Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #[5]

In this poignant two-page story from Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #5, the executioner and the provost—two figures of authority—agree to delay Nathan Hale’s hanging so he can share a story about America’s darker chapters. With quiet resolve, Hale chooses to speak of slavery, weaving a narrative that confronts the nation’s painful past.

In this poignant chapter from Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, young Araminta—just six years old—faces the harsh reality of child labor in 19th-century England. Sent to work in grueling conditions, her frail health and inability to keep up lead to her being sent home, a moment that underscores the story's quiet, heartbreaking truth.

In "Chapter 3" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #5, young Araminta grapples with the heartbreak of her family being torn apart, finding quiet strength in the familiar story of Moses and the Israelites’ escape from bondage—a tale that echoes through her own struggle for freedom.

In "Chapter 5" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, young Araminta endures a brutal act of violence that leaves her brain damaged, her skull fractured by a lead weight. Despite the injury, she is forced back into the fields, a stark testament to the relentless cruelty of the system that demands her labor.

In "Chapter 6" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #5, Araminta—still grappling with the aftermath of a brain injury that brings sudden waves of sleep—pushes through her days working alongside her father on a lumber gang. Though her mind drifts into strange visions, she’s drawn to whispers of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that stirs in the shadows around her.

In this gripping chapter of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, young Araminta faces a terrifying threat when her brother Moses is to be sold, sparking a desperate act of defiance from their mother, Rittia. As tensions rise, Araminta crosses paths with John Tubman, a free Black man whose presence offers a fragile glimpse of hope amid the looming danger.

In "Chapter 9" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #5, Araminta, newly married to John Tubman, throws herself into the relentless work of saving money to buy her freedom. When she seeks legal advice, she learns a painful truth: her mother, though legally free, remains in bondage—still trapped by the cruel realities of the system.

In "Chapter 10" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #5, Araminta, desperate to buy her freedom, pushes herself to the brink—only to be shaken when her private prayer for Brodess’s death is answered. With Brodess’s estate in ruins, the family faces being sold off to settle debts, leaving Araminta to confront the weight of her own thoughts and the uncertain path ahead.

In "Chapter 11" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Araminta attempts to flee slavery with two of her brothers, driven by a fierce hope for freedom. When she collapses into a narcoleptic fit, they are forced to return, but not before she experiences vivid visions of soaring above the earth—free at last.

In "Chapter 12" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Araminta navigates a dangerous journey to freedom, aided by a quiet but determined network of allies. Once in Pennsylvania, she begins a new life under the name Harriet Tubman—though her story is far from over.

In "Chapter 13" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet, who finds joy in her hard-won freedom, feels the weight of separation as she longs for her family. When news of the harsh Fugitive Slave Law reaches her, she makes a determined decision to reunite them—no matter the risk.

In "Chapter 14" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet faces a painful truth when an African American barge captain shares the heartbreaking news that family members are being sold. Determined to act, she seeks a gun to fight for their freedom—turning to a secret dealer after a white shop owner refuses to sell her one.

In "Chapter 15" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet takes daring risks, using the Underground Railroad and her hard-won network of allies to make two perilous trips back into slave territory—each journey aimed at rescuing six loved ones. With courage and quiet determination, she moves through hidden routes and trusted hands, turning hope into action.

In "Chapter 16" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet, having learned her husband has remarried, makes the bold decision to lead nine others toward freedom. Determined to escape the growing dangers in Philadelphia, she secretly guides the group on a perilous journey to Rochester, New York, and the safe haven of Frederick Douglass’s home.

In "The Adventures of Tiny Frederick Douglass," young Frederick Douglass defies the odds, sneaking moments to read despite the dangers of being a child slave. With quiet courage, he stands up to a brutal slave-breaker, turning the tide with a fight that earns him respect—and freedom. His journey from hidden lessons to a life of writing, speaking out, and helping others escape unfolds with the same fierce determination that defined his real-life legacy.

In "Chapter 17" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet helps eleven escaped slaves begin a new life in Canada, then returns to guide six more friends and family to freedom—carefully keeping her role hidden from her mother while secretly communicating with her father.

In "The Rachel Rescue," Harriett faces a heart-wrenching choice as she tries to free her sister Rachel from bondage, only to learn Rachel won’t leave without first finding her children. Determined despite illness and pain, Harriett leads four men on a dangerous journey north, guided by courage and a promise that may not be fulfilled.

In "Chapter 19 The Rachel Rescue: Round Two," Harriet continues her relentless pursuit of freedom for Rachel and her children, leading a fragile group northward through perilous terrain. With a wounded but valuable fugitive among them, the stakes rise as fear and fatigue test their resolve—especially when one man dares to turn back.

In "Chapter 20" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet finds herself thrust into a dangerous journey when her father, Ben Ross, becomes entangled in a secret escape network. With no time to prepare, she must lead her elderly parents north, navigating the risks of the open road while her mother’s constant complaints weigh on her resolve.

In "The Rachel Rescue: Round Three," Jo finds herself trapped in hiding with her sister, with no clear path to freedom for the children. Though she offers guidance to other escaping slaves, a haunting vision of a coming war begins to shape her resolve.

In "Chapter 21" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet and John Brown bond over shared convictions, their connection deepening when she agrees to join his bold raid on Harpers Ferry—though fate or circumstance keeps her from being there when it unfolds. Later, she takes decisive action in her own right, leading a determined mob to free a captured fugitive slave by force.

In "The Rachel Rescue: Round Four," Harriet returns to the South with a heavy heart, only to learn her sister Rachel has passed. Though she cannot find Rachel’s children, she still guides another small group toward freedom, carrying forward the fight with quiet determination.

In "Chapter 22" of Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales, Harriet takes on the dangerous role of a Union spy and scout, leading a daring raid in South Carolina that liberates 800 enslaved people in one night. As the Civil War draws to a close, she returns to her home in Auburn, New York, seeking peace after years of courage and service.