Thisdetestablecharacter，allwereunwillingtoassume。EverymanexceptSandy(he，muchtoourregret，withdrew)stoodfirm；

andatourlastmeetingwepledgedourselvesafresh，andinthemostsolemnmanner，that，atthetimeappointed，we_would_

certainlystartonourlongjourneyforafreecountry。Thismeetingwasinthemiddleoftheweek，attheendofwhichweweretostart。

Earlythatmorningwewent，asusual，tothefield，butwithheartsthatbeatquicklyandanxiously。Anyoneintimatelyacquaintedwithus，mighthaveseenthatallwasnotwellwithus，andthatsomemonsterlingeredinourthoughts。Ourworkthatmorningwasthesameasithadbeenforseveraldayspast——

drawingoutandspreadingmanure。Whilethusengaged，Ihadasuddenpresentiment，whichflasheduponmelikelightninginadarknight，revealingtothelonelytravelerthegulfbefore，andtheenemybehind。IinstantlyturnedtoSandyJenkins，whowasnearme，andsaidtohim，_“Sandy，wearebetrayed；_somethinghasjusttoldmeso。“Ifeltassureofit，asiftheofficerswerethereinsight。Sandysaid，“Man，datisstrange；butI

feeljustasyoudo。“Ifmymother——thenlonginhergrave——hadappearedbeforeme，andtoldmethatwewerebetrayed，Icouldnot，atthatmoment，havefeltmorecertainofthefact。

Inafewminutesafterthis，thelong，lowanddistantnotesofthehornsummonedusfromthefieldtobreakfast。Ifeltasonemaybesupposedtofeelbeforebeingledforthtobeexecutedforsomegreatoffense。Iwantednobreakfast；butIwentwiththeotherslavestowardthehouse，forform"ssake。Myfeelingswere<224>notdisturbedastotherightofrunningaway；onthatpointIhadnotrouble，whatever。Myanxietyarosefromasenseoftheconsequencesoffailure。

Inthirtyminutesafterthatvividpresentimentcametheapprehendedcrash。Onreachingthehouse，forbreakfast，andglancingmyeyetowardthelanegate，theworstwasatoncemadeknown。ThelanegateoffMr。Freeland"shouse，isnearlyahalfmilefromthedoor，andshadedbytheheavywoodwhichborderedthemainroad。Iwas，however，abletodescryfourwhitemen，andtwocoloredmen，approaching。Thewhitemenwereonhorseback，andthecoloredmenwerewalkingbehind，andseemedtobetied。_“Itisalloverwithus，“_thoughtI，_“wearesurelybetrayed_。“Inowbecamecomposed，oratleastcomparativelyso，andcalmlyawaitedtheresult。Iwatchedtheill-omenedcompany，tillIsawthementerthegate。Successfulflightwasimpossible，andImadeupmymindtostand，andmeettheevil，whateveritmightbe；forIwasnotwithoutaslighthopethatthingsmightturndifferentlyfromwhatIatfirstexpected。Inafewmoments，incameMr。WilliamHamilton，ridingveryrapidly，andevidentlymuchexcited。Hewasinthehabitofridingveryslowly，andwasseldomknowntogallophishorse。Thistime，hishorsewasnearlyatfullspeed，causingthedusttorollthickbehindhim。Mr。Hamilton，thoughoneofthemostresolutemeninthewholeneighborhood，was，nevertheless，aremarkablymildspokenman；and，evenwhengreatlyexcited，hislanguagewascoolandcircumspect。Hecametothedoor，andinquiredifMr。

Freelandwasin。ItoldhimthatMr。Freelandwasatthebarn。

Offtheoldgentlemanrode，towardthebarn，withunwontedspeed。

Mary，thecook，wasatalosstoknowwhatwasthematter，andI

didnotprofessanyskillinmakingherunderstand。Iknewshewouldhaveunited，asreadilyasanyone，incursingmeforbringingtroubleintothefamily；soIheldmypeace，leavingmatterstodevelopthemselves，withoutmyassistance。Inafewmoments，Mr。HamiltonandMr。Freelandcamedownfromthebarntothehouse；and，justasthey<225THEMANNEROFARRESTINGUS>madetheirappearanceinthefrontyard，threemen(whoprovedtobeconstables)camedashingintothelane，onhorseback，asifsummonedbyasignrequiringquickwork。Afewsecondsbroughtthemintothefrontyard，wheretheyhastilydismounted，andtiedtheirhorses。Thisdone，theyjoinedMr。FreelandandMr。

Hamilton，whowerestandingashortdistancefromthekitchen。A

fewmomentswerespent，asifinconsultinghowtoproceed，andthenthewholepartywalkeduptothekitchendoor。TherewasnownooneinthekitchenbutmyselfandJohnHarris。HenryandSandywereyetatthebarn。Mr。Freelandcameinsidethekitchendoor，andwithanagitatedvoice，calledmebyname，andtoldmetocomeforward；thattherewassomegentlemenwhowishedtoseeme。Isteppedtowardthem，atthedoor，andaskedwhattheywanted，whentheconstablesgrabbedme，andtoldmethatIhadbetternotresist；thatIhadbeeninascrape，orwassaidtohavebeeninone；thattheyweremerelygoingtotakemewhereI

couldbeexamined；thattheyweregoingtocarrymetoSt。

Michael"s，tohavemebroughtbeforemymaster。Theyfurthersaid，that，incasetheevidenceagainstmewasnottrue，I

shouldbeacquitted。Iwasnowfirmlytied，andcompletelyatthemercyofmycaptors。Resistancewasidle。Theywerefiveinnumber，armedtotheveryteeth。Whentheyhadsecuredme，theynextturnedtoJohnHarris，and，inafewmoments，succeededintyinghimasfirmlyastheyhadalreadytiedme。TheynextturnedtowardHenryHarris，whohadnowreturnedfromthebarn。

“Crossyourhands，“saidtheconstables，toHenry。“Iwon"t“

saidHenry，inavoicesofirmandclear，andinamannersodetermined，asforamomenttoarrestallproceedings。“Won"tyoucrossyourhands？“saidTomGraham，theconstable。“_NoI

won"t_，“saidHenry，withincreasingemphasis。Mr。Hamilton，Mr。

Freeland，andtheofficers，nowcameneartoHenry。Twooftheconstablesdrewouttheirshiningpistols，andsworebythenameofGod，thatheshouldcrosshishands，ortheywouldshoothimdown。Eachofthesehiredruffiansnowcockedtheirpistols，<226>and，withfingersapparentlyonthetriggers，presentedtheirdeadlyweaponstothebreastoftheunarmedslave，saying，atthesametime，ifhedidnotcrosshishands，theywould“blowhisd——dheartoutofhim。“

_“Shoot！shootme！“_saidHenry。“_Youcan"tkillmebutonce_。

Shoot！——shoot！andbed——d。_Iwon"tbetied_。“This，thebravefellowsaidinavoiceasdefiantandheroicinitstone，aswasthelanguageitself；and，atthemomentofsayingthis，withthepistolsathisverybreast，hequicklyraisedhisarms，anddashedthemfromthepunyhandsofhisassassins，theweaponsflyinginoppositedirections。Nowcamethestruggle。Allhandswasnowrusheduponthebravefellow，and，afterbeatinghimforsometime，theysucceededinoverpoweringandtyinghim。Henryputmetoshame；hefought，andfoughtbravely。JohnandIhadmadenoresistance。Thefactis，Ineverseemuchuseinfighting，unlessthereisareasonableprobabilityofwhippingsomebody。YettherewassomethingalmostprovidentialintheresistancemadebythegallantHenry。Butforthatresistance，everysoulofuswouldhavebeenhurriedofftothefarsouth。

JustamomentprevioustothetroublewithHenry，Mr。Hamilton_mildly_said——andthisgavemetheunmistakablecluetothecauseofourarrest——“Perhapswehadnowbettermakeasearchforthoseprotections，whichweunderstandFrederickhaswrittenforhimselfandtherest。“Hadthesepassesbeenfound，theywouldhavebeenpointblankproofagainstus，andwouldhaveconfirmedallthestatementsofourbetrayer。ThankstotheresistanceofHenry，theexcitementproducedbythescuffledrewallattentioninthatdirection，andIsucceededinflingingmypass，unobserved，intothefire。Theconfusionattendantuponthescuffle，andtheapprehensionoffurthertrouble，perhaps，ledourcaptorstoforego，forthepresent，anysearchfor_“thoseprotections“whichFrederickwassaidtohavewrittenforhiscompanions_；sowewerenotyetconvictedofthepurposetorunaway；anditwasevidentthattherewassomedoubt，onthepartofall，whetherwehadbeenguiltyofsuchapurpose。

<227THEUNIQUESPEECHOFMRS。FREELAND>

Justaswewereallcompletelytied，andaboutreadytostarttowardSt。Michael"s，andthencetojail，Mrs。BetseyFreeland(mothertoWilliam，whowasverymuchattached——afterthesouthernfashion——toHenryandJohn，theyhavingbeenrearedfromchildhoodinherhouse)cametothekitchendoor，withherhandsfullofbiscuits——forwehadnothadtimetotakeourbreakfastthatmorning——anddividedthembetweenHenryandJohn。Thisdone，theladymadethefollowingpartingaddresstome，lookingandpointingherbonyfingeratme。“Youdevil！youyellowdevil！ItwasyouthatputitintotheheadsofHenryandJohntorunaway。Butfor_you_，you_longleggedyellowdevil_，HenryandJohnwouldneverhavethoughtofrunningaway。“Igavetheladyalook，whichcalledforthascreamofmingledwrathandterror，assheslammedthekitchendoor，andwentin，leavingme，withtherest，inhandsasharshasherownbrokenvoice。

CouldthekindreaderhavebeenquietlyridingalongthemainroadtoorfromEaston，thatmorning，hiseyewouldhavemetapainfulsight。Hewouldhaveseenfiveyoungmen，guiltyofnocrime，savethatofpreferring_liberty_toalifeof_bondage_，drawnalongthepublichighway——firmlyboundtogether——trampingthroughdustandheat，bare-footedandbare-headed——fastenedtothreestronghorses，whoseriderswerearmedtotheteeth，withpistolsanddaggers——ontheirwaytoprison，likefelons，andsufferingeverypossibleinsultfromthecrowdsofidle，vulgarpeople，whoclusteredaround，andheartlesslymadetheirfailuretheoccasionforallmannerofribaldryandsport。AsIlookeduponthiscrowdofvilepersons，andsawmyselfandfriendsthusassailedandpersecuted，IcouldnothelpseeingthefulfillmentofSandy"sdream。Iwasinthehandsofmoralvultures，andfirmlyheldintheirsharptalons，andwashurriedawaytowardEaston，inasouth-easterlydirection，amidthejeersofnewbirdsofthesamefeather，througheveryneighborhoodwepassed。

Itseemedtome(andthisshowsthegoodunderstandingbetweentheslaveholdersandtheirallies)thateverybodywemetknew<228>thecauseofourarrest，andwereout，awaitingourpassingby，tofeasttheirvindictiveeyesonourmiseryandtogloatoverourruin。Somesaid，_Ioughttobehanged_，andothers，_I

oughttobeburnt_，others，Ioughttohavethe_“hide“_takenfrommyback；whilenoonegaveusakindwordorsympathizinglook，exceptthepoorslaves，whowereliftingtheirheavyhoes，andwhocautiouslyglancedatusthroughthepost-and-railfences，behindwhichtheywereatwork。Oursufferings，thatmorning，canbemoreeasilyimaginedthandescribed。Ourhopeswereallblasted，atablow。Thecruelinjustice，thevictoriouscrime，andthehelplessnessofinnocence，ledmetoask，inmyignoranceandweakness“WherenowistheGodofjusticeandmercy？Andwhyhavethesewickedmenthepowerthustotrampleuponourrights，andtoinsultourfeelings？“Andyet，inthenextmoment，cametheconsolingthought，_“Thedayofoppressorwillcomeatlast。“_OfonethingIcouldbeglad——notoneofmydearfriends，uponwhomIhadbroughtthisgreatcalamity，eitherbywordorlook，reproachedmeforhavingledthemintoit。Wewereabandofbrothers，andneverdearertoeachotherthannow。

Thethoughtwhichgaveusthemostpain，wastheprobableseparationwhichwouldnowtakeplace，incaseweweresoldofftothefarsouth，aswewerelikelytobe。Whiletheconstableswerelookingforward，HenryandI，beingfastenedtogether，couldoccasionallyexchangeaword，withoutbeingobservedbythekidnapperswhohadusincharge。“WhatshallIdowithmypass？“

saidHenry。“Eatitwithyourbiscuit，“saidI；“itwon"tdototearitup。“WewerenownearSt。Michael"s。Thedirectionconcerningthepasseswaspassedaround，andexecuted。_“Ownnothing！“_saidI。_“Ownnothing！“_waspassedaroundandenjoined，andassentedto。Ourconfidenceineachotherwasunshaken；andwewerequiteresolvedtosucceedorfailtogether——asmuchafterthecalamitywhichhadbefallenus，asbefore。

OnreachingSt。Michael"s，weunderwentasortofexaminationatmymaster"sstore，anditwasevidenttomymind，thatMaster<229THEDENIAL>Thomassuspectedthetruthfulnessoftheevidenceuponwhichtheyhadactedinarrestingus；andthatheonlyaffected，tosomeextent，thepositivenesswithwhichheassertedourguilt。Therewasnothingsaidbyanyofourcompany，whichcould，inanymanner，prejudiceourcause；andtherewashope，yet，thatweshouldbeabletoreturntoourhomes——iffornothingelse，atleasttofindouttheguiltymanorwomanwhohadbetrayedus。

Tothisend，wealldeniedthatwehadbeenguiltyofintendedflight。MasterThomassaidthattheevidencehehadofourintentiontorunaway，wasstrongenoughtohangus，inacaseofmurder。“But，“saidI，“thecasesarenotequal。Ifmurderwerecommitted，someonemusthavecommittedit——thethingisdone！

Inourcase，nothinghasbeendone！Wehavenotrunaway。Whereistheevidenceagainstus？Wewerequietlyatourwork。“I

talkedthus，withunusualfreedom，tobringouttheevidenceagainstus，forweallwanted，aboveallthings，toknowtheguiltywretchwhohadbetrayedus，thatwemighthavesomethingtangibleuponwhichtopourtheexecrations。Fromsomethingwhichdropped，inthecourseofthetalk，itappearedthattherewasbutonewitnessagainstus——andthatthatwitnesscouldnotbeproduced。MasterThomaswouldnottellus_who_hisinformantwas；butwesuspected，andsuspected_one_person_only_。

SeveralcircumstancesseemedtopointSANDYout，asourbetrayer。

Hisentireknowledgeofourplanshisparticipationinthem——hiswithdrawalfromus——hisdream，andhissimultaneouspresentimentthatwewerebetrayed——thetakingus，andtheleavinghim——werecalculatedtoturnsuspiciontowardhim；andyet，wecouldnotsuspecthim。Wealllovedhimtoowelltothinkit_possible_

thathecouldhavebetrayedus。Sowerolledtheguiltonothershoulders。

Wewereliterallydragged，thatmorning，behindhorses，adistanceoffifteenmiles，andplacedintheEastonjail。Weweregladtoreachtheendofourjourney，forourpathwayhadbeenthesceneofinsultandmortification。Suchisthepowerofpublic<230>opinion，thatitishard，evenfortheinnocent，tofeelthehappyconsolationsofinnocence，whentheyfallunderthemaledictionsofthispower。Howcouldweregardourselvesasintheright，whenallaboutusdenouncedusascriminals，andhadthepowerandthedispositiontotreatusassuch。

Injail，wewereplacedunderthecareofMr。JosephGraham，thesheriffofthecounty。Henry，andJohn，andmyself，wereplacedinoneroom，andHenryBailyandCharlesRoberts，inanother，bythemselves。Thisseparationwasintendedtodepriveusoftheadvantageofconcert，andtopreventtroubleinjail。

Onceshutup，anewsetoftormentorscameuponus。Aswarmofimps，inhumanshapetheslave-traders，deputyslave-traders，andagentsofslave-traders——thatgatherineverycountrytownofthestate，watchingforchancestobuyhumanflesh(asbuzzardstoeatcarrion)flockedinuponus，toascertainifourmastershadplacedusinjailtobesold。Suchasetofdebasedandvillainouscreatures，Ineversawbefore，andhopenevertoseeagain。Ifeltmyselfsurroundedasbyapackof_fiends_，freshfrom_perdition_。Theylaughed，leered，andgrinnedatus；

saying，“Ah！boys，we"vegotyou，havn"twe？Soyouwereabouttomakeyourescape？Wherewereyougoingto？“Aftertauntingus，andpeeringatus，aslongastheyliked，theyonebyonesubjectedustoanexamination，withaviewtoascertainourvalue；feelingourarmsandlegs，andshakingusbytheshoulderstoseeifweweresoundandhealthy；impudentlyaskingus，“howwewouldliketohavethemformasters？“Tosuchquestions，wewere，verymuchtotheirannoyance，quitedumb，disdainingtoanswerthem。Forone，Idetestedthewhisky-bloatedgamblersinhumanflesh；andIbelieveIwasasmuchdetestedbytheminturn。Onefellowtoldme，“ifhehadme，hewouldcutthedeviloutofmeprettyquick。“

TheseNegrobuyersareveryoffensivetothegenteelsouthernChristianpublic。Theyarelookedupon，inrespectableMarylandsociety，asnecessary，butdetestablecharacters。Asaclass，they<231SLAVE-TRADERS>arehardenedruffians，madesuchbynatureandbyoccupation。Theirearsaremadequitefamiliarwiththeagonizingcryofoutragedandwoe-smittedhumanity。

Theireyesareforeveropentohumanmisery。Theywalkamiddesecratedaffections，insultedvirtue，andblastedhopes。Theyhavegrownintimatewithviceandblood；theygloatoverthewildestillustrationsoftheirsoul-damningandearth-pollutingbusiness，andaremoralpests。Yes；theyarealegitimatefruitofslavery；anditisapuzzletomakeoutacaseofgreatervillainyforthem，thanfortheslaveholders，whomakesuchaclass_possible_。TheyaremerehuckstersofthesurplusslaveproduceofMarylandandVirginiacoarse，cruel，andswaggeringbullies，whoseverybreathingisofblasphemyandblood。

Asidefromtheseslave-buyers，whoinfestedtheprison，fromtimetotime，ourquartersweremuchmorecomfortablethanwehadanyrighttoexpecttheywouldbe。Ourallowanceoffoodwassmallandcoarse，butourroomwasthebestinthejail——neatandspacious，andwithnothingaboutitnecessarilyremindingusofbeinginprison，butitsheavylocksandboltsandtheblack，ironlattice-workatthewindows。Wewereprisonersofstate，comparedwithmostslaveswhoareputintothatEastonjail。Buttheplacewasnotoneofcontentment。Bolts，barsandgratedwindowsarenotacceptabletofreedom-lovingpeopleofanycolor。

Thesuspense，too，waspainful。Everysteponthestairwaywaslistenedto，inthehopethatthecomerwouldcastarayoflightonourfate。WewouldhavegiventhehairoffourheadsforhalfadozenwordswithoneofthewaitersinSol。Lowe"shotel。Suchwaiterswereinthewayofhearing，atthetable，theprobablecourseofthings。Wecouldseethemflittingaboutintheirwhitejacketsinfrontofthishotel，butcouldspeaktononeofthem。

Soonaftertheholidayswereover，contrarytoallourexpectations，Messrs。HamiltonandFreelandcameuptoEaston；

nottomakeabargainwiththe“Georgiatraders，“nortosendusuptoAustinWoldfolk，asisusualinthecaseofrun-awaysalves，<232>buttoreleaseCharles，HenryHarris，HenryBailyandJohnHarris，fromprison，andthis，too，withouttheinflictionofasingleblow。Iwasnowleftentirelyaloneinprison。Theinnocenthadbeentaken，andtheguiltyleft。Myfriendswereseparatedfromme，andapparentlyforever。Thiscircumstancecausedmemorepainthananyotherincidentconnectedwithourcaptureandimprisonment。Thirty-ninelashesonmynakedandbleedingback，wouldhavebeenjoyfullyborne，inpreferencetothisseparationfromthese，thefriendsofmyyouth。Andyet，IcouldnotbutfeelthatIwasthevictimofsomethinglikejustice。Whyshouldtheseyoungmen，whowereledintothisschemebyme，sufferasmuchastheinstigator？Ifeltgladthattheywereleasedfromprison，andfromthedreadprospectofalife(ordeathIshouldrathersay)inthericeswamps。ItisduetothenobleHenry，tosay，thatheseemedalmostasreluctanttoleavetheprisonwithmeinit，ashewastobetiedanddraggedtoprison。Butheandtherestknewthatweshould，inallthelikelihoodsofthecase，beseparated，intheeventofbeingsold；andsincewewerenowcompletelyinthehandsofourowners，weallconcludeditwouldbebesttogopeaceablyhome。

Notuntilthislastseparation，dearreader，hadItouchedthoseprofounderdepthsofdesolation，whichitisthelotofslavesoftentoreach。Iwassolitaryintheworld，andalonewithinthewallsofastoneprison，lefttoafateoflife-longmisery。

Ihadhopedandexpectedmuch，formonthsbefore，butmyhopesandexpectationswerenowwitheredandblasted。TheeverdreadedslavelifeinGeorgia，LouisianaandAlabama——fromwhichescapeisnexttoimpossiblenow，inmyloneliness，staredmeintheface。Thepossibilityofeverbecominganythingbutanabjectslave，ameremachineinthehandsofanowner，hadnowfled，anditseemedtomeithadfledforever。Alifeoflivingdeath，besetwiththeinnumerablehorrorsofthecottonfield，andthesugarplantation，seemedtobemydoom。Thefiends，whorushedintotheprisonwhenwewerefirstputthere，continuedtovisitme，<233LEFTALONEINPRISON>andtoplymewithquestionsandwiththeirtantalizingremarks。Iwasinsulted，buthelpless；

keenlyalivetothedemandsofjusticeandliberty，butwithnomeansofassertingthem。Totalktothoseimpsaboutjusticeandmercy，wouldhavebeenasabsurdastoreasonwithbearsandtigers。Leadandsteelaretheonlyargumentsthattheyunderstand。

Afterremaininginthislifeofmiseryanddespairaboutaweek，which，bytheway，seemedamonth，MasterThomas，verymuchtomysurprise，andgreatlytomyrelief，cametotheprison，andtookmeout，forthepurpose，ashesaid，ofsendingmetoAlabama，withafriendofhis，whowouldemancipatemeattheendofeightyears。Iwasgladenoughtogetoutofprison；butIhadnofaithinthestorythatthisfriendofCapt。Auldwouldemancipateme，attheendofthetimeindicated。Besides，I

neverhadheardofhishavingafriendinAlabama，andItooktheannouncement，simplyasaneasyandcomfortablemethodofshippingmeofftothefarsouth。Therewasalittlescandal，too，connectedwiththeideaofoneChristiansellinganothertotheGeorgiatraders，whileitwasdeemedeverywayproperforthemtoselltoothers。IthoughtthisfriendinAlabamawasaninvention，tomeetthisdifficulty，forMasterThomaswasquitejealousofhisChristianreputation，howeverunconcernedhemightbeabouthisrealChristiancharacter。Intheseremarks，however，itispossiblethatIdoMasterThomasAuldinjustice。

Hecertainlydidnotexhausthispoweruponme，inthecase，butacted，uponthewhole，verygenerously，consideringthenatureofmyoffense。Hehadthepowerandtheprovocationtosendme，withoutreserve，intotheveryevergladesofFlorida，beyondtheremotesthopeofemancipation；andhisrefusaltoexercisethatpower，mustbesetdowntohiscredit。

AfterlingeringaboutSt。Michael"safewdays，andnofriendfromAlabamamakinghisappearance，totakemethere，MasterThomasdecidedtosendmebackagaintoBaltimore，tolivewithhisbrotherHugh，withwhomhewasnowatpeace；possiblyhe<234>becamesobyhisprofessionofreligion，atthecamp-meetingintheBaySide。MasterThomastoldmethathewishedmetogotoBaltimore，andlearnatrade；andthat，ifIbehavedmyselfproperly，hewould_emancipatemeattwenty-five！_Thanksforthisonebeamofhopeinthefuture。Thepromisehadbutonefault；itseemedtoogoodtobetrue。

CHAPTERXX

ApprenticeshipLifeNOTHINGLOSTBYTHEATTEMPTTORUNAWAY——COMRADESINTHEIROLD

HOMES——REASONSFORSENDINGMEAWAY——RETURNTOBALTIMORE——CONTRAST

BETWEENTOMMYANDTHATOFHISCOLOREDCOMPANION——TRIALSIN

GARDINER"SSHIPYARD——DESPERATEFIGHT——ITSCAUSES——CONFLICT

BETWEENWHITEANDBLACKLABOR——DESCRIPTIONOFTHEOUTRAGE——

COLOREDTESTIMONYNOTHING——CONDUCTOFMASTERHUGH——SPIRITOF

SLAVERYINBALTIMORE——MYCONDITIONIMPROVES——NEWASSOCIATIONS——

SLAVEHOLDER"SRIGHTTOTAKEHISWAGES——HOWTOMAKEACONTENTED

SLAVE。

Well！dearreader，Iamnot，asyoumayhavealreadyinferred，aloserbythegeneralupstir，describedintheforegoingchapter。

Thelittledomesticrevolution，notwithstandingthesuddensnubitgotbythetreacheryofsomebody——Idarenotsayorthinkwho——didnot，afterall，endsodisastrously，aswhenintheironcageatEaston，Iconceiveditwould。Theprospect，fromthatpoint，didlookaboutasdarkasanythatevercastitsgloomoverthevisionoftheanxious，out-looking，humanspirit。“Alliswellthatendswell。“Myaffectionatecomrades，HenryandJohnHarris，arestillwithMr。WilliamFreeland。CharlesRobertsandHenryBailyaresafeattheirhomes。Ihavenot，therefore，anythingtoregretontheiraccount。Theirmastershavemercifullyforgiventhem，probablyonthegroundsuggestedinthespiritedlittlespeechofMrs。Freeland，madetomejustbeforeleavingforthejail——namely:thattheyhadbeenalluredintothewickedschemeofmakingtheirescape，byme；andthat，butforme，theywouldneverhavedreamedofathingsoshocking！

My<236>friendshadnothingtoregret，either；forwhiletheywerewatchedmorecloselyonaccountofwhathadhappened，theywere，doubtless，treatedmorekindlythanbefore，andgotnewassurancesthattheywouldbelegallyemancipated，someday，providedtheirbehaviorshouldmakethemdeserving，fromthattimeforward。Notablow，asIlearned，wasstruckanyoneofthem。AsforMasterWilliamFreeland，good，unsuspectingsoul，hedidnotbelievethatwewereintendingtorunawayatall。

Havinggiven——ashethought——nooccasiontohisboystoleavehim，hecouldnotthinkitprobablethattheyhadentertainedadesignsogrievous。This，however，wasnottheviewtakenofthematterby“Mas"Billy，“asweusedtocallthesoftspoken，butcraftyandresoluteMr。WilliamHamilton。Hehadnodoubtthatthecrimehadbeenmeditated；andregardingmeastheinstigatorofit，hefranklytoldMasterThomasthathemustremovemefromthatneighborhood，orhewouldshootmedown。Hewouldnothaveonesodangerousas“Frederick“tamperingwithhisslaves。

WilliamHamiltonwasnotamanwhosethreatmightbesafelydisregarded。Ihavenodoubtthathewouldhaveprovedasgoodashisword，hadthewarninggivennotbeenpromptlytaken。Hewasfuriousatthethoughtofsuchapieceofhigh-handed_theft_，aswewereabouttoperpetratethestealingofourownbodiesandsouls！Thefeasibilityoftheplan，too，couldthefirststepshavebeentaken，wasmarvelouslyplain。Besides，thiswasa_new_idea，thisuseofthebay。Slavesescaping，untilnow，hadtakentothewoods；theyhadneverdreamedofprofaningandabusingthewatersofthenobleChesapeake，bymakingthemthehighwayfromslaverytofreedom。Herewasabroadroadofdestructiontoslavery，which，before，hadbeenlookeduponasawallofsecuritybyslaveholders。ButMasterBillycouldnotgetMr。Freelandtoseematterspreciselyashedid；norcouldhegetMasterThomassoexcitedashewashimself。

Thelatter——Imustsayittohiscredit——showedmuchhumanefeelinginhispartofthetransaction，andatonedformuchthathadbeenharsh，cruel<237CHANGEINLITTLETOMMY>andunreasonableinhisformertreatmentofmeandothers。Hisclemencywasquiteunusualandunlookedfor。“CousinTom“toldmethatwhileIwasinjail，MasterThomaswasveryunhappy；andthatthenightbeforehisgoinguptoreleaseme，hehadwalkedthefloornearlyallnight，evincinggreatdistress；thatverytemptingoffershadbeenmadetohim，bytheNegro-traders，buthehadrejectedthemall，sayingthat_moneycouldnottempthimtosellmetothefarsouth_。AllthisIcaneasilybelieve，forheseemedquitereluctanttosendmeaway，atall。Hetoldmethatheonlyconsentedtodoso，becauseoftheverystrongprejudiceagainstmeintheneighborhood，andthathefearedformysafetyifIremainedthere。

Thus，afterthreeyearsspentinthecountry，roughingitinthefield，andexperiencingallsortsofhardships，IwasagainpermittedtoreturntoBaltimore，theveryplace，ofallothers，shortofafreestate，whereImostdesiredtolive。Thethreeyearsspentinthecountry，hadmadesomedifferenceinme，andinthehouseholdofMasterHugh。“LittleTommy“wasnolonger_little_Tommy；andIwasnottheslenderladwhohadleftfortheEasternShorejustthreeyearsbefore。ThelovingrelationsbetweenmeandMas"Tommywerebrokenup。Hewasnolongerdependentonmeforprotection，butfelthimselfa_man_，withotherandmoresuitableassociates。Inchildhood，hescarcelyconsideredmeinferiortohimselfcertainly，asgoodasanyotherboywithwhomheplayed；butthetimehadcomewhenhis_friend_

mustbecomehis_slave_。Sowewerecold，andweparted。Itwasasadthingtome，that，lovingeachotheraswehaddone，wemustnowtakedifferentroads。Tohim，athousandavenueswereopen。Educationhadmadehimacquaintedwithallthetreasuresoftheworld，andlibertyhadflungopenthegatesthereunto；butI，whohadattendedhimsevenyears，andhadwatchedoverhimwiththecareofabigbrother，fightinghisbattlesinthestreet，andshieldinghimfromharm，toanextentwhichhadinducedhismothertosay，“Oh！Tommyisalwayssafe，whenheiswith<238>Freddy，“mustbeconfinedtoasinglecondition。Hecouldgrow，andbecomeaMAN；Icouldgrow，thoughIcould_not_

becomeaman，butmustremain，allmylife，aminor——amereboy。

ThomasAuld，Junior，obtainedasituationonboardthebrig“Tweed，“andwenttosea。Iknownotwhathasbecomeofhim；hecertainlyhasmygoodwishesforhiswelfareandprosperity。

TherewerefewpersonstowhomIwasmoresincerelyattachedthantohim，andtherearefewintheworldIwouldbemorepleasedtomeet。

VerysoonafterIwenttoBaltimoretolive，MasterHughsucceededingettingmehiredtoMr。WilliamGardiner，anextensiveshipbuilderonFell"sPoint。Iwasplacedheretolearntocalk，atradeofwhichIalreadyhadsomeknowledge，gainedwhileinMr。HughAuld"sship-yard，whenhewasamasterbuilder。Gardiner"s，however，provedaveryunfavorableplacefortheaccomplishmentofthatobject。Mr。Gardinerwas，thatseason，engagedinbuildingtwolargeman-of-warvessels，professedlyfortheMexicangovernment。ThesevesselsweretobelaunchedinthemonthofJuly，ofthatyear，and，infailurethereof，Mr。G。wouldforfeitaveryconsiderablesumofmoney。

So，whenIenteredtheship-yard，allwashurryanddriving。

Therewereintheyardaboutonehundredmen；oftheseaboutseventyoreightywereregularcarpenters——privilegedmen。

SpeakingofmyconditionhereIwrote，yearsago——andIhavenownoreasontovarythepictureasfollows:

Therewasnotimetolearnanything。Everymanhadtodothatwhichheknewhowtodo。Inenteringtheship-yard，myordersfromMr。Gardinerwere，todowhateverthecarpenterscommandedmetodo。Thiswasplacingmeatthebeckandcallofaboutseventy-fivemen。Iwastoregardalltheseasmasters。Theirwordwastobemylaw。Mysituationwasamosttryingone。AttimesIneededadozenpairofhands。Iwascalledadozenwaysinthespaceofasingleminute。Threeorfourvoiceswouldstrikemyearatthesamemoment。Itwas——“Fred。，comehelpmetocantthistimberhere。““Fred。，comecarrythistimberyonder。“——“Fred。，bringthatrollerhere。“——“Fred。，gogetafreshcanofwater。“——“Fred。，comehelpsawofftheendofthistimber。“——“Fred。，goquickandgetthecrowbar。“——“Fred。，holdontheendofthisfall。“——“Fred。，gototheblacksmith"sshop，andgetanewpunch。“——<239DESPERATEFIGHT>

“Hurra，Fred。！runandbringmeacoldchisel。“——“Isay，Fred。，bearahand，andgetupafireasquickaslightningunderthatsteam-box。“——“Halloo，nigger！come，turnthisgrindstone。“——

“Come，come！move，move！and_bowse_thistimberforward。“——“I

say，darkey，blastyoureyes，whydon"tyouheatupsomepitch？“——“Halloo！halloo！halloo！“(Threevoicesatthesametime。)“Comehere！——Gothere！——Holdonwhereyouare！D——nyou，ifyoumove，I"llknockyourbrainsout！“

Such，dearreader，isaglanceattheschoolwhichwasmine，during，thefirsteightmonthsofmystayatBaltimore。Attheendoftheeightmonths，MasterHughrefusedlongertoallowmetoremainwithMr。Gardiner。Thecircumstancewhichledtohistakingmeaway，wasabrutaloutrage，committeduponmebythewhiteapprenticesoftheship-yard。Thefightwasadesperateone，andIcameoutofitmostshockinglymangled。Iwascutandbruisedinsundryplaces，andmylefteyewasnearlyknockedoutofitssocket。Thefacts，leadingtothisbarbarousoutrageuponme，illustrateaphaseofslaverydestinedtobecomeanimportantelementintheoverthrowoftheslavesystem，andImay，thereforestatethemwithsomeminuteness。Thatphaseisthis:

_theconflictofslaverywiththeinterestsofthewhitemechanicsandlaborersofthesouth_。Inthecountry，thisconflictisnotsoapparent；but，incities，suchasBaltimore，Richmond，NewOrleans，Mobile，&c。，itisseenprettyclearly。

Theslaveholders，withacraftinesspeculiartothemselves，byencouragingtheenmityofthepoor，laboringwhitemanagainsttheblacks，succeedsinmakingthesaidwhitemanalmostasmuchaslaveastheblackslavehimself。Thedifferencebetweenthewhiteslave，andtheblackslave，isthis:thelatterbelongsto_one_slaveholder，andtheformerbelongsto_all_theslaveholders，collectively。Thewhiteslavehastakenfromhim，byindirection，whattheblackslavehastakenfromhim，directly，andwithoutceremony。Bothareplundered，andbythesameplunderers。Theslaveisrobbed，byhismaster，ofallhisearnings，abovewhatisrequiredforhisbarephysicalnecessities；andthewhitemanisrobbedbytheslavesystem，ofthejustresultsofhislabor，becauseheisflunginto<240>competitionwithaclassoflaborerswhoworkwithoutwages。

Thecompetition，anditsinjuriousconsequences，will，oneday，arraythenonslaveholdingwhitepeopleoftheslavestates，againsttheslavesystem，andmakethemthemosteffectiveworkersagainstthegreatevil。Atpresent，theslaveholdersblindthemtothiscompetition，bykeepingalivetheirprejudiceagainsttheslaves，_asmen_——notagainstthem_asslaves_。Theyappealtotheirpride，oftendenouncingemancipation，astendingtoplacethewhiteman，onanequalitywithNegroes，and，bythismeans，theysucceedindrawingoffthemindsofthepoorwhitesfromtherealfact，that，bytherichslave-master，theyarealreadyregardedasbutasingleremovefromequalitywiththeslave。Theimpressioniscunninglymade，thatslaveryistheonlypowerthatcanpreventthelaboringwhitemanfromfallingtotheleveloftheslave"spovertyanddegradation。Tomakethisenmitydeepandbroad，betweentheslaveandthepoorwhiteman，thelatterisallowedtoabuseandwhiptheformer，withouthinderance。But——asIhavesuggested——thisstateoffactsprevails_mostly_inthecountry。InthecityofBaltimore，therearenotunfrequentmurmurs，thateducatingtheslavestobemechanicsmay，intheend，giveslavemasterspowertodispensewiththeservicesofthepoorwhitemanaltogether。But，withcharacteristicdreadofoffendingtheslaveholders，thesepoor，whitemechanicsinMr。Gardiner"sship-yard——insteadofapplyingthenatural，honestremedyfortheapprehendedevil，andobjectingatoncetoworktherebythesideofslaves——madeacowardlyattackuponthefreecoloredmechanics，saying_they_

wereeatingthebreadwhichshouldbeeatenbyAmericanfreemen，andswearingthattheywouldnotworkwiththem。Thefeelingwas，_really_，againsthavingtheirlaborbroughtintocompetitionwiththatofthecoloredpeopleatall；butitwastoomuchtostrikedirectlyattheinterestoftheslaveholders；

and，thereforeprovingtheirservilityandcowardicetheydealttheirblowsonthepoor，coloredfreeman，andaimedtoprevent_him_fromservinghimself，intheeveningoflife，withthetrade<241CONFLICTBETWEENWHITEANDBLACKLABOR>withwhichhehadservedhismaster，duringthemorevigorousportionofhisdays。Hadtheysucceededindrivingtheblackfreemenoutoftheship-yard，theywouldhavedeterminedalsoupontheremovaloftheblackslaves。ThefeelingwasverybittertowardallcoloredpeopleinBaltimore，aboutthistime(1836)，andthey——freeandslavesufferedallmannerofinsultandwrong。

UntilaverylittlebeforeIwentthere，whiteandblackshipcarpentersworkedsidebyside，intheshipyardsofMr。

Gardiner，Mr。Duncan，Mr。WalterPrice，andMr。Robb。Nobodyseemedtoseeanyimproprietyinit。Tooutwardseeming，allhandswerewellsatisfied。Someoftheblackswerefirstrateworkmen，andweregivenjobsrequiringhighestskill。Allatonce，however，thewhitecarpentersknockedoff，andsworethattheywouldnolongerworkonthesamestagewithfreeNegroes。

TakingadvantageoftheheavycontractrestinguponMr。Gardiner，tohavethewarvesselsforMexicoreadytolaunchinJuly，andofthedifficultyofgettingotherhandsatthatseasonoftheyear，theysworetheywouldnotstrikeanotherblowforhim，unlesshewoulddischargehisfreecoloredworkmen。

Now，althoughthismovementdidnotextendtome，_inform_，itdidreachme，_infact_。Thespiritwhichitawakenedwasoneofmaliceandbitterness，towardcoloredpeople_generally_，andI

sufferedwiththerest，andsufferedseverely。Myfellowapprenticesverysoonbegantofeelittobedegradingtoworkwithme。Theybegantoputonhighlooks，andtotalkcontemptuouslyandmaliciouslyof_“theNiggers；“_saying，that“theywouldtakethecountry，“that“theyoughttobekilled。“

Encouragedbythecowardlyworkmen，who，knowingmetobeaslave，madenoissuewithMr。Gardineraboutmybeingthere，theseyoungmendidtheirutmosttomakeitimpossibleformetostay。Theyseldomcalledmetodoanything，withoutcouplingthecallwithacurse，andEdwardNorth，thebiggestineverything，rascalityincluded，venturedtostrikeme，whereuponI

pickedhimup，andthrew<242>himintothedock。Wheneveranyofthemstruckme，Istruckbackagain，regardlessofconsequences。

Icouldmanageanyofthem_singly_，and，whileIcouldkeepthemfromcombining，Isucceededverywell。IntheconflictwhichendedmystayatMr。Gardiner"s，Iwasbesetbyfourofthematonce——NedNorth，NedHays，BillStewart，andTomHumphreys。Twoofthemwereaslargeasmyself，andtheycamenearkillingme，inbroaddaylight。Theattackwasmadesuddenly，andsimultaneously。Onecameinfront，armedwithabrick；therewasoneateachside，andonebehind，andtheycloseduparoundme。

Iwasstruckonallsides；and，whileIwasattendingtothoseinfront，Ireceivedablowonmyhead，frombehind，dealtwithaheavyhand-spike。Iwascompletelystunnedbytheblow，andfell，heavily，ontheground，amongthetimbers。Takingadvantageofmyfall，theyrusheduponme，andbegantopoundmewiththeirfists。Iletthemlayon，forawhile，afterIcametomyself，withaviewofgainingstrength。Theydidmelittledamage，sofar；but，finally，gettingtiredofthatsport，Igaveasuddensurge，and，despitetheirweight，Irosetomyhandsandknees。JustasIdidthis，oneoftheirnumber(Iknownotwhich)plantedablowwithhisbootinmylefteye，which，foratime，seemedtohaveburstmyeyeball。Whentheysawmyeyecompletelyclosed，myfacecoveredwithblood，andIstaggeringunderthestunningblowstheyhadgivenme，theyleftme。AssoonasIgatheredsufficientstrength，Ipickedupthehand-

spike，and，madlyenough，attemptedtopursuethem；butherethecarpentersinterfered，andcompelledmetogiveupmyfrenziedpursuit。Itwasimpossibletostandagainstsomany。

Dearreader，youcanhardlybelievethestatement，butitistrue，and，therefore，Iwriteitdown:notfewerthanfiftywhitemenstoodby，andsawthisbrutalandshamelessoutragecommitted，andnotamanofthemallinterposedasinglewordofmercy。Therewerefouragainstone，andthatone"sfacewasbeatenandbatteredmosthorribly，andnoonesaid，“thatisenough；“butsomecriedout，“Killhim——killhim——killthed——d<243CONDUCTOFMASTERHUGH>nigger！knockhisbrainsout——hestruckawhiteperson。“Imentionthisinhumanoutcry，toshowthecharacterofthemen，andthespiritofthetimes，atGardiner"sshipyard，and，indeed，inBaltimoregenerally，in1836。AsIlookbacktothisperiod，IamalmostamazedthatI

wasnotmurderedoutright，inthatshipyard，somurderouswasthespiritwhichprevailedthere。Ontwooccasions，whilethere，Icamenearlosingmylife。Iwasdrivingboltsinthehold，throughthekeelson，withHays。Initscourse，theboltbent。

Hayscursedme，andsaidthatitwasmyblowwhichbentthebolt。

Ideniedthis，andchargedituponhim。Inafitofrageheseizedanadze，anddartedtowardme。Imethimwithamaul，andparriedhisblow，orIshouldhavethenlostmylife。AsonofoldTomLanman(thelatter"sdoublemurderIhaveelsewherechargeduponhim)，inthespiritofhismiserablefather，madeanassaultuponme，buttheblowwithhismaulmissedme。AftertheunitedassaultofNorth，Stewart，HaysandHumphreys，findingthatthecarpenterswereasbittertowardmeastheapprentices，andthatthelatterwereprobablysetonbytheformer，Ifoundmyonlychancesforlifewasinflight。Isucceededingettingaway，withoutanadditionalblow。Tostrikeawhiteman，wasdeath，byLynchlaw，inGardiner"sshipyard；norwastheremuchofanyotherlawtowardcoloredpeople，atthattime，inanyotherpartofMaryland。ThewholesentimentofBaltimorewasmurderous。

Aftermakingmyescapefromtheshipyard，Iwentstraighthome，andrelatedthestoryoftheoutragetoMasterHughAuld；anditisduetohimtosay，thathisconduct——thoughhewasnotareligiousman——waseverywaymorehumanethanthatofhisbrother，Thomas，whenIwenttothelatterinasomewhatsimilarplight，fromthehandsof_“BrotherEdwardCovey。“_Helistenedattentivelytomynarrationofthecircumstancesleadingtotheruffianlyoutrage，andgavemanyproofsofhisstrongindignationatwhatwasdone。Hughwasarough，butmanly-heartedfellow，and，atthistime，hisbestnatureshoweditself。

<244>

Theheartofmyoncealmostover-kindmistress，Sophia，wasagainmeltedinpitytowardme。Mypuffed-outeye，andmyscarredandblood-coveredface，movedthedearladytotears。Shekindlydrewachairbyme，andwithfriendly，consolingwords，shetookwater，andwashedthebloodfrommyface。Nomother"shandcouldhavebeenmoretenderthanhers。Sheboundupmyhead，andcoveredmywoundedeyewithaleanpieceoffreshbeef。Itwasalmostcompensationforthemurderousassault，andmysuffering，thatitfurnishedandoccasionforthemanifestation，oncemore，oftheorignally{sic}characteristickindnessofmymistress。

Heraffectionateheartwasnotyetdead，thoughmuchhardenedbytimeandbycircumstances。

AsforMasterHugh"spart，asIhavesaid，hewasfuriousaboutit；andhegaveexpressiontohisfuryintheusualformsofspeechinthatlocality。Hepouredcursesontheheadsofthewholeshipyardcompany，andsworethathewouldhavesatisfactionfortheoutrage。Hisindignationwasreallystrongandhealthy；but，unfortunately，itresultedfromthethoughtthathisrightsofproperty，inmyperson，hadnotbeenrespected，morethanfromanysenseoftheoutragecommittedonme_asaman_。Iinferredasmuchasthis，fromthefactthathecould，himself，beatandmanglewhenitsuitedhimtodoso。

Bentonhavingsatisfaction，ashesaid，justassoonasIgotalittlethebetterofmybruises，MasterHughtookmetoEsquireWatson"soffice，onBondstreet，Fell"sPoint，withaviewtoprocuringthearrestofthosewhohadassaultedme。Herelatedtheoutragetothemagistrate，asIhadrelatedittohim，andseemedtoexpectthatawarrantwould，atonce，beissuedforthearrestofthelawlessruffians。

Mr。Watsonhearditall，andinsteadofdrawinguphiswarrant，heinquired——

“Mr。Auld，whosawthisassaultofwhichyouspeak？“

“Itwasdone，sir，inthepresenceofashipyardfullofhands。“

“Sir，“saidWatson，“Iamsorry，butIcannotmoveinthismatterexceptupontheoathofwhitewitnesses。“

<245COLOREDTESTIMONYNOTHING>

“Buthere"stheboy；lookathisheadandface，“saidtheexcitedMasterHugh；_“they_show_what_hasbeendone。“

ButWatsoninsistedthathewasnotauthorizedtodoanything，unless_white_witnessesofthetransactionwouldcomeforward，andtestifytowhathadtakenplace。Hecouldissuenowarrantonmyword，againstwhitepersons；and，ifIhadbeenkilledinthepresenceofa_thousandblacks_，theirtestimony，combinedwouldhavebeeninsufficienttoarrestasinglemurderer。MasterHugh，foronce，wascompelledtosay，thatthisstateofthingswas_toobad；_andhelefttheofficeofthemagistrate，disgusted。

Ofcourse，itwasimpossibletogetanywhitemantotestifyagainstmyassailants。Thecarpenterssawwhatwasdone；buttheactorswerebuttheagentsoftheirmalice，andonlywhatthecarpenterssanctioned。Theyhadcried，withoneaccord，_“Killthenigger！““Killthenigger！“_Eventhosewhomayhavepitiedme，ifanysuchwereamongthem，lackedthemoralcouragetocomeandvolunteertheirevidence。Theslightestmanifestationofsympathyorjusticetowardapersonofcolor，wasdenouncedasabolitionism；andthenameofabolitionist，subjecteditsbearertofrightfulliabilities。“D——n_abolitionists，“_and_“Killtheniggers，“_werethewatch-wordsofthefoul-mouthedruffiansofthosedays。Nothingwasdone，andprobablytherewouldnothavebeenanythingdone，hadIbeenkilledintheaffray。ThelawsandthemoralsoftheChristiancityofBaltimore，affordednoprotectiontothesabledenizensofthatcity。

MasterHugh，onfindinghecouldgetnoredressforthecruelwrong，withdrewmefromtheemploymentofMr。Gardiner，andtookmeintohisownfamily，Mrs。Auldkindlytakingcareofme，anddressingmywounds，untiltheywerehealed，andIwasreadytogoagaintowork。

WhileIwasontheEasternShore，MasterHughhadmetwithreverses，whichoverthrewhisbusiness；andhehadgivenupshipbuildinginhisownyard，ontheCityBlock，andwasnowactingasforemanofMr。WalterPrice。Thebesthecouldnowdoforme，<246>wastotakemeintoMr。Price"syard，andaffordmethefacilitiesthere，forcompletingthetradewhichIhadbegantolearnatGardiner"s。HereIrapidlybecameexpertintheuseofmycalkingtools；and，inthecourseofasingleyear，IwasabletocommandthehighestwagespaidtojourneymencalkersinBaltimore。

ThereaderwillobservethatIwasnowofsomepecuniaryvaluetomymaster。Duringthebusyseason，Iwasbringingsixandsevendollarsperweek。Ihave，sometimes，broughthimasmuchasninedollarsaweek，forthewageswereadollarandahalfperday。

Afterlearningtocalk，Isoughtmyownemployment，mademyowncontracts，andcollectedmyownearnings；givingMasterHughnotroubleinanypartofthetransactionstowhichIwasaparty。

Here，then，werebetterdaysfortheEasternShore_slave_。I

wasnowfreefromthevexatiousassalts{sic}oftheapprenticesatMr。Gardiner"s；andfreefromtheperilsofplantationlife，andoncemoreinafavorableconditiontoincreasemylittlestockofeducation，whichhadbeenatadeadstandsincemyremovalfromBaltimore。Ihad，ontheEasternShore，beenonlyateacher，whenincompanywithotherslaves，butnowtherewerecoloredpersonswhocouldinstructme。Manyoftheyoungcalkerscouldread，writeandcipher。Someofthemhadhighnotionsaboutmentalimprovement；andthefreeones，onFell"sPoint，organizedwhattheycalledthe_“EastBaltimoreMentalImprovementSociety。“_Tothissociety，notwithstandingitwasintendedthatonlyfreepersonsshouldattachthemselves，Iwasadmitted，andwas，severaltimes，assignedaprominentpartinitsdebates。Iowemuchtothesocietyoftheseyoungmen。

Thereaderalreadyknowsenoughofthe_ill_effectsofgoodtreatmentonaslave，toanticipatewhatwasnowthecaseinmyimprovedcondition。ItwasnotlongbeforeIbegantoshowsignsofdisquietwithslavery，andtolookaroundformeanstogetoutofthatconditionbytheshortestroute。Iwaslivingamong_free_<247MYCONDITIONIMPROVES>_men；_andwas，inallrespects，equaltothembynatureandbyattainments。_WhyshouldIbeaslave？_Therewas_no_reasonwhyIshouldbethethrallofanyman。

Besides，Iwasnowgetting——asIhavesaid——adollarandfiftycentsperday。Icontractedforit，workedforit，earnedit，collectedit；itwaspaidtome，anditwas_rightfully_myown；

andyet，uponeveryreturningSaturdaynight，thismoney——myownhardearnings，everycentofit——wasdemandedofme，andtakenfrommebyMasterHugh。Hedidnotearnit；hehadnohandinearningit；why，then，shouldhehaveit？Iowedhimnothing。

Hehadgivenmenoschooling，andIhadreceivedfromhimonlymyfoodandraiment；andforthese，myservicesweresupposedtopay，fromthefirst。Therighttotakemyearnings，wastherightoftherobber。Hehadthepowertocompelmetogivehimthefruitsofmylabor，andthispowerwashisonlyrightinthecase。Ibecamemoreandmoredissatisfiedwiththisstateofthings；and，insobecoming，Ionlygaveproofofthesamehumannaturewhicheveryreaderofthischapterinmylife——

slaveholder，ornonslaveholder——isconsciousofpossessing。

Tomakeacontentedslave，youmustmakeathoughtlessone。Itisnecessarytodarkenhismoralandmentalvision，and，asfaraspossible，toannihilatehispowerofreason。Hemustbeabletodetectnoinconsistenciesinslavery。Themanthattakeshisearnings，mustbeabletoconvincehimthathehasaperfectrighttodoso。Itmustnotdependuponmereforce；theslavemustknownoHigherLawthanhismaster"swill。Thewholerelationshipmustnotonlydemonstrate，tohismind，itsnecessity，butitsabsoluterightfulness。Iftherebeonecrevicethroughwhichasingledropcanfall，itwillcertainlyrustofftheslave"schain。

CHAPTERXXI

MyEscapefromSlaveryCLOSINGINCIDENTSOF“MYLIFEASASLAVE“——REASONSWHYFULL

PARTICULARSOFTHEMANNEROFMYESCAPEWILLNOTBEGIVEN——

CRAFTINESSANDMALICEOFSLAVEHOLDERS——SUSPICIONOFAIDINGA

SLAVE"SESCAPEABOUTASDANGEROUSASPOSITIVEEVIDENCE——WANTOF

WISDOMSHOWNINPUBLISHINGDETAILSOFTHEESCAPEOFTHE

FUGITIVES——PUBLISHEDACCOUNTSREACHTHEMASTERS，NOTTHESLAVES——

SLAVEHOLDERSSTIMULATEDTOGREATERWATCHFULNESS——MYCONDITION——

DISCONTENT——SUSPICIONSIMPLIEDBYMASTERHUGH"SMANNER，WHEN

RECEIVINGMYWAGES——HISOCCASIONALGENEROSITY！——DIFFICULTIESIN

THEWAYOFESCAPE——EVERYAVENUEGUARDED——PLANTOOBTAINMONEY——I

AMALLOWEDTOHIREMYTIME——AGLEAMOFHOPE——ATTENDSCAMP-

MEETING，WITHOUTPERMISSION——ANGEROFMASTERHUGHTHEREAT——THE

RESULT——MYPLANSOFESCAPEACCELERATEDTHERBY——THEDAYFORMY

DEPARTUREFIXED——HARASSEDBYDOUBTSANDFEARS——PAINFULTHOUGHTS

OFSEPARATIONFROMFRIENDS——THEATTEMPTMADE——ITSSUCCESS。

Iwillnowmakethekindreaderacquaintedwiththeclosingincidentsofmy“LifeasaSlave，“havingalreadytrencheduponthelimitallottedtomy“LifeasaFreeman。“Before，however，proceedingwiththisnarration，itis，perhaps，properthatI

shouldfranklystate，inadvance，myintentiontowithholdapartofthe{sic}connectedwithmyescapefromslavery。Therearereasonsforthissuppression，whichItrustthereaderwilldeemaltogethervalid。Itmaybeeasilyconceived，thatafullandcompletestatementofallfactspertainingtotheflightofabondman，mightimplicateandembarrasssomewhomayhave，wittinglyorunwittingly，assistedhim；andnoonecanwishmetoinvolveanymanor<249MANNEROFMYESCAPENOTGIVEN>womanwhohasbefriendedme，evenintheliabilityofembarrassmentortrouble。

Keenisthescentoftheslaveholder；likethefangsoftherattlesnake，hismaliceretainsitspoisonlong；and，althoughitisnownearlyseventeenyearssinceImademyescape，itiswelltobecareful，indealingwiththecircumstancesrelatingtoit。

WereItogivebutashadowyoutlineoftheprocessadopted，withcharacteristicaptitude，thecraftyandmaliciousamongtheslaveholdersmight，possibly，hituponthetrackIpursued，andinvolvesomeoneinsuspicionwhich，inaslavestate，isaboutasbadaspositiveevidence。Thecoloredman，there，mustnotonlyshunevil，butshunthevery_appearance_ofevil，orbecondemnedasacriminal。Aslaveholdingcommunityhasapeculiartasteforferretingoutoffensesagainsttheslavesystem，justicetherebeingmoresensitiveinitsregardforthepeculiarrightsofthissystem，thanforanyotherinterestorinstitution。Bystringingtogetheratrainofeventsandcircumstances，evenifIwerenotveryexplicit，themeansofescapemightbeascertained，and，possibly，thosemeansberendered，thereafter，nolongeravailabletotheliberty-seekingchildrenofbondageIhaveleftbehindme。Noantislaverymancanwishmetodoanythingfavoringsuchresults，andnoslaveholdingreaderhasanyrighttoexpecttheimpartmentofsuchinformation。

While，therefore，itwouldaffordmepleasure，andperhapswouldmateriallyaddtotheinterestofmystory，wereIatlibertytogratifyacuriositywhichIknowtoexistinthemindsofmany，astothemannerofmyescape，Imustdeprivemyselfofthispleasure，andthecuriousofthegratification，whichsuchastatementoffactswouldafford。Iwouldallowmyselftosufferunderthegreatestimputationsthatevilmindedmenmightsuggest，ratherthanexculpatemyselfbyexplanation，andtherebyrunthehazardsofclosingtheslightestavenuebywhichabrotherinsufferingmightclearhimselfofthechainsandfettersofslavery。

Thepracticeofpublishingeverynewinventionbywhicha<250>slaveisknowntohaveescapedfromslavery，hasneitherwisdomnornecessitytosustainit。HadnotHenryBoxBrownandhisfriendsattractedslaveholdingattentiontothemannerofhisescape，wemighthavehadathousand_BoxBrowns_perannum。ThesingularlyoriginalplanadoptedbyWilliamandEllenCrafts，perishedwiththefirstusing，becauseeveryslaveholderinthelandwasapprisedofit。The_saltwaterslave_whohungintheguardsofasteamer，beingwashedthreedaysandthreenights——

likeanotherJonah——bythewavesofthesea，has，bythepublicitygiventothecircumstance，setaspyontheguardsofeverysteamerdepartingfromsouthernports。

Ihaveneverapprovedoftheverypublicmanner，inwhichsomeofourwesternfriendshaveconductedwhat_they_callthe_“Under-

groundRailroad，“_butwhich，Ithink，bytheiropendeclarations，hasbeenmade，mostemphatically，the_“Upper_-

groundRailroad。“Itsstationsarefarbetterknowntotheslaveholdersthantotheslaves。Ihonorthosegoodmenandwomenfortheirnobledaring，inwillinglysubjectingthemselvestopersecution，byopenlyavowingtheirparticipationintheescapeofslaves；nevertheless，thegoodresultingfromsuchavowals，isofaveryquestionablecharacter。Itmaykindleanenthusiasm，verypleasanttoinhale；butthatisofnopracticalbenefittothemselves，nortotheslavesescaping。Nothingismoreevident，thanthatsuchdisclosuresareapositiveeviltotheslavesremaining，andseekingtoescape。Inpublishingsuchaccounts，theanti-slaverymanaddressestheslaveholder，_nottheslave；_hestimulatestheformertogreaterwatchfulness，andaddstohisfacilitiesforcapturinghisslave。Weowesomethingtotheslaves，southofMasonandDixon"sline，aswellastothosenorthofit；and，indischargingthedutyofaidingthelatter，ontheirwaytofreedom，weshouldbecarefultodonothingwhichwouldbelikelytohindertheformer，inmakingtheirescapefromslavery。Suchismydetestationofslavery，thatIwouldkeepthemercilessslaveholderprofoundlyignorantofthemeansofflightadoptedbytheslave。He<251CRAFTINESS

OFSLAVEHOLDERS>shouldbelefttoimaginehimselfsurroundedbymyriadsofinvisibletormentors，everreadytosnatch，fromhisinfernalgrasp，histremblingprey。Inpursuinghisvictim，lethimbelefttofeelhiswayinthedark；letshadesofdarkness，commensuratewithhiscrime，shuteveryrayoflightfromhispathway；andlethimbemadetofeel，that，ateverystephetakes，withthehellishpurposeofreducingabrothermantoslavery，heisrunningthefrightfulriskofhavinghishotbrainsdashedoutbyaninvisiblehand。

But，enoughofthis。Iwillnowproceedtothestatementofthosefacts，connectedwithmyescape，forwhichIamaloneresponsible，andforwhichnoonecanbemadetosufferbutmyself。

Myconditionintheyear(1838)ofmyescape，was，comparatively，afreeandeasyone，sofar，atleast，asthewantsofthephysicalmanwereconcerned；butthereaderwillbearinmind，thatmytroublesfromthebeginning，havebeenlessphysicalthanmental，andhewillthusbepreparedtofind，afterwhatisnarratedinthepreviouschapters，thatslavelifewasaddingnothingtoitscharmsforme，asIgrewolder，andbecamebetteracquaintedwithit。Thepractice，fromweektoweek，ofopenlyrobbingmeofallmyearnings，keptthenatureandcharacterofslaveryconstantlybeforeme。Icouldberobbedby_indirection_，butthiswas_too_openandbarefacedtobeendured。IcouldseenoreasonwhyIshould，attheendofeachweek，pourtherewardofmyhonesttoilintothepurseofanyman。Thethoughtitselfvexedme，andthemannerinwhichMasterHughreceivedmywages，vexedmemorethantheoriginalwrong。

Carefullycountingthemoneyandrollingitout，dollarbydollar，hewouldlookmeintheface，asifhewouldsearchmyheartaswellasmypocket，andreproachfullyaskme，“_Isthatall_？“——implyingthatIhad，perhaps，keptbackpartofmywages；

or，ifnotso，thedemandwasmade，possibly，tomakemefeel，that，afterall，Iwasan“unprofitableservant。“Drainingmeofthelastcentofmyhardearnings，hewould，however，occasionally——whenIbrought<252>homeanextralargesum——doleouttomeasixpenceorashilling，withaview，perhaps，ofkindlingupmygratitude；butthispracticehadtheoppositeeffect——itwasanadmissionof_myrighttothewholesum_。Thefact，thathegavemeanypartofmywages，wasproofthathesuspectedthatIhadaright_tothewholeofthem_。Ialwaysfeltuncomfortable，afterhavingreceivedanythinginthisway，forIfearedthatthegivingmeafewcents，might，possibly，easehisconscience，andmakehimfeelhimselfaprettyhonorablerobber，afterall！

Heldtoastrictaccount，andkeptunderaclosewatch——theoldsuspicionofmyrunningawaynothavingbeenentirelyremoved——

escapefromslavery，eveninBaltimore，wasverydifficult。TherailroadfromBaltimoretoPhiladelphiawasunderregulationssostringent，thateven_free_coloredtravelerswerealmostexcluded。Theymusthave_free_papers；theymustbemeasuredandcarefullyexamined，beforetheywereallowedtoenterthecars；theyonlywentinthedaytime，evenwhensoexamined。Thesteamboatswereunderregulationsequallystringent。Allthegreatturnpikes，leadingnorthward，werebesetwithkidnappers，aclassofmenwhowatchedthenewspapersforadvertisementsforrunawayslaves，makingtheirlivingbytheaccursedrewardofslavehunting。

Mydiscontentgrewuponme，andIwasonthelook-outformeansofescape。Withmoney，Icouldeasilyhavemanagedthematter，and，therefore，Ihitupontheplanofsolicitingtheprivilegeofhiringmytime。Itisquitecommon，inBaltimore，toallowslavesthisprivilege，anditisthepractice，also，inNewOrleans。Aslavewhoisconsideredtrustworthy，can，bypayinghismasteradefinitesumregularly，attheendofeachweek，disposeofhistimeashelikes。ItsohappenedthatIwasnotinverygoododor，andIwasfarfrombeingatrustworthyslave。

Nevertheless，IwatchedmyopportunitywhenMasterThomascametoBaltimore(forIwasstillhisproperty，Hughonlyactedashisagent)inthespringof1838，topurchasehisspringsupplyofgoods，<253ALLOWEDTOHIREMYTIME>andappliedtohim，directly，forthemuch-covetedprivilegeofhiringmytime。ThisrequestMasterThomasunhesitatinglyrefusedtogrant；andhechargedme，withsomesternness，withinventingthisstratagemtomakemyescape。Hetoldme，“Icouldgo_nowhere_buthecouldcatchme；

and，intheeventofmyrunningaway，Imightbeassuredheshouldsparenopainsinhiseffortstorecaptureme。Herecounted，withagooddealofeloquence，themanykindofficeshehaddoneme，andexhortedmetobecontentedandobedient。

“Layoutnoplansforthefuture，“saidhe。“Ifyoubehaveyourselfproperly，Iwilltakecareofyou。“Now，kindandconsiderateasthisofferwas，itfailedtosoothemeintorepose。InspiteofMasterThomas，and，Imaysay，inspiteofmyself，also，Icontinuedtothink，andworsestill，tothinkalmostexclusivelyabouttheinjusticeandwickednessofslavery。

Noeffortofmineorofhiscouldsilencethistrouble-givingthought，orchangemypurposetorunaway。

AbouttwomonthsafterapplyingtoMasterThomasfortheprivilegeofhiringmytime，IappliedtoMasterHughforthesameliberty，supposinghimtobeunacquaintedwiththefactthatIhadmadeasimilarapplicationtoMasterThomas，andhadbeenrefused。Myboldnessinmakingthisrequest，fairlyastoundedhimatthefirst。Hegazedatmeinamazement。ButIhadmanygoodreasonsforpressingthematter；and，afterlisteningtothemawhile，hedidnotabsolutelyrefuse，buttoldmehewouldthinkofit。Here，then，wasagleamofhope。Oncemasterofmyowntime，IfeltsurethatIcouldmake，overandabovemyobligationtohim，adollarortwoeveryweek。Someslaveshavemadeenough，inthisway，topurchasetheirfreedom。Itisasharpspurtoindustry；andsomeofthemostenterprisingcoloredmeninBaltimorehirethemselvesinthisway。Aftermaturereflection——asImustsupposeitwasMasterHughgrantedmetheprivilegeinquestion，onthefollowingterms:Iwastobeallowedallmytime；tomakeallbargainsforwork；tofindmyownemployment，andtocollectmyownwages；and，<254>inreturnforthisliberty，Iwasrequired，orobliged，topayhimthreedollarsattheendofeachweek，andtoboardandclothemyself，andbuymyowncalkingtools。Afailureinanyoftheseparticularswouldputanendtomyprivilege。Thiswasahardbargain。Thewearandtearofclothing，thelosingandbreakingoftools，andtheexpenseofboard，madeitnecessaryformetoearnatleastsixdollarsperweek，tokeepevenwiththeworld。

Allwhoareacquaintedwithcalking，knowhowuncertainandirregularthatemploymentis。Itcanbedonetoadvantageonlyindryweather，foritisuselesstoputwetoakumintoaseam。

Rainorshine，however，workornowork，attheendofeachweekthemoneymustbeforthcoming。

MasterHughseemedtobeverymuchpleased，foratime，withthisarrangement；andwellhemightbe，foritwasdecidedlyinhisfavor。Itrelievedhimofallanxietyconcerningme。Hismoneywassure。Hehadarmedmyloveoflibertywithalashandadriver，farmoreefficientthananyIhadbeforeknown；and，whilehederivedallthebenefitsofslaveholdingbythearrangement，withoutitsevils，Ienduredalltheevilsofbeingaslave，andyetsufferedallthecareandanxietyofaresponsiblefreeman。“Nevertheless，“thoughtI，“itisavaluableprivilegeanotherstepinmycareertowardfreedom。“Itwassomethingeventobepermittedtostaggerunderthedisadvantagesofliberty，andIwasdeterminedtoholdontothenewlygainedfooting，byallproperindustry。Iwasreadytoworkbynightaswellasbyday；andbeingintheenjoymentofexcellenthealth，Iwasablenotonlytomeetmycurrentexpenses，butalsotolaybyasmallsumattheendofeachweek。

Allwentonthus，fromthemonthofMaytillAugust；then——forreasonswhichwillbecomeapparentasIproceed——mymuchvaluedlibertywaswrestedfromme。

Duringtheweekprevioustothis(tome)calamitousevent，Ihadmadearrangementswithafewyoungfriends，toaccompanythem，onSaturdaynight，toacamp-meeting，heldabouttwelvemilesfromBaltimore。Ontheeveningofourintendedstartfor<255I

ATTENDCAMP-MEETING>thecamp-ground，somethingoccurredintheshipyardwhereIwasatwork，whichdetainedmeunusuallylate，andcompelledmeeithertodisappointmyyoungfriends，ortoneglectcarryingmyweeklyduestoMasterHugh。KnowingthatI

hadthemoney，andcouldhandittohimonanotherday，Idecidedtogotocamp-meeting，andtopayhimthethreedollars，forthepastweek，onmyreturn。Onceonthecamp-ground，IwasinducedtoremainonedaylongerthanIhadintended，whenIlefthome。

But，assoonasIreturned，IwentstraighttohishouseonFellstreet，tohandhimhis(my)money。Unhappily，thefatalmistakehadbeencommitted。Ifoundhimexceedinglyangry。Heexhibitedallthesignsofapprehensionandwrath，whichaslaveholdermaybesurmisedtoexhibitonthesupposedescapeofafavoriteslave。“Yourascal！Ihaveagreatmindtogiveyouaseverewhipping。Howdareyougooutofthecitywithoutfirstaskingandobtainingmypermission？““Sir，“saidI，“Ihiredmytimeandpaidyouthepriceyouaskedforit。IdidnotknowthatitwasanypartofthebargainthatIshouldaskyouwhenorwhereI

shouldgo。“

“Youdidnotknow，yourascal！YouareboundtoshowyourselfhereeverySaturdaynight。“Afterreflecting，afewmoments，hebecamesomewhatcooleddown；but，evidentlygreatlytroubled，hesaid，“Now，youscoundrel！youhavedoneforyourself；youshallhireyourtimenolonger。ThenextthingIshallhearof，willbeyourrunningaway。Bringhomeyourtoolsandyourclothes，atonce。I"llteachyouhowtogooffinthisway。“

Thusendedmypartialfreedom。Icouldhiremytimenolonger；

andIobeyedmymaster"sordersatonce。ThelittletasteoflibertywhichIhadhad——althoughasthereaderwillhaveseen，itwasfarfrombeingunalloyed——bynomeansenhancedmycontentmentwithslavery。PunishedthusbyMasterHugh，itwasnowmyturntopunishhim。“Since，“thoughtI，“you_will_makeaslaveofme，Iwillawaityourordersinallthings；“and，insteadofgoingtolookforworkonMondaymorning，asIhad<256>formerlydone，Iremainedathomeduringtheentireweek，withouttheperformanceofasinglestrokeofwork。Saturdaynightcame，andhecalleduponme，asusual，formywages。I，ofcourse，toldhimIhaddonenowork，andhadnowages。Herewewereatthepointofcomingtoblows。Hiswrathhadbeenaccumulatingduringthewholeweek；forheevidentlysawthatI

wasmakingnoefforttogetwork，butwasmostaggravatinglyawaitinghisorders，inallthings。AsIlookbacktothisbehaviorofmine，Iscarcelyknowwhatpossessedme，thustotriflewiththosewhohadsuchunlimitedpowertoblessortoblastme。MasterHughravedandsworehisdeterminationto_“getholdofme；“_but，wiselyfor_him_，andhappilyfor_me_，hiswrathonlyemployedthoseveryharmless，impalpablemissiles，whichrollfromalimbertongue。Inmydesperation，IhadfullymadeupmymindtomeasurestrengthwithMasterHugh，incaseheshouldundertaketoexecutehisthreats。Iamgladtherewasnonecessityforthis；forresistancetohimcouldnothaveendedsohappilyforme，asitdidinthecaseofCovey。Hewasnotamantobesafelyresistedbyaslave；andIfreelyown，thatinmyconducttowardhim，inthisinstance，therewasmorefollythanwisdom。MasterHughclosedhisreproofs，bytellingmethat，hereafter，Ineedgivemyselfnouneasinessaboutgettingwork；

thathe“would，himself，seetogettingworkforme，andenoughofit，atthat。“ThisthreatIconfesshadsometerrorinit；

and，onthinkingthematterover，duringtheSunday，Iresolved，notonlytosavehimthetroubleofgettingmework，butthat，uponthethirddayofSeptember，Iwouldattempttomakemyescapefromslavery。Therefusaltoallowmetohiremytime，therefore，hastenedtheperiodofflight。Ihadthreeweeks，now，inwhichtoprepareformyjourney。

Onceresolved，Ifeltacertaindegreeofrepose，andonMonday，insteadofwaitingforMasterHughtoseekemploymentforme，I

wasupbybreakofday，andofftotheshipyardofMr。Butler，ontheCityBlock，nearthedraw-bridge。Iwasafavorite<257

PAINFULTHOUGHTSOFSEPARATION>withMr。B。，and，youngasIwas，Ihadservedashisforemanonthefloatstage，atcalking。Ofcourse，Ieasilyobtainedwork，and，attheendoftheweek——

whichbythewaywasexceedinglyfineIbroughtMasterHughnearlyninedollars。Theeffectofthismarkofreturninggoodsense，onmypart，wasexcellent。Hewasverymuchpleased；hetookthemoney，commendedme，andtoldmeImighthavedonethesamethingtheweekbefore。Itisablessedthingthatthetyrantmaynotalwaysknowthethoughtsandpurposesofhisvictim。MasterHughlittleknewwhatmyplanswere。Thegoingtocamp-meetingwithoutaskinghispermission——theinsolentanswersmadetohisreproaches——thesulkydeportmenttheweekafterbeingdeprivedoftheprivilegeofhiringmytime——hadawakenedinhimthesuspicionthatImightbecherishingdisloyalpurposes。Myobject，therefore，inworkingsteadily，wastoremovesuspicion，andinthisIsucceededadmirably。HeprobablythoughtIwasneverbettersatisfiedwithmycondition，thanattheverytimeIwasplanningmyescape。Thesecondweekpassed，andagainIcarriedhimmyfullweek"swages——_ninedollars；_andsowellpleasedwashe，thathegavemeTWENTY-FIVECENTS！and“badememakegooduseofit！“ItoldhimIwould，foroneoftheusestowhichImeanttoputit，wastopaymyfareontheundergroundrailroad。

Thingswithoutwentonasusual；butIwaspassingthroughthesameinternalexcitementandanxietywhichIhadexperiencedtwoyearsandahalfbefore。Thefailure，inthatinstance，wasnotcalculatedtoincreasemyconfidenceinthesuccessofthis，mysecondattempt；andIknewthatasecondfailurecouldnotleavemewheremyfirstdid——Imusteithergettothe_farnorth_，orbesenttothe_farsouth_。Besidestheexerciseofmindfromthisstateoffacts，Ihadthepainfulsensationofbeingabouttoseparatefromacircleofhonestandwarmheartedfriends，inBaltimore。Thethoughtofsuchaseparation，wherethehopeofevermeetingagainisexcluded，andwheretherecanbenocorrespondence，isverypainful。Itismyopinion，thatthousandswouldescapefrom<258>slaverywhonowremainthere，butforthestrongcordsofaffectionthatbindthemtotheirfamilies，relativesandfriends。Thedaughterishinderedfromescaping，bytheloveshebearshermother，andthefather，bythelovehebearshischildren；andso，totheendofthechapter。IhadnorelationsinBaltimore，andIsawnoprobabilityofeverlivingintheneighborhoodofsistersandbrothers；butthethoughtofleavingmyfriends，wasamongthestrongestobstaclestomyrunningaway。Thelasttwodaysoftheweek——FridayandSaturday——werespentmostlyincollectingmythingstogether，formyjourney。Havingworkedfourdaysthatweek，formymaster，Ihandedhimsixdollars，onSaturdaynight。

IseldomspentmySundaysathome；and，forfearthatsomethingmightbediscoveredinmyconduct，Ikeptupmycustom，andabsentedmyselfallday。OnMonday，thethirddayofSeptember，1838，inaccordancewithmyresolution，IbadefarewelltothecityofBaltimore，andtothatslaverywhichhadbeenmyabhorrencefromchildhood。

HowIgotaway——inwhatdirectionItraveled——whetherbylandorbywater；whetherwithorwithoutassistance——must，forreasonsalreadymentioned，remainunexplained。

LIFEAsaFREEMAN

CHAPTERXXII

LibertyAttainedTRANSITIONFROMSLAVERYTOFREEDOM——AWANDERERINNEWYORK——

FEELINGSONREACHINGTHATCITY——ANOLDACQUAINTANCEMET——

UNFAVORABLEIMPRESSIONS——LONELINESSANDINSECURITY——APOLOGYFOR

SLAVESWHORETURNTOTHEIRMASTERS——COMPELLEDTOTELLMY

CONDITION——SUCCOREDBYASAILOR——DAVIDRUGGLES——THEUNDERGROUND

RAILROAD——MARRIAGE——BAGGAGETAKENFROMME——KINDNESSOFNATHAN

JOHNSON——MYCHANGEOFNAME——DARKNOTIONSOFNORTHERN

CIVILIZATION——THECONTRAST——COLOREDPEOPLEINNEWBEDFORD——AN

INCIDENTILLUSTRATINGTHEIRSPIRIT——ACOMMONLABORER——DENIEDWORK

ATMYTRADE——THEFIRSTWINTERATTHENORTH——REPULSEATTHEDOORS

OFTHECHURCH——SANCTIFIEDHATE——THE_Liberator_ANDITSEDITOR。

Thereisnonecessityforanyextendednoticeoftheincidentsofthispartofmylife。Thereisnothingverystrikingorpeculiaraboutmycareerasafreeman，whenviewedapartfrommylifeasaslave。TherelationsubsistingbetweenmyearlyexperienceandthatwhichIamnowabouttonarrate，is，perhaps，mybestapologyforaddinganotherchaptertothisbook。

Disappearingfromthekindreader，inaflyingcloudorballoon(pardonthefigure)，drivenbythewind，andknowingnotwhereI

shouldland——whetherinslaveryorinfreedom——itisproperthatIshouldremove，atonce，allanxiety，byfranklymakingknownwhereIalighted。Theflightwasaboldandperilousone；buthereIam，inthegreatcityofNewYork，safeandsound，withoutlossofbloodorbone。InlessthanaweekafterleavingBaltimore，Iwaswalkingamidthehurryingthrong，andgazinguponthedazzlingwondersofBroadway。Thedreams<262>ofmychildhoodandthepurposesofmymanhoodwerenowfulfilled。A

freestatearoundme，andafreeearthundermyfeet！Whatamomentwasthistome！Awholeyearwaspressedintoasingleday。Anewworldburstuponmyagitatedvision。Ihaveoftenbeenasked，bykindfriendstowhomIhavetoldmystory，howI

feltwhenfirstIfoundmyselfbeyondthelimitsofslavery；andImustsayhere，asIhaveoftensaidtothem，thereisscarcelyanythingaboutwhichIcouldnotgiveamoresatisfactoryanswer。

Itwasamomentofjoyousexcitement，whichnowordscandescribe。Inalettertoafriend，writtensoonafterreachingNewYork。IsaidIfeltasonemightbesupposedtofeel，onescapingfromadenofhungrylions。But，inamomentlikethat，sensationsaretoointenseandtoorapidforwords。Anguishandgrief，likedarknessandrain，maybedescribed，butjoyandgladness，liketherainbowofpromise，defyalikethepenandpencil。

FortenorfifteenyearsIhadbeendraggingaheavychain，withahugeblockattachedtoit，cumberingmyeverymotion。Ihadfeltmyselfdoomedtodragthischainandthisblockthroughlife。Allefforts，before，toseparatemyselffromthehatefulencumbrance，hadonlyseemedtorivetmethemorefirmlytoit。

Baffledanddiscouragedattimes，Ihadaskedmyselfthequestion，Maynotthis，afterall，beGod"swork？MayHenot，forwiseends，havedoomedmetothislot？Acontesthadbeengoingoninmymindforyears，betweentheclearconsciousnessofrightandtheplausibleerrorsofsuperstition；betweenthewisdomofmanlycourage，andthefoolishweaknessoftimidity。