Five
T hat same evening after supper, Papa said, ‘Listen.’ He looked very tired and serious. ‘Children, listen to me.’ Three pairs of eyes fixed on him attentively. Papa was a simple man, of few words; he wasn’t in the habit of making speeches. That evening, clearly, he had something important to say.
‘When the stranger, Peg Leg Joe, comes back, we’ll leave with him on a long journey. Sammy and his young wife Sarah will come with us too. No one else must know. Peg Leg Joe will be our guide. He knows a secret road which others have travelled before us and he’ll lead us to the country Canada where we’ll be free.’
Papa paused, wanting to say something more, but it wasn’t easy to find the words. Mamma reached across the wooden table and squeezed his hand.
‘Yes,’ said Papa. ‘Let’s all hold
