Jump Ship to Freedom

Daniel Arabus was born a slave, and now 14 he faces the life of being owned and used for work. Having a father who fought in the revolution, only he got his freedom, and was unable to get Daniel nor his mother free. Though drowning at sea later, he left war notes worth over 600 dollars. The one thing that would ensure their freedom. Stealing them back by faking a fire, he keeps them with him as he continues to work for his owner Mr. Ivers on the boat.

Later, getting caught, Mr. Ivers, Daniel tried to lie, only resulting in punishment on top of punishment which lead to him having to strip in front of the crew, ashamed. After searching them fruitlessly, they decided he was being truthful, and told him he was sailing with them to New York for trading.

During sailing, a storm brewed up, lightning striking the hull with a sudden burst, destroying the hull in less than seconds. It was bad luck for some, but for Daniel, it was good. Sailing to New York the rest of the way, this opportunity was the one that would save him and his mother. It would give Daniel the chance to sell his fathers notes, and earn his freedom.

As the ship got closer and closer to the dock, Daniel snuck off the deck, moving his way towards the Oxen area of the ship, ready to jump ship to freedom with the soldier notes, only to have Captain Ivers ruin the plan. Catching him searching for the notes, Daniel makes a run for it, ending up snatched up by the Captain, and trapped in the Captains Quarters.

An idea began to spark in his mind, a plan formulating so he would get out of the mess he had gotten into. The suspicion of Captain Ivers selling him made his need for escape greater, and he finally grabbed the oil lamp in front of him, showering sparks from a rock he had grabbed, and set the room on fire. Breaking the window and yelling for help, he got out, jumping off the ship, but leaving the notes on the ship on accident.

Swimming towards Bedloe's Island about five hundred yards off, he finally arrived. Asking for a ride to Manhattan, he was questioned , and of course Daniel began to lie. Though the wrong words were said and he was found out, though another lie was told, and the drunk man believed him. Telling him he was from a different ship and got drunk and fell overboard, he began to sail Daniel across the harbor and into the East River, to Manhattan.

Not wanting to be caught by anyone, he asked where congress was only to get nothing, but some information about a friend of his fathers, and a place called Fraunces' Tavern. Lead there by a younger girl, he arrives in dismay to see he isn't there. Luckily, the younger girl promises to tell him as soon as he gets back, giving Daniel some hope after all.

Once he arrives, him and Daniel talk, only to have another stroke of bad luck strike as he finds out the people of Congress are gone to rewrite the articles of confederation.