You chose to rest up by staying one more night at the Ye Olde York Valley Inn.
Tired and weary, Margaret decided to stay an extra night at the Inn. It had been a long journey, so Margaret felt that she needed the extra rest and the Inn has plenty of extra food, so she could catch a bite while there.
It is midnight and Margaret was told to avoid main roads, so her best route is to stay south of Market Street. There are plenty of trees and bushes to use for cover in case she sees anyone suspicious, but everything looks pretty safe. If she see anyone suspicious, she can duck out and hide.
Finally, Hellam is coming up and Margaret just has to find the house with a huge buttonwood tree in front. There it is... hopefully they can provide safety.
I knock once... no one answers.
I knock twice... no one answers.
I knock a third time... finally a man cracks the door slightly.
Leah Heistand peeks through the opening and says, "Ma'am, I can't let you in. A man by the name of Edward Prigg stopped by here earlier... he said he was looking for a fugitive slave. He had a warrant for the arrest of a Margaret Moore. If I allow you in, I put my family in jeopardy. I can't do that to them."
Margaret responds, "But please, Ma'am, I have nowhere else to go. I am tired and I need your help. Please, Ma'am, can you assist a tired young woman?"
Leah: "You must go back to where you came from. This place is not safe. It is not safe for me, and it is not safe for you. Please... that is all for now." And Leah closes the door on me, leaving me out in the cold night.
Margaret: (To herself) I don't want to go back. I can't go back. I have made it this far already. I've heard that there are others that can help. William Wright, I believe, is the man's name. He lives on the river. I have to take my shot. It can't be far from here.
So Margaret takes off, following the tree line again and keeping a keen eye out for anyone on the streets. Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes... how far can the river be from here? Finally... there's the bridge. There is a large house in the distance with candles in the windows. Can it be? The Wright family is sure to provide Margaret some assistance.
One problem... Market Street. I have to make it across the road without being spotted. Lucky for Margaret, no one seems to be out this evening. She makes a break for it. At least if they see her they'll have to catch her.
"Margaret, there's no sense in running. There's no getting away." Edward Prigg calls out from behind a tree.
Margaret doesn't stop. She tries to lose him.
Prigg takes off... he is catching up. Margaret can't seem to lose him. She ducks out behind an outhouse and in the distance there is a huge tree surrounded by bushes; she leaps for it.
"Margaret, I can see you back there! Come out from behind the tree." Prigg calls out.
Prigg approaches. Her cover didn't hide her for long, as Prigg grabs Margaret by the arm and yanks her out of the bush.
Margaret: (To herself) Well, I tried, and someday I will try again. They can't keep me in bondage forever.
It is midnight and Margaret was told to avoid main roads, so her best route is to stay south of Market Street. There are plenty of trees and bushes to use for cover in case she sees anyone suspicious, but everything looks pretty safe. If she see anyone suspicious, she can duck out and hide.
Finally, Hellam is coming up and Margaret just has to find the house with a huge buttonwood tree in front. There it is... hopefully they can provide safety.
I knock once... no one answers.
I knock twice... no one answers.
I knock a third time... finally a man cracks the door slightly.
Leah Heistand peeks through the opening and says, "Ma'am, I can't let you in. A man by the name of Edward Prigg stopped by here earlier... he said he was looking for a fugitive slave. He had a warrant for the arrest of a Margaret Moore. If I allow you in, I put my family in jeopardy. I can't do that to them."
Margaret responds, "But please, Ma'am, I have nowhere else to go. I am tired and I need your help. Please, Ma'am, can you assist a tired young woman?"
Leah: "You must go back to where you came from. This place is not safe. It is not safe for me, and it is not safe for you. Please... that is all for now." And Leah closes the door on me, leaving me out in the cold night.
Margaret: (To herself) I don't want to go back. I can't go back. I have made it this far already. I've heard that there are others that can help. William Wright, I believe, is the man's name. He lives on the river. I have to take my shot. It can't be far from here.
So Margaret takes off, following the tree line again and keeping a keen eye out for anyone on the streets. Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes... how far can the river be from here? Finally... there's the bridge. There is a large house in the distance with candles in the windows. Can it be? The Wright family is sure to provide Margaret some assistance.
One problem... Market Street. I have to make it across the road without being spotted. Lucky for Margaret, no one seems to be out this evening. She makes a break for it. At least if they see her they'll have to catch her.
"Margaret, there's no sense in running. There's no getting away." Edward Prigg calls out from behind a tree.
Margaret doesn't stop. She tries to lose him.
Prigg takes off... he is catching up. Margaret can't seem to lose him. She ducks out behind an outhouse and in the distance there is a huge tree surrounded by bushes; she leaps for it.
"Margaret, I can see you back there! Come out from behind the tree." Prigg calls out.
Prigg approaches. Her cover didn't hide her for long, as Prigg grabs Margaret by the arm and yanks her out of the bush.
Margaret: (To herself) Well, I tried, and someday I will try again. They can't keep me in bondage forever.