Captive Heart: The James Mink Story

James Mink:
We have been to the Queen's militia, Lord Elgin, and to the American embassy and no one's been able to do a thing about it. Now then, I'm desperate. We need your help.

Lord Elgin:
Well of course. I'll file letters of protest with President Fillmore and the Governor of Virginia. [sighs] But apart from that, there's little I can do.

James Mink:
Are you saying that there's nothing you can do to get the Americans to co-operate?

Lord Elgin:
Mr. Mink, please try to understand. Our relations with the States is - strained at best. Now, giving refuge to their fugitive slaves hasn't helped matters. We're in no position to make strong demands against Washington. I'm sorry.

James Mink:
Lord Elgin, my daughter is being held against her will in a foreign country. Are you saying that the Governor General of Upper Canada is just going to *abandon* her!?

Elizabeth Mink:
James, we've taken enough of Lord Elgin's time.

James Mink:
We'll need lodging.

Risser:
You'll stay here tonight but from now on, you will travel *only* by day. [points to map] There are safe houses here, here and here. Make sure you reach them by sundown. When you get to Newcastle, find the Quaker church first thing, and the Minister there will help you the rest of the way.

James Mink:
Why the Quakers?

Risser:
Down South, Mr. Mink, belief in Jesus is no sure sign of goodness; except among the foot-washers.

James Mink:
So, Reverend, how far is this Clay plantation?

Rev. Eli Brennemen:
A good hour's ride from here.

James Mink:
Good. We can get there by nightfall.

Rev. Eli Brennemen:
Mr. Mink, I caution you about being too hasty. Getting a slave off a plantation is very dangerous. Before we do anything, we're going to need a plan.

James Mink:
Mary is not a slave, sir. And I already have a plan. We'll slip in there by nightfall, and we'll get Mary out.

Rev. Eli Brennemen:
You might manage that. You might even get her all the way back to town. But how do you plan to get out of Virginia with every marshal and slave catcher from here to the border looking for a fair-skinned runaway, a colored man and a white woman? Mr. Mink, if you're caught, *you* could be sold as a slave, and Elizabeth could be jailed. And you don't want to know what will happen to Mary if they have to send her back to the Clay plantation.

Elizabeth Mink:
Tell us what we must do.