Race for Freedom by Lois Walfrid Johnson

Author:Lois Walfrid Johnson [Johnson, Lois Walfrid]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-8024-8652-3
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Published: 2013-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

When they reached the Christina, Libby learned that the famous captain Daniel Smith Harris hadn’t arrived. A big part of Libby felt glad. If the four-time winner wasn’t part of the race, Pa would have a better chance. Yet Libby knew her father had looked forward to seeing his friend.

The next morning, Libby woke with a start. The Christina was moving! Did that mean the race was on?

Quickly Libby dressed and hurried out to the hurricane deck. Far above, the tall stacks belched smoke. On the decks below, passengers crowded the railings, straining for the best view.

With paddle wheels churning the cold, dark water, the Christina steamed upriver to the great wide spot called Lake Pepin. “Maybe this is the day the lake will open!” Libby exclaimed when Caleb sat down beside her on the deck.

“I just want your pa to win!” he said. “Think how exciting that would be!”

Libby hardly dared dream about what winning could mean to her father. All summer long the Christina went back and forth between St. Louis and St. Paul. If Pa won the race, the Christina could dock in St. Paul during the entire season without paying.

As the Christina drew near the great mass of ice blocking the river channel, Libby watched closely. In the early morning light, the ice looked gray and soft and spongy. But the ice was stronger than it looked.

Three other daring boats were ahead of them. One was the War Eagle, and Libby saw Captain Kingman wave to Pa. Another was the Galena with Captain Laughton. His pilot, Stephen Hanks, grinned down at Caleb.

“Is he a friend of yours?” Libby asked.

“Talked to him last night,” Caleb said. “He’s first cousin to a senator from Illinois. Man by the name of Abraham Lincoln.”

Just then the Christina slowed her paddles and butted her bow against the ice. The jolt passed through the boat and into Libby. On the deck below, the crowd cheered.

Again and again the Christina’s pilot stopped, reversed the paddle wheels, pulled back, then started forward again. Again and again the Christina butted into the ice. Finally it divided, making a narrow pathway. When the Christina steamed into the open water, the crowd raised a shout.

Before long the ice closed again. No amount of pushing against it would break it open. Finally Captain Norstad gave the order to return to Reads Landing. As the Christina backed stern first out of the narrow channel, Libby felt the sharp knife of disappointment.

Caleb looked just as discouraged. “Maybe tomorrow,” he said.

But Libby knew that the other boats had already gone out every day for a week.

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