remembered the sick slave and asked where he was. Harriet walked to another camp spot where there were two slaves (who I hadn't met earlier) and a sick slave on the ground covered with a blanket. Luke ran over to the sick slave. “Uncle Fred is that you,” Luke said.

     The slave sat up and hugged Luke. “Luke, it's been so long since I’ve seen you,” The sick slave said. I was confused. “Luke, you know him?” I asked. Know  

him? He’s my Uncle,” Luke said. “Uncle Fred, what are you

doing here?” Luke asked. “You see when you escaped I was sold to a cotton plantation in Georgia and since then I worked and worked, but three weeks ago Dylan said he and the others were going to escape and asked if I would want to come. That night we snuck off the plantation. We went a few miles until we met with a person named Moses, and we walked for many miles until I got ill,” (and you know the rest). Just then Trap, Owen, Dylan and Juen ran over. “We have a problem Harriet,” He said. “What is it?” Harriet asked. “There are three slave catchers camping near the spot where you said the boat will come over,” He said. Luke pulled my sleeve and said. “Those must be the riders we met earlier,”  “One of us

has to distract them while the rest get on the boat,” Trap said. The other slaves started whispering.  Just then Juen stepped out and said. “I’ll do it,” “You can’t do it, you would be caught,” I said. “Not if you and Luke help me, we will be able to get them away from the spot,” He said. I was about to protest when Luke said. “Peter, we have to do it for my uncle and the other slaves,” He was right, we had to help them. “Okay we’ll help you all,” I said. “Now show us where they are,” Owen led us to the shore of the lake where the three slave catchers were. “I wish you good luck,” Owen said. 

    Just then, I remembered that we hadn’t met Moses yet. I was about to ask him but he had already left. “Okay so what's the plan Peter?” Juen asked. “Me!? I thought you

had a plan,” I said. “Nope not a thing,” Juen said. “Let's check our bags and see what we have,” Juen suggested. We all emptied our bags to see what we had. “Hey ain't that Myles bag?” I asked. “I thought the pan and flower would be useful, “What do you have?” Juen asked me. All I have are two pieces of rope, some paper, ink and quill. I said. “What do you got?” I asked Luke. “All I have is a knife and two bricks,” Juen said. “Now let's think,” I said. We put our heads together and tried to make a plan. “I got an idea,” Luke said. “Why don’t we use the two bricks to distract them while we tie one of the ropes to these two trees,” Luke said, pointing to two trees. “That's a good idea but we're trying to get them away from the spot, not trip them up,” I said. We thought some more.

 “I know, what if we also used the flour to make a white trail that they would follow. When they do follow it we will use the pan to knock them out,” Juen suggested "Not a bad idea but we need more flour and what if they wake up when we are still getting ready to leave?”  I said. We thought a little more. “What if we use the two pieces of rope and tie them up,  then we could make sure they don’t stop us,” I suggested. “That's a good idea and I remember that I placed some cooking items, including flour,  in the wagon just in case the African Americans got hungry,” Juen said. “I don’t think that’s a good plan,” Luke said  “Don’t worry it’s going to be good and we might have to use your brick idea to distract the slave catchers if they hear us,” I said. “Okay,” Luke said. We went

back to the wagon to get more flour in order to set the distraction.  “Okay I think that's enough,” I said. Just then we heard a big thump not so far away. We ran over and saw the slave catchers had tripped on a piece of rope that was tied to the two trees and when the slave catchers saw us they recognized who we were. “We meet  again and this time you both are going to pay,” One of them said.

Chapter 5 The Chase

    “Luke did you do that?” I asked. “Well,”… Luke started when he was cut off by one of the slave catchers saying. "Get them!,” Just as we heard them we ran and split up.  I ran faster and faster. I put my hand in my bag hoping that the pan was in their (and yes Myles was right about it being useful) but it wasn't.  Just then something bumped into me, it was Juen. “Juen do you have the pan?” I asked. “No Luke must have it,” He said.  “Hey, you come back here, I don't want to hurt you I just want to throw you into the lake” The slave catcher who was chasing me said. We started running again. “Quick, give me your ink,” Juen said. 

I gave him my bottle of ink which he opened and dumped on the ground and it started to freeze. “Hey, do you know how expensive ink is these days,” I said? “You’ll thank me later,” Juen said. As we ran the slave catcher slipped on the ink and landed with a thud but that wasn’t the last of our problems another slave catcher started  chasing us. We ran faster but the third slave catcher ran in front of us. “Your little slave friend got away but we're still going to have some kids who will be whipped and get in real trouble with the boss,” The slave catcher in front of us said. Just then we heard a sound coming from the bushes close by. “What was that?” One of the slave catchers said. “I don’t know, go check it out,” One of the slave catchers went over to the bushes. Just then we

heard a bang and the slave catcher that was guarding us fell to the ground. Standing right behind him was Luke with the pan. “Hey!!” Yelled the slave catcher who was looking in the bushes. “Run!” Juen said. We ran away as fast as we could.

     “We lost him,” Juen said. “But what if he and the others go back to the camp?" I asked. “I have an idea but Peter, do you have the rest of the flour?” Luke asked. “Yes, but I’m not going to help you with your plan after you ruined ours,” I said. “I'm sorry but I thought if they tripped on the rope it would knock them out,” He said.” Would you please forgive me?” Luke asked with puppy dog eyes and everyone knows you can’t resist puppy dog eyes. “Okay I forgive you,” I said.  I gave Luke the flour and he told us 

his plan. “Okay, here’s the plan we need to find the slave catchers, then I will climb a tree and you and Juen need to get the slave catcher's attention,” “What!?, I am not going to trust you to climb a tree,” I protested. “Okay fine you climb the tree and Juen and I will get the slave catcher's attention,” He said. Then he continued telling the plan. “When the slave catchers surround us and when I say now you dump the flour and me and Juen will tie them with this piece of rope,” “Okay, does everyone understand the plan,” Luke said. We both nodded. “Now let’s do it!”

    We walked and walked when finally we found the slave catchers who were walking back to their camp. I climbed a tree and waited for Luke and Juen to do their part. “Hey