Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/108

88 to obtain a warrant to arrest the Fugitives, while the others stood at the gangway to see if the Slaves came on shore in common with the passengers. In the meanwhile the captain gave the lookers-out (Abolitionists) to understand what was afloat. They took a yawl on the opposite side of the steamer, pitched them into it as though they were barrels of flour. On the opposite side of the river, is Canada; the Slaves rowed for their liberty, their eyes set on freedom's land, which, once reached, they were safe beneath British rule; they were filled both with joy and fear;—the approaching enemy behind them, and a land of liberty before them. The absentee returned with the Sheriff, looking this way and that way, his companions being unable to give any information as to the whereabouts of the Slaves, though others might, had they been so disposed. When the Slaves were half way across the river, fully out of danger, some gentlemen shouted out, "Are those your Niggers? I could have told you where they were before, had I known they were yours." The Slaveholder was very angry indeed. The captain very quietly informed him he had been paid the money to land there, which he had done according to contract, but he did not understand that he was to hold the Negroes and keep them from walking off, as other gentlemen do. While the altercation was going on a gentleman said to the Southerner, "They are not over yet, we may overtake them;