Meyer was doing everything he could. Like other immigrants, he and his family wanted to leave their old life behind. They had given up all they had for their dream of a better life in America.
Ashamed of herself now, Libby swung her feet out of bed. When she touched the cold floor, her toes tingled. Quickly she dressed, then fumbled in the dark to pull her warmest quilt off the bed.
Quietly she opened her door. Samson lay on the deck outside. As Libby started down the stairs, he followed.
When she reached the main deck, Libby found it even more crowded than during the day. By the light of the moon, she saw people huddled wherever they could find a space.
Deep shadows made it hard to know where all of them were. As Libby struggled to find her way, she stepped on someone.
“Ouch!” he muttered. “Watch where you’re going!”
“Sorry!” Libby said, and kept on. But when she stepped on someone else, she knew it was no use. Bending down, she spoke into Samson’s ear. “Find Elsa.”
Between barrels, crates, and sleeping bodies Samson picked his way. Wherever he stepped, Libby followed. When they came to the long, sheet-iron stove provided for the deckers, Libby saw it was just as she feared. Everyone who could get around the stove was there, but Elsa was not among them.
Samson led Libby on, and at last they came to the Meyer family. Mr. Meyer lay on top of the bumpy woodpile. Mrs. Meyer sat on the trunk with her back against the cow, and Elsa was squeezed in beside her. With her mother’s arm around her, Elsa hugged herself as if to find warmth. Her eyes were wide open as she trembled with cold.
Quickly Libby placed the quilt around her. As Libby tucked it in, Elsa moved the quilt so that it also covered her mother.
“Danke, Libby.” Elsa’s teeth chattered. “I cannot say enough thanks.”
As Libby turned to leave, she remembered how close the family was to the engine room.
Maybe it’d be easier going through there
, she thought.
At least there’d be a space to walk
. She could go in the door on the deck side and out through the cargo area.
Built directly in front of a paddle wheel, the engine room vibrated with its own noise and the slap of the great paddle wheels. Here and there a lantern hung, giving men light to work.
Libby and Samson slipped past them, moving without sound. One man raised his hand, waving to Libby. The others kept on working.
Soon Libby passed through the second door into the cargo room. Near the machinery at the edge of that area, Libby noticed an open hatch. The wooden door swung up, creating a hole in the floor.
Strange
, Libby thought.
I’ve never seen that hatch before
.
Stepping back, she looked at it
.
How is it usually hidden
?
Nearby was a small but heavy-looking piece of machinery. As though to give it more strength, the machine was mounted on a piece of wood. Curious now, Libby took a lantern from the engine room and brought it close.
Setting the lantern on the floor, she knelt down. With both hands she pushed at the wood base under the machinery. Suddenly it moved!
Hardly daring to hope, Libby tested it out. Sure enough, the machine moved with little effort on her part.
With growing excitement, Libby held up the lantern again. If the hatch was closed, the machine could be swung into place over the hatch!
I’ve got it
! Libby thought. She wanted to sing, to dance, to shout.
I’ve found Jordan’s hiding place
! Now Caleb would have to let her take part in the Underground Railroad.
Filled with glee, Libby held the lantern over the hole. A ladder led downward and disappeared into the darkness. The space below lay between the outside of the hull and a bulkhead, the long wooden piece that ran the length of the
Christina
. Libby knew that each section between bulkheads needed its own hatch.
Somehow someone had made a secret room, or possibly more than one room. Whatever had been done, Riggs and those who searched must have missed this hidden space in the
Ashamed of herself now, Libby swung her feet out of bed. When she touched the cold floor, her toes tingled. Quickly she dressed, then fumbled in the dark to pull her warmest quilt off the bed.
Quietly she opened her door. Samson lay on the deck outside. As Libby started down the stairs, he followed.
When she reached the main deck, Libby found it even more crowded than during the day. By the light of the moon, she saw people huddled wherever they could find a space.
Deep shadows made it hard to know where all of them were. As Libby struggled to find her way, she stepped on someone.
“Ouch!” he muttered. “Watch where you’re going!”
“Sorry!” Libby said, and kept on. But when she stepped on someone else, she knew it was no use. Bending down, she spoke into Samson’s ear. “Find Elsa.”
Between barrels, crates, and sleeping bodies Samson picked his way. Wherever he stepped, Libby followed. When they came to the long, sheet-iron stove provided for the deckers, Libby saw it was just as she feared. Everyone who could get around the stove was there, but Elsa was not among them.
Samson led Libby on, and at last they came to the Meyer family. Mr. Meyer lay on top of the bumpy woodpile. Mrs. Meyer sat on the trunk with her back against the cow, and Elsa was squeezed in beside her. With her mother’s arm around her, Elsa hugged herself as if to find warmth. Her eyes were wide open as she trembled with cold.
Quickly Libby placed the quilt around her. As Libby tucked it in, Elsa moved the quilt so that it also covered her mother.
“Danke, Libby.” Elsa’s teeth chattered. “I cannot say enough thanks.”
As Libby turned to leave, she remembered how close the family was to the engine room.
Maybe it’d be easier going through there
, she thought.
At least there’d be a space to walk
. She could go in the door on the deck side and out through the cargo area.
Built directly in front of a paddle wheel, the engine room vibrated with its own noise and the slap of the great paddle wheels. Here and there a lantern hung, giving men light to work.
Libby and Samson slipped past them, moving without sound. One man raised his hand, waving to Libby. The others kept on working.
Soon Libby passed through the second door into the cargo room. Near the machinery at the edge of that area, Libby noticed an open hatch. The wooden door swung up, creating a hole in the floor.
Strange
, Libby thought.
I’ve never seen that hatch before
.
Stepping back, she looked at it
.
How is it usually hidden
?
Nearby was a small but heavy-looking piece of machinery. As though to give it more strength, the machine was mounted on a piece of wood. Curious now, Libby took a lantern from the engine room and brought it close.
Setting the lantern on the floor, she knelt down. With both hands she pushed at the wood base under the machinery. Suddenly it moved!
Hardly daring to hope, Libby tested it out. Sure enough, the machine moved with little effort on her part.
With growing excitement, Libby held up the lantern again. If the hatch was closed, the machine could be swung into place over the hatch!
I’ve got it
! Libby thought. She wanted to sing, to dance, to shout.
I’ve found Jordan’s hiding place
! Now Caleb would have to let her take part in the Underground Railroad.
Filled with glee, Libby held the lantern over the hole. A ladder led downward and disappeared into the darkness. The space below lay between the outside of the hull and a bulkhead, the long wooden piece that ran the length of the
Christina
. Libby knew that each section between bulkheads needed its own hatch.
Somehow someone had made a secret room, or possibly more than one room. Whatever had been done, Riggs and those who searched must have missed this hidden space in the
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