Slaves escaping to the North faced dangerous journeys. Runaways traveled in darkness with slave catchers hot on their trail, but the Underground Railroad provided a beacon of hope and safety for thousands of African Americans. This network of courageous people, men and women, both black and white, assisted slaves in their escape from bondage. "Conductors," like Harriet Tubman, risked recapture in the South guiding slaves to freedom. Readers will follow R. Conrad Stein as he explores the formation of this anti-slavery escape network and the people who made it happen.