When winter draws near, how will the Christina escape the untimely, fast-approaching ice storm? In the dark of night come the rapid strokes of the ship’s bell, dense fog, and the slap of paddlewheels against water—and then the whistle screams a warning. A steamboat’s coming too fast, too close. Run! Out of the darkness and danger come the piercing notes of a gifted fiddler. His face seems to hold a secret. What is the fiddler’s challenge for the Freedom Seekers of every place and time? How will the Freedom Seekers answer Captain Norstad’s questions: “What is most important to you? What do you really want?” From the golden age of steamboats, the rush of immigrants to new lands, and the dangers of the Underground Railroad come true-to-life stories of courage, integrity, and suspense in the Freedom Seekers series. When winter draws near, how will the Christina escape the untimely, fast-approaching ice storm? In the dark of night come the rapid strokes of the ship’s bell, dense fog, and the slap of paddlewheels against water—and then the whistle screams a warning. A steamboat’s coming too fast, too close. Run! Out of the darkness and danger come the piercing notes of a gifted fiddler. His face seems to hold a secret. What is the fiddler’s challenge for the Freedom Seekers of every place and time? How will the Freedom Seekers answer Captain Norstad’s questions: “What is most important to you? What do you really want?” From the golden age of steamboats, the rush of immigrants to new lands, and the dangers of the Underground Railroad come true-to-life stories of courage, integrity, and suspense in the Freedom Seekers series. LOIS WALFRID JOHNSON is a speaker, teacher of writing, and former instructor for Writer's Digest School. She is the author of 38 books, including Girl Talk , the Gold Medallion Book Award winning Let's-Talk-About-It Stories for Kids series, the bestselling Adventures of the Northwoods mysteries, and the much-loved Riverboat Adventures. In her exciting Viking Quest series Lois' characters travel from Ireland to Norway, Iceland, and Greenland, then sail with Leif Erickson to what is now America. Lois' husband, Roy, is a gifted teacher and idea person for her writing. They enjoy time with their family, friends, and readers who have written from more than 40 countries to say, "I love your books. I can't put them down." The Fiddler's Secret By Lois Walfrid Johnson Moody Publishers Copyright © 2013 Lois Walfrid Johnson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8024-0721-4 Contents 1. Night of Fear, 2. Secret Face, 3. Big Bullies, 4. Shadow Man!, 5. Safe and Free?, 6. Libby's Drawing, 7. Where Is It?, 8. The Pawnshop, 9. Mr. Trouble, 10. Thieves!, 11. Riggs!, 12. Dreaded Friend, 13. Libby's Big Fumble, 14. Danger Stranger!, 15. The Worst?, 16. Nasty Surprise, 17. Where's Annika?, 18. Ice Storm, 19. Swede Hollow, 20. Samson Again, 21. Trapped!, 22. Eagles' Wings, Study Guide, Sign Language Chart: How to Finger Spell the Alphabet, A Few Words for Educators, The Fiddler's Secret Folks, Acknowledgments, Excerpt from Raiders from the Sea (Viking Quest), CHAPTER 1 Night of Fear * * * In the dark of night, Libby Norstad suddenly woke up. Where am I? She wondered as she struggled to think. What woke me? A dream? A nightmare? Whatever the cause, Libby shivered with fear. Soon after midnight her father's steamboat had left Galena, Illinois, heading up the Mississippi River. But now Libby felt no movement, heard no engines or slap of paddle wheels against the water. It's quiet. Too quiet. Even the night air felt heavy and strange. Then from near at hand the ship's bell broke the silence. As rapid strokes rang out, then stopped, Libby knew it was a signal. What's wrong? she wondered. What happened? Where's Pa? With a trembling heart, she leaped up and changed into her dress. As she stepped onto the deck outside her room, the cold fingers of fog seemed to clutch her. Libby gasped. Without thinking, she stretched out her hands to feel the way. As she peered into the darkness, she could not see even eight feet ahead. "Pa!" she cried in terror. "Where are you?" Her hand against the outer wall of her room, Libby crept forward. When she reached her father's cabin at the front of the Christina, it was empty. Feeling as if she were sleepwalking, Libby turned around and started back. Silly! she told herself, ashamed of her fear. I'm on my father's boat. Why am I afraid? But the bell rang again, cutting through the ragged edges of her nerves. Forcing herself to be calm, she headed for the stairway. In the four years after her mother's death, Libby had stayed with her aunt in a Chicago mansion. For the past five months Libby had been with her father. In that August of 1857, she was still learning to face the dangers of living on a steamboat. I want to be strong, she thought. But I just feel scared! When Libby reached the deck below, it was even