Maternal love shields Eliza against her fear; she will not even put Harry down, though he is old enough to walk on his own. Eliza prays as she runs; she tells Harry she will not let Haley get him. Harry falls asleep, and the strength Eliza derives from her love drives her on, past the bounds of the Shelby property. She knows the road due to trips she had taken with Mrs. Shelby, but beyond that is unknown. She only slackens her pace when she realizes that acting frantic will only attract attention. Because of their light skin, Eliza reckons that it will be easier for her to pass as a white woman.

By sunset, they reach the Ohio River, “which lay, like Jordan, between her and the Canaan of liberty on the other side” (107). The river is clogged with rafts of ice.

They stop at a public house, where Eliza asks about the ferry crossing. She tells the hostess Harry is sick and they need to cross. Harry is utterly exhausted; the hostess, taking a liking to them, lets them lay down in a back room where they wait for a man who is planning to cross the river.