MONMOUTH — The heroes of Maine’s Underground Railroad from Portland north through Augusta, China, Bangor and Brewer are vital characters in a new novel — “True North: Tice’s Story” — by author and Monmouth resident Mark Alan Leslie, a former city editor at the Lewiston Sun.

Set in 1860, the historical novel follows the 19-year-old, God-fearing Tice as he runs from his master’s plantation in Maysville, Ky., and swims the Ohio River to Ripley, Ohio, where he is connected to a network of people who rush him northeastward toward New Brunswick. The ruthless and relentless Morgan, his master’s foreman, is constantly on his trail.

Along the way, Tice is aided by real historical people who were key “conductors” on the Underground Railroad, including Henry David Thoreau, who joins Tice from Newton to Andover, Mass.

When Tice crosses over into Maine, he is nearly caught by Morgan and when he reaches Portland, Morgan is already there, searching for him at Mariner’s Church and along the harborside, which was known for scurrying slaves onboard ships to escape.

This is the second historical novel by Leslie, who was raised in Scarborough and Brewer and lives in Monmouth with his wife, Loy.

“True North:” Tice’s Story is also available as an e-book from both www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.