Baggage: Escaping slaves

Bundles of wood: Fugitives to be expected

Canaan - Canada

Drinking gourd - Big Dipper and the North star

Forwarding: Taking fugitive slaves from station to station

Freedom Train: The Underground Railroad

Gospel Train: The Underground Railroad

Heaven or Promised land - Canada

Load of Potatoes: Escaping slaves hidden under the farm produce in a wagon

Moses: Harriet Tubman

Parcel: Fugitives to be expected

Preachers - leaders, speakers underground railroad

River Jordan: The Mississippi

Shepherds - people escorting slaves

Station - place of safety and temporary refuge, safe-house

Station Master - keeper of safe-house

Stockholder - donor of money, clothing, or food to the Underground Railroad

"The wind blows from the South today": A warning to Underground Railroad workers that fugitive slaves were in the area.

"When the sun comes back and the first quail calls": A particular time of year good for escaping (early spring)

"The river bank makes a mighty good road": A reminder that the tracking dogs can't follow the scent through the water.

"The dead trees will show you the way": A reminder that moss grows on the NORTH side of dead trees (just in case the

stars aren't visible)

"Left foot, peg foot": A visual clue for escapees left by an Underground Railroad worker famous because of his wooden leg.

"The river ends between two hills": A clue for the directions to the Ohio River

"A friend with friends" - A password used to signal arrival of fugitives with Underground Railroad conductor

"The friend of a friend sent me" - a password used by fugitives traveling alone to indicate they were sent by the Underground Railroad network

"Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus" (words to a song) - used to alert other slaves that an escape attempt was coming up

Greenwood, Barbara. The Last Safe House. Buffalo, NY: Kids Can Press, 1998