You look into your wife's eyes and you both begin to cry. "What if they sell one of us? "We are young and healthy".

The thought of your wife being sold hits home. A young female slave would fetch at least $1,500.

You are young and in your prime as well, which means you could most certainly be one of the first to be picked.

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You discuss possible escape plans that all seem impossibly dangerous. All slaves must wear identification tags with their name and owner. In addition, all slaves must have papers with special permission for slaves to travel outside of the plantation. The roads are patrolled day and night by policeman and slave catchers who are after the big rewards offered for the return of escaped slaves. Even some blacks secretly work as informants about possible plots to escape. Any plan must be carefully kept secret. You can trust no one.

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One plan involves move from safehouse to safehouse along the Underground Railroad until you reach the free city of Philadelphia where a group of Quakers will take you to Canada. This route could take a month.

 

The other plan is more risky but quicker and much less dangerous. Ellen is very fair skinned and could pass as a white slave owner. If you somehow could forge the papers you could easily board a train and simply ride your way to freedom. You know that some abolitionists nearby create fake travel papers but you have no idea how to contact them.