“Come!”
He led them between the rocks and stooped to enter a cave. Inside was Kagi and in a niche in the wall was a lighted torch. There were boulders about, and at a sign from the old man they sat down—John Brown, Kagi, Shields Green and Frederick Douglass. They waited for Brown to speak. He did so, leaning forward and putting a thin, gnarled hand on Douglass’ knee.
“Douglass, we can wait no longer. Our move now must be a decisive one.”
Douglass was bitterly chiding himself. He should have come sooner. These last months had drained the old man’s strength. He needed help here. The dark man spoke gently.
“But you said the time to begin calling in the slaves would come after the crops are gathered, as the Christmas approaches. Then many can get away without being missed right away. Is your ammunition distributed? Are your stations ready to receive and defend the fugitives?”
John Brown shook his head.
“No. We are not ready with all that.” He drew a long breath, and it was obvious it caused him pain. “You were right about Hugh Forbes,” he said then. “He has deserted us and,” Brown hesitated, hating to say it, “I fear he has talked.”
Douglass’ face expressed his shock. Why had he not strangled the tinseled fool with his own hands?
“We are being watched: my men are certain of it. At any moment we may be arrested. Don’t forget, I’m still an outlaw in Kansas.” He added the last dryly, almost indifferently. Then suddenly the flame flared. John Brown was on his feet, his head lifted. He shook back his white hair.
“But God is with us! He has delivered the gates into our hands! We hold the key to the Allegheny Mountains. They stand here, our sure and safe defense!”