Race for Freedom Read Free Page A

in the corner, a lantern glowed. Libby walked toward the light. Halfway across the room, she heard something behind her.
    Stepping aside, she ducked into a hollow between machinery. For three or four minutes, she waited and saw no movement. At last she moved on again.
    Suddenly a voice leaped out of the darkness. “Looking for something?”
    Filled with terror, Libby yelped. “Caleb Whitney!”
    Libby’s heart pounded with fright. Turning around, she fled. As she passed out of the engine room, she slammed the door and raced for the stairway at the front of the boat.
    The
Christina
was four decks high. From the main deck, Libby flew up a flight of stairs to the boiler deck, then up another stairway to the hurricane deck. From there it was only a few more steps to the texas deck and Libby’s own room.
    Standing outside the door, she drew a deep breath. “Caleb Whitney, how could you?” she exclaimed. “Just because you’re Pa’s cabin boy! Just because Pa trusts you more than most people! How can you be so mean?”
    Libby drew a deep breath. “I will
never
follow you again!”
    In that moment Libby realized she was talking out loud. She also understood something else.
That’s probably exactly what Caleb wants! That I don’t follow him!
    Lifting her head, Libby tossed her long hair again.
I’ll show him! Caleb is
not
going to scare me off!
    From the darkness Libby heard a soft woof. Ignoring Samson, her big Newfoundland dog, she took the stairs to the pilothouse two at a time. Samson followed close behind.
    While a young girl, Libby had often visited this small room at the top of the steamboat. Then her mother died, and Libby had stayed with her aunt in Chicago during four long years. Only a few weeks ago, Libby had come to live with her father on the
Christina
.
    As she opened the door to the pilothouse, Samson squeezed his way through. The pilot stood with his back to Libby at one side of the great wheel he used to steer the boat. Because of its size, part of the wheel went down through the floor.
    Turning toward Libby, Mr. Fletcher lifted his hand in greeting. As he looked back to the river, Libby moved forward. Standing out of the way, she gazed down beyond the bow of the steamboat.
    Ahead of them the great Mississippi River spread wide on both sides of the
Christina
. Libby breathed deeply and let the excitement she always felt flow into her. All her feeling for the river seemed to center here in the pilothouse.
    For as long as Libby could remember, she had loved the mighty waters, the shape of trees along the shore, the islands midstream. Always she had liked to travel, to see new places and things. On the river there was always something exciting around every bend.
    Yet Libby’s fears also centered here in the pilothouse. Steamboats exploded, caught fire, struck the hidden roots of old trees, and sank within minutes. Whenever Libby heard about a steamboat accident, she felt unwilling to face the idea that something could hurt Pa.
No!
she told herself.
Nothing will happen to him!
    In spite of that fear, Libby liked being with her father on the
Christina
. She had pushed her worries aside, believing that Pa could keep her safe. Having Jordan on board would bring a new kind of danger.
    Riggs will know where we are!
Libby remembered again.
All he has to do is find the
Christina
going upriver or down. And sooner or later, we’ll come into St. Louis where Riggs lives
.
    Libby’s stomach tightened into an uneasy knot.
When I know what Riggs might do, how can I possibly have courage
?
    As though sensing Libby’s thoughts, Samson pushed close. His wagging tail thumped against her leg. Bending down, Libby ran her fingers through his coat of long, black hair. When Samson’s tongue reached out to lick her hand, Libby dropped to her knees and threw her arms around his neck.
    When Libby stood up again, she felt strangely comforted. Yet the knot in her stomach was still there.

    The next morning Libby entered the