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“What I meant was... losing Bellevue means we’ll have to leave some of these poor people behind.”
“So, the hiding of my people should be placed on mon homme’s head only?”
“You can’t deny the importance of Bellevue as a key station,” Zach protested. “This is a big blow, not just for us, but for all those who’ve come to know Bellevue as a safe haven.”
“One man cannot hold up an entire village,” Jeb said firmly. “And like mon homme said, he will support the Movement, it just won’t be from here.”
“And we have no choice but to accept that,” Zach said. “But what this tells me is we have to seek new alliances, recruit people who can help us. Just recently, I received important correspondence from Adam Smith of the American Anti-Slavery Society. You all know his legal expertise. Adam was recently contacted by an anonymous, but wealthy benefactor who is very interested in helping us. He has practically written us a blank check.”
“Who is this man?” Abe asked, his tone sharp and direct.
Zach hesitated. “We don’t know for sure, but Adam thinks he knows who he is…a very prominent man in the New England area who would rather not have his name tied with our activities lest we get found out. At present, he’s merely awaiting our reply.”
Abe looked at Zach in disbelief. “You’ve been talking to outside people without consulting the group?”
“It’s not like that, Abe,” Zach said. “The man reached out to Adam who then reached out to me.”
“And how do we know this man isn’t a spy?”
“Adam would not have forwarded me this information without some knowledge of the man and his credentials.”
Abe stood up, clearly agitated. “You just said he doesn’t know the man’s name,” he said, his blue eyes blazing. “How does he know if the man even exists?”
“Of course he does.”
“But how does he know for sure?”
“Look, Adam has connections and they are legitimate,” Zach said. “But this gentleman swore him to secrecy. If you want proof, I have the letter that came to his office.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t have itnow,” Zach said in frustration.
Abe’s anger was growing. “I don’t trust letters. I like to know who I’m dealing and the only way to do that is face to face.”
Zach furrowed his brow. “This is a legitimate offer of help.”
“That youcan’tverify,” Abe said.
“We’ve gone this long without a betrayal.”
“It only takes one time.”
“Abe’s right,” I broke in. “We’ve avoided detection because of our caution. We can’t afford to start dealing with people we haven’t gotten to know.”
“Yes, especially with a phantom benefactor from the North,” he said.
Eleanor’s face hardened. “That’s the trouble I have with you, Abe,” she said. “You think you know it all, that you’re the only one who knows danger. Zach has been in the trenches long enough to know what he’s doing.”
“Have you ever seen what happens to negroes who get caught?”
“I know what they do.”
“No, have youseenwhat they do?” Abe asked. “Not the after effects, but everything that comes before? I have. After they drag these men behind a horse for miles, the slave owners then have them beat until their skin is nearly falling off the bones, where the blood flows so fast you need a bucket to catch it and—
“That’s enough, Abe,” Zach said.
Eleanor’s face was grief-stricken. “No one doubts your knowledge or experience,” she said to Abe, her voice cracking with emotion. “On the contrary, your contributions helped John Brown call attention to the injustices of slavery. He failed at Harper’s Ferry, but I believe he changed the course of history. Ironically, it was because ofanonymitythat you and the others were able to support him in his efforts. And he had to trust someone in order to make things happen. That’s all I’m saying.”
