between the hills—divided the land. Through some of those ravines dirt roads brought farmers with their horses and wagons into town. Deep ruts showed where oxen had pulled covered wagons and pioneers westward.
Around Libby, the streets seemed alive with excitement. Men, women, and children hurried in or out of stores. Now and then Caleb stopped at one of them to ask questions. Always Jordan waited outside, mingling with whatever people were around. When Caleb moved on, Jordan followed a short distance apart.
Tall and straight, he walked as though sure of where he was going. More than once, heads turned as people watched him. It didn’t bother Libby until she spied a piece of paper lying on the ground. She snatched it up.
$200.00 Reward.
Runaway from the subscriber,
a black boy named
JORDAN PARKER,
about 15 or 16 years of age, about six feet tall, last seen wearing tattered cotton shirt and faded blue pants. It is presumed he will make for Iowa or Illinois. I will give one hundred dollars if taken in the State of Missouri, or above reward if taken outside that State and held for me …
As Libby glanced at the bottom of the notice, the name Riggs leaped up at her. Without reading the rest, she stuffed the paper in her pocket. Even if an abolitionist pulled down this notice, how many more were around? How many people had seen this description of Jordan? How many of them wanted the great amount of money he would bring?
Filled with panic, Libby started walking as fast as she could without calling attention to herself. Jordan and Caleb needed to be warned.
They were less than a block apart when Libby came up behind a man who looked familiar. A tall hat hid his face and hair. Short and wiry, he moved as if he would act quickly on anything he set out to do.
Each time Caleb and Jordan stopped, the man also stopped. Whenever they walked on, he stayed just the right distance behind. Because Libby had done the same thing herself, she couldn’t help but notice.
With growing uneasiness, she edged closer. The man wore an expensive suit and carried a cane with a gold handle.
Seeing it, Libby’s stomach tightened with dread. The next time the man stopped, she edged forward enough to see his face. As though doing cartwheels, her stomach turned over.
The slave trader, Riggs! Jordan’s owner!
Then Riggs moved on.
What’s he waiting for?
Libby wondered in panic.
Does he want more men to help him capture Jordan?
When Riggs stopped to look into a store window, Libby hurried around him. Walking fast, she turned a corner soon after Jordan. The minute she was out of the trader’s sight, Libby broke into a run.
“Where’s Caleb?” she asked when she caught up to Jordan.
Jordan tipped his head toward a store.
“Find him!” Libby commanded. “Hurry!”
When Jordan stepped inside the store, Libby followed a few moments later. Near the front were several people. Caleb stood with them, as though waiting to talk to the storekeeper.
When Caleb saw Libby and Jordan, he walked to the back of the store where there weren’t any people. Libby hurried after him while Jordan took a different aisle.
“Caleb,” Libby whispered when she reached him.
A frown crossed his face. “What are you doing here?”
“There’s something you need to know.”
“Go back to the
Christina
. You can’t follow us.”
“Riggs is outside,” Libby answered as Jordan joined them.
“Riggs?” Jordan’s eyes widened.
Caleb wasn’t so quick to believe Libby. “Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t forget that man for anything.”
“Then tell me what he looks like.” Caleb sounded as if he still didn’t trust her.
Kneeling down, Libby pulled out pencil and paper and used the floor to make a sketch. With quick sure strokes she drew the tall hat, the deep lines of the man’s face, then his cruel eyes.
“That’s Riggs, all right,” Caleb said.
“And look!” Libby pulled out the reward notice.
As Caleb read the notice, Jordan watched the
Around Libby, the streets seemed alive with excitement. Men, women, and children hurried in or out of stores. Now and then Caleb stopped at one of them to ask questions. Always Jordan waited outside, mingling with whatever people were around. When Caleb moved on, Jordan followed a short distance apart.
Tall and straight, he walked as though sure of where he was going. More than once, heads turned as people watched him. It didn’t bother Libby until she spied a piece of paper lying on the ground. She snatched it up.
$200.00 Reward.
Runaway from the subscriber,
a black boy named
JORDAN PARKER,
about 15 or 16 years of age, about six feet tall, last seen wearing tattered cotton shirt and faded blue pants. It is presumed he will make for Iowa or Illinois. I will give one hundred dollars if taken in the State of Missouri, or above reward if taken outside that State and held for me …
As Libby glanced at the bottom of the notice, the name Riggs leaped up at her. Without reading the rest, she stuffed the paper in her pocket. Even if an abolitionist pulled down this notice, how many more were around? How many people had seen this description of Jordan? How many of them wanted the great amount of money he would bring?
Filled with panic, Libby started walking as fast as she could without calling attention to herself. Jordan and Caleb needed to be warned.
They were less than a block apart when Libby came up behind a man who looked familiar. A tall hat hid his face and hair. Short and wiry, he moved as if he would act quickly on anything he set out to do.
Each time Caleb and Jordan stopped, the man also stopped. Whenever they walked on, he stayed just the right distance behind. Because Libby had done the same thing herself, she couldn’t help but notice.
With growing uneasiness, she edged closer. The man wore an expensive suit and carried a cane with a gold handle.
Seeing it, Libby’s stomach tightened with dread. The next time the man stopped, she edged forward enough to see his face. As though doing cartwheels, her stomach turned over.
The slave trader, Riggs! Jordan’s owner!
Then Riggs moved on.
What’s he waiting for?
Libby wondered in panic.
Does he want more men to help him capture Jordan?
When Riggs stopped to look into a store window, Libby hurried around him. Walking fast, she turned a corner soon after Jordan. The minute she was out of the trader’s sight, Libby broke into a run.
“Where’s Caleb?” she asked when she caught up to Jordan.
Jordan tipped his head toward a store.
“Find him!” Libby commanded. “Hurry!”
When Jordan stepped inside the store, Libby followed a few moments later. Near the front were several people. Caleb stood with them, as though waiting to talk to the storekeeper.
When Caleb saw Libby and Jordan, he walked to the back of the store where there weren’t any people. Libby hurried after him while Jordan took a different aisle.
“Caleb,” Libby whispered when she reached him.
A frown crossed his face. “What are you doing here?”
“There’s something you need to know.”
“Go back to the
Christina
. You can’t follow us.”
“Riggs is outside,” Libby answered as Jordan joined them.
“Riggs?” Jordan’s eyes widened.
Caleb wasn’t so quick to believe Libby. “Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t forget that man for anything.”
“Then tell me what he looks like.” Caleb sounded as if he still didn’t trust her.
Kneeling down, Libby pulled out pencil and paper and used the floor to make a sketch. With quick sure strokes she drew the tall hat, the deep lines of the man’s face, then his cruel eyes.
“That’s Riggs, all right,” Caleb said.
“And look!” Libby pulled out the reward notice.
As Caleb read the notice, Jordan watched the
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