If there was already in operation an organized scheme by means of which fugitives from this side of the great river were taken through to Canada, protected and assisted along the way by the friends of freedom, then all we would be required to do in this case would be to safely convey the unfortunate Rene and her mother in Pete's boat up the river, and there turn them over to the care of this Amos Shrunk.

Undoubtedly he could be trusted to see to it that they were promptly forwarded to others, fanatics like himself, who would swiftly pass them along at night across the Illinois prairies, until beyond all danger of pursuit.

Hundreds, no doubt, had traveled this route, and, once these two were in Shrunk's care our responsibility would be over with.

It was to me a vast relief to realize this.

The distance to the mouth of the Illinois could not be far, surely not to exceed fifty miles as the river ran.