"And children?" Polly asked.

"Why not? It is dark and you surprised me."

"He is soldier," Amari said, her voice low.

"Now, that is a fact," the man replied in agreement as he stumbled on the road. "Soy un cabo en el ejercito del rey-I am a corporal in the army of His Majesty King Philip V. Of course, I have never met the king, but who am I to question kings and generals?" He burped again. "Greetings to you from mi pas de Espaa-my beloved home country of Spain."

"You are Spanish?" Polly asked suspiciously. She wished she could speak the language.

"And most proud of it, my dear. And missing my home mightily." He sighed. "I am Domingo Salvador, just another lonely soldier from Madrid."

"So why you grab the child?" Amari asked him angrily.

"The night frightens me. He could have been a bear. Tuve miedo-I was afraid," the soldier admitted, seeming to cower from Amari's words.

"I not no bear," Tidbit stated, sounding mildly insulted. Then he giggled.

"What are you children doing out here a media-in the middle of the night?" the soldier asked.

Polly replied with another question. "Where are the rest of the soldiers in your company, and why are you out here alone at night?"

"They are asleep, but we patrol the area for English troops and runaways. Me, I would rather be home with my Maria. We had just married when I was called to this service." He swatted at his arm. "All I have for company are los mosquitos y las memorias." He belched once more.

"What do you do with runaways?" Polly asked carefully.

The soldier looked at Polly with bleary eyes. "Officially, runaways do not exist until they leave the colonies. But once they cross El Ro del Santa Mara-the St. Marys River-we help them to St. Augustine. King Philip does not believe in slavery of any kind," he told them proudly.

"Which way to this river?" Amari asked warily.

"Just two days' journey down this road," the soldier replied. "Why do you ask? You be fugitivos, runaways?"

"Of course not," Polly said. "Maybe you are intoxicated after all. I am returning to my home from a visit to my grandfather's house."

The young soldier replied. "I am sorry to have frightened you."

"Go back to your company, Corporal Salvador," Polly told him, "and I will not tell my father that I saw you on the road."

"Oh, gracias, thank you, seorita," the soldier replied as he smoothed out his uniform. "On the morrow I will believe you were all in mi sueo-my dream." He then looked at Polly seriously. "Be very careful, seorita. The soldiers of the English are cruel and dangerous. The river you need to cross is not far."

"Thank you, sir," Polly said, realizing he was not as simple as he looked.

The Spanish soldier looked at the three children and smiled. "The place you seek, my children, is called Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose. The English call it Fort Mose. It is two miles north of St. Augustine."

Sounding suspicious, Amari spoke up. "What you know 'bout that place?"

Corporal Salvador sat down in the middle of the road. "It is muy pequeo-very small. Only about a hundred people live there-just a few families. But they own the land they work on, and ellos son libres-they are free-to do as they please," he added quietly.

"What are the people there like?" Polly asked.

"Mostly freed slaves. Some white folk-mostly Spaniards, espaoles. Lots of Indians from different tribes-Creek, Seminole, Cherokee-all living together. There is nothing like it en todo el mundo-in all the world."

"White soldiers in charge?" Amari asked.

The Spanish soldier laughed. "Actually, no. El capitn of the fort is Francisco Menendez, a black man. He was once un esclavo-a slave."

Amari looked impressed.

"Of course, I know you are not interested in this place and simply returning home to your father," the soldier continued, "but if you should ever be in that location, you would find churches-Catholic, of course-shops, gardens, and simple homes. Lots of nios-children-as well." He looked at Tidbit, who scooted behind Amari.

"You are right, sir," Polly said, continuing the pretense that none of them knew what they were actually discussing. "My father must be worried by now. I must be on my way."

Corporal Salvador saluted the small group of travelers and told them gently, "Buena suerte-good luck, my children. Vaya con Dios-may you go with God." With that, he disappeared back off the road and in the direction of his camp.

"It be real!" Amari said with excitement in her voice. "We must hurry."

"No streets of gold, however," Polly warned. "Not that I believed Cato, anyway."

"Streets of free," Amari whispered. "Much more better." She was grinning.

PART ELEVEN.

AMARI.

39. CROSSING THE RIVER.

THE NEXT MORNING BROUGHT THE SUN, brightly illuminating not only the road, but also Amari's spirits. She could barely contain her nervous anticipation, with images of neatly cobbled streets surrounded by safe stone walls dancing in her head.

"We must be very close to the river," Polly surmised. "I can't wait! Do you think we dare to travel during the day?"

"Yes, we find it now," Amari said as she stretched her arms up to the sun. They hadn't eaten since yesterday morning, and she felt drained and shaky. And in spite of her determination and excitement at being so close to their destination, she couldn't erase the reality that for now the three of them were hungry and thoroughly exhausted. She stumbled as she tried to walk a few paces, then she sat back down on the side of the road.

"Are you are all right, Amari?" Polly asked with concern. "Get back up on the wagon."

"Just tired," Amari replied, but she climbed up without protest, holding on to Polly's hand for support.

"We gotta find something to eat!" Tidbit reminded them.

Amari rummaged in the wagon to see if any food remained. She found one small pouch full of berries. She gave them all to Tidbit. So, when they came across a grove of wild apple trees, Amari could hardly keep herself from shouting with joy. All of them-even Hushpuppy-filled up on the sweet fruit as they crouched as far from the road as they could.

That evening they finally reached the banks of the St. Marys River. It lay dark and smooth ahead of them. The moon shone brightly, illuminating the scene. Cypress trees decorated the edges, their branches and roots leaning over as though welcoming them. Amari thrilled at the sight; it hardly seemed possible that they could be so close to freedom.

Tidbit looked at the river fearfully. "I scared of gators, Amari," he said, pulling away. "This water be real deep."

"You got good reason," Amari replied, remembering that awful day. "But I take care of you."

"I don't see any alligators," Polly said, "but that doesn't mean they're not there. Lots of snapping turtles, though. Look!" She pointed to the gray-black rocklike creatures that moved lazily in the sandy mud on the bank of the river.

"Too far to swim," Amari admitted.

"It's very wide," Polly agreed. "How will we cross it?"

Amari replied, "We come too far to stop now." She could see flickering lights in the distance, indicating settlements or garrisons of soldiers or, maybe, Fort Mose. Her heartbeat quickened.

"We need a boat," Polly replied.

The horse, which had been eating the soft greens that grew by the riverside, whinnied softly. He shook his thick mane and ventured into the shallows to drink.

"Can horse swim?" Amari asked with sudden inspiration.

Polly looked dubious. "Sure, but the river looks awfully wide."

"Maybe we just wish we be across," Amari countered. "We gotta try." She unharnessed the horse from the wagon.

"We gonna ride across the river on back of Brownie?" Tidbit asked, jumping up and down.

"Suppose we fall off?" Polly wanted to know.

"S'pose gator get me?" Tidbit added.

Amari took a deep breath. "We not gonna give up now," she said. She patted Brownie on his neck, grabbed his mane, and pulled herself slowly to his back. The horse didn't seem to mind.

So Amari then pulled Polly up, who reached down for Tidbit. Polly placed Tidbit snugly between them, hugging him tightly. Even though Amari had never ridden a horse before, she found she was not afraid. Slowly, she nudged the horse to the water's edge, all the while watching for alligators or other predators.

The horse clearly loved being in the water. He pulled with all of his might to get free of the shallows, then he seemed to relax as the water became deep enough for him to swim. Hushpuppy swam deftly beside them.

Amari noticed the horse was moving his legs as if he were galloping, heading confidently to the other side of the river. The three riders were wet up to their waists, but the horse was strong and steady, and they did not slip into the water.

"This be fun!" Tidbit cried exultantly as they moved silently on the dark water. He still peered to each side, however, checking for alligators.

Amari held her breath, the excitement almost more than she could bear. Freedom lay on the distant sandy bank of this river. No one spoke. The moon shone brightly, making everything seem to glow.

Hushpuppy reached the shore first and immediately began shaking water off his fur. When the horse pulled the children up onto the sandy beach, Tidbit jumped off right away and cheerfully ran on the wet sand.

Amari jumped off next, hugging Tidbit with joy. "We be free, little one. Free!" She danced around the beach area, swinging Tidbit in the air.

Polly joined in, and Tidbit giggled with glee. Hushpuppy, however, began whimpering. Then he gave a nervous growl.

Amari paused and looked with concern at the dog. Though she couldn't see what was upsetting Hushpuppy, she instinctively grabbed Tidbit's hand and led him away from the shore. Amari turned to warn Polly when she saw it. "Look out, Polly!" Amari yelled hoarsely. Polly turned her head. "Gator!"

The alligator, close to ten feet long, moved with unbelievable speed, but Polly was even faster. She shrieked and scrambled away up the riverbank. The sound of the alligator's jaws snapping together on nothing but air encouraged all three of them to run wildly into the edge of the woods.

Breathing heavily, Polly asked, "Is it gone?"

"It be gone," Amari said as she looked back to where they had run from and scanned the water's edge. "Gators not go far from water."

"I be so scared, I almost pee!" Tidbit admitted.

Safe and feeling truly free, the three travelers sat down on the ground and laughed and laughed and laughed.

40. TIME TO MEET THE FUTURE.

THEY SLEPT THE REST OF THAT NIGHT UNDER a tangle of branches that might have been left by a storm. They woke to warblers singing, making melody with a red and black woodpecker that tapped a beat on the trunk of a tree.

Amari stretched, then announced, "Today we go to find Fort Mose. It is time."

"We gonna find food there?" Tidbit asked, rubbing his tummy.

Polly grinned happily. "I expect so! Time to meet the future," she said.

"How long this gonna take?" Tidbit asked.

"Not sure," Amari replied. She knew they were close, but she had no idea whether it would take two days or two weeks to arrive at Fort Mose. Overcome with the enormous thought of finally reaching their destination, Amari felt herself filling up with emotion. She wanted to shout, scream, jump-they had finally arrived!

The three of them climbed back up on the old horse, then headed due south. Amari felt comfortable as the horse ambled slowly through the thick stands of palm trees that shadowed them, for they reminded her of the palm trees in her homeland so far away.

She slid off the horse with Tidbit and walked for a few miles.

"What this place be like, Amari?" Tidbit asked. He alternated between running off to chase the dog and returning to hold her hand.

"Don't know for sure. People be kind, I hope," she replied.

"What if they don't like us?" Tidbit continued as he tossed a stick to Hushpuppy.

"Who not like you?" Amari said to him with a laugh. "You be such a clever little boy."