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under some large tree。 At times I would rise up； a
flash of energetic freedom would dart through my
soul； accompanied with a faint beam of hope； that
flickered for a moment； and then vanished。 I sank
down again； mourning over my wretched condition。
I was sometimes prompted to take my life； and that
of Covey； but was prevented by a combination of
hope and fear。 My sufferings on this plantation seem
now like a dream rather than a stern reality。
Our house stood within a few rods of the Chesa…
peake Bay； whose broad bosom was ever white with
sails from every quarter of the habitable globe。
Those beautiful vessels； robed in purest white； so
delightful to the eye of freemen； were to me so
many shrouded ghosts； to terrify and torment me
with thoughts of my wretched condition。 I have of…
ten； in the deep stillness of a summer's Sabbath；
stood all alone upon the lofty banks of that noble
bay； and traced； with saddened heart and tearful
eye； the countless number of sails moving off to
the mighty ocean。 The sight of these always affected
me powerfully。 My thoughts would compel utter…
ance； and there； with no audience but the Almighty；
I would pour out my soul's complaint； in my rude
way； with an apostrophe to the moving multitude of
ships：
〃You are loosed from your moorings； and are free；
I am fast in my chains； and am a slave！ You move
merrily before the gentle gale； and I sadly before
the bloody whip！ You are freedom's swift…winged
angels； that fly round the world； I am confined in
bands of iron！ O that I were free！ O； that I were
on one of your gallant decks； and under your pro…
tecting wing！ Alas！ betwixt me and you； the turbid
waters roll。 Go on； go on。 O that I could also go！
Could I but swim！ If I could fly！ O； why was I born
a man； of whom to make a brute！ The glad ship
is gone； she hides in the dim distance。 I am left in
the hottest hell of unending slavery。 O God； save
me！ God； deliver me！ Let me be free！ Is there any
God？ Why am I a slave？ I will run away。 I will not
stand it。 Get caught； or get clear； I'll try it。 I had
as well die with ague as the fever。 I have only one
life to lose。 I had as well be killed running as die
standing。 Only think of it； one hundred miles
straight north； and I am free！ Try it？ Yes！ God
helping me； I will。 It cannot be that I shall live
and die a slave。 I will take to the water。 This very
bay shall yet bear me into freedom。 The steam…
boats steered in a north…east course from North
Point。 I will do the same； and when I get to the
head of the bay； I will turn my canoe adrift； and
walk straight through Delaware into Pennsylvania。
When I get there； I shall not be required to have a
pass； I can travel without being disturbed。 Let but
the first opportunity offer； and； come what will； I
am off。 Meanwhile； I will try to bear up under the
yoke。 I am not the only slave in the world。 Why
should I fret？ I can bear as much as any of them。
Besides； I am but a boy； and all boys are bound to
some one。 It may be that my misery in slavery will
only increase my happiness when I get free。 There
is a better day coming。〃
Thus I used to think； and thus I used to speak
to myself； goaded almost to madness at one mo…
ment； and at the next reconciling myself to my
wretched lot。
I have already intimated that my condition was
much worse； during the first six months of my stay
at Mr。 Covey's； than in the last six。 The circum…
stances leading to the change in Mr。 Covey's course
toward me form an epoch in my humble history。
You have seen how a man was made a slave； you
shall see how a slave was made a man。 On one of
the hottest days of the month of August； 1833； Bill
Smith； William Hughes； a slave named Eli； and
myself； were engaged in fanning wheat。 Hughes was
clearing the fanned wheat from before the fan。 Eli
was turning； Smith was feeding； and I was carrying
wheat to the fan。 The work was simple； requiring
strength rather than intellect； yet； to one entirely
unused to such work； it came very hard。 About three
o'clock of that day； I broke down； my strength failed
me； I was seized with a violent aching of the head；
attended with extreme dizziness； I trembled in every
limb。 Finding what was coming； I nerved myself
up； feeling it would never do to stop work。 I stood
as long as I could stagger to the hopper with grain。
When I could stand no longer； I fell； and felt as
if held down by an immense weight。 The fan of
course stopped； every one had his own work to do；
and no one could do the work of the other； and
have his own go on at the same time。
Mr。 Covey was at the house； about one hundred
yards from the treading…yard where we were fanning。
On hearing the fan stop； he left immediately； and
came to the spot where we were。 He hastily in…
quired what the matter was。 Bill answered that I
was sick； and there was no one to bring wheat to the
fan。 I had by this time crawled away under the
side of the post and rail…fence by which the yard
was enclosed； hoping to find relief by getting out
of the sun。 He then asked where I was。 He was
told by one of the hands。 He came to the spot； and；
after looking at me awhile； asked me what was
the matter。 I told him as well as I could； for I scarce
had strength to speak。 He then gave me a savage
kick in the side； and told me to get up。 I tried to
do so； but fell back in the attempt。 He gave me
another kick； and again told me to rise。 I again
tried； and succeeded in gaining my feet； but； stoop…
ing to get the tub with which I was feeding the
fan； I again staggered and fell。 While down in this
situation； Mr。 Covey took up the hickory slat with
which Hughes had been striking off the half…bushel
measure； and with it gave me a heavy blow upon
the head； making a large wound； and the blood ran
freely； and with this again told me to get up。 I made
no effort to comply； having now made up my mind
to let him do his worst。 In a short time after re…
ceiving this blow； my head grew better。 Mr。 Covey
had now left me to my fate。 At this moment I re…
solved； for the first time； to go to my master； enter
a complaint； and ask his protection。 In order to do
this； I must that afternoon walk seven miles； and
this； under the circumstances； was truly a severe
undertaking。 I was exceedingly feeble； made so as
much by the kicks and blows which I received； as
by the severe fit of sickness to which I had been
subjected。 I； however； watched my chance； while
Covey was looking in an opposite direction； and
started for St。 Michael's。 I succeeded in getting a
considerable distance on my way to the woods； when
Covey discovered me； and called after me to come
back； threatening what he would do if I did not
come。 I disregarded both his calls and his threats；
and made my way to the woods as fast as my feeble
state would allow； an