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come。 I disregarded both his calls and his threats；
and made my way to the woods as fast as my feeble
state would allow； and thinking I might be over…
hauled by him if I kept the road； I walked through
the woods； keeping far enough from the road to
avoid detection； and near enough to prevent losing
my way。 I had not gone far before my little strength
again failed me。 I could go no farther。 I fell down；
and lay for a considerable time。 The blood was yet
oozing from the wound on my head。 For a time I
thought I should bleed to death； and think now that
I should have done so； but that the blood so matted
my hair as to stop the wound。 After lying there
about three quarters of an hour； I nerved myself
up again； and started on my way； through bogs and
briers； barefooted and bareheaded； tearing my feet
sometimes at nearly every step； and after a journey
of about seven miles； occupying some five hours to
perform it； I arrived at master's store。 I then pre…
sented an appearance enough to affect any but a
heart of iron。 From the crown of my head to my
feet； I was covered with blood。 My hair was all
clotted with dust and blood； my shirt was stiff with
blood。 I suppose I looked like a man who had es…
caped a den of wild beasts； and barely escaped them。
In this state I appeared before my master； humbly
entreating him to interpose his authority for my
protection。 I told him all the circumstances as well
as I could； and it seemed； as I spoke； at times to
affect him。 He would then walk the floor； and seek
to justify Covey by saying he expected I deserved
it。 He asked me what I wanted。 I told him； to let
me get a new home； that as sure as I lived with Mr。
Covey again； I should live with but to die with
him； that Covey would surely kill me； he was in a
fair way for it。 Master Thomas ridiculed the idea
that there was any danger of Mr。 Covey's killing
me； and said that he knew Mr。 Covey； that he was
a good man； and that he could not think of taking
me from him； that； should he do so； he would lose
the whole year's wages； that I belonged to Mr。 Covey
for one year； and that I must go back to him； come
what might； and that I must not trouble him with
any more stories； or that he would himself GET HOLD
OF ME。 After threatening me thus； he gave me a very
large dose of salts； telling me that I might remain
in St。 Michael's that night； （it being quite late；）
but that I must be off back to Mr。 Covey's early
in the morning； and that if I did not； he would
~get hold of me；~ which meant that he would whip
me。 I remained all night； and； according to his or…
ders； I started off to Covey's in the morning； （Sat…
urday morning；） wearied in body and broken in
spirit。 I got no supper that night； or breakfast that
morning。 I reached Covey's about nine o'clock； and
just as I was getting over the fence that divided
Mrs。 Kemp's fields from ours； out ran Covey with
his cowskin； to give me another whipping。 Before
he could reach me； I succeeded in getting to the
cornfield； and as the corn was very high； it afforded
me the means of hiding。 He seemed very angry； and
searched for me a long time。 My behavior was al…
together unaccountable。 He finally gave up the
chase； thinking； I suppose； that I must come home
for something to eat； he would give himself no fur…
ther trouble in looking for me。 I spent that day
mostly in the woods； having the alternative before
me；to go home and be whipped to death； or stay
in the woods and be starved to death。 That night；
I fell in with Sandy Jenkins； a slave with whom
I was somewhat acquainted。 Sandy had a free wife
who lived about four miles from Mr。 Covey's； and
it being Saturday； he was on his way to see her。 I
told him my circumstances； and he very kindly in…
vited me to go home with him。 I went home with
him； and talked this whole matter over； and got his
advice as to what course it was best for me to pursue。
I found Sandy an old adviser。 He told me； with
great solemnity； I must go back to Covey； but that
before I went； I must go with him into another
part of the woods； where there was a certain ~root；~
which； if I would take some of it with me； carrying
it ~always on my right side；~ would render it impos…
sible for Mr。 Covey； or any other white man； to
whip me。 He said he had carried it for years； and
since he had done so； he had never received a blow；
and never expected to while he carried it。 I at first
rejected the idea； that the simple carrying of a root
in my pocket would have any such effect as he had
said； and was not disposed to take it； but Sandy
impressed the necessity with much earnestness； tell…
ing me it could do no harm； if it did no good。 To
please him； I at length took the root； and； ac…
cording to his direction； carried it upon my right
side。 This was Sunday morning。 I immediately
started for home； and upon entering the yard gate；
out came Mr。 Covey on his way to meeting。 He
spoke to me very kindly； bade me drive the pigs
from a lot near by； and passed on towards the
church。 Now； this singular conduct of Mr。 Covey
really made me begin to think that there was some…
thing in the ROOT which Sandy had given me； and
had it been on any other day than Sunday； I could
have attributed the conduct to no other cause than
the influence of that root； and as it was； I was half
inclined to think the ~root~ to be something more
than I at first had taken it to be。 All went well till
Monday morning。 On this morning； the virtue of
the ROOT was fully tested。 Long before daylight； I
was called to go and rub； curry； and feed； the horses。
I obeyed； and was glad to obey。 But whilst thus
engaged； whilst in the act of throwing down some
blades from the loft； Mr。 Covey entered the stable
with a long rope； and just as I was half out of the
loft； he caught hold of my legs； and was about tying
me。 As soon as I found what he was up to； I gave
a sudden spring； and as I did so； he holding to my
legs； I was brought sprawling on the stable floor。
Mr。 Covey seemed now to think he had me； and
could do what he pleased； but at this moment
from whence came the spirit I don't knowI re…
solved to fight； and； suiting my action to the reso…
lution； I seized Covey hard by the throat； and as I
did so； I rose。 He held on to me； and I to him。 My
resistance was so entirely unexpected that Covey
seemed taken all aback。 He trembled like a leaf。
This gave me assurance； and I held him uneasy；
causing the blood to run where I touched him with
the ends of my fingers。 Mr。 Covey soon called out
to Hughes for help。 Hughes came； and； while Covey
held me； attempted to tie my right hand。 While he
was in the act of doing so； I watched my chance；
and gave him a heavy kick close under the ribs。
This kick fairly sickened Hughes； so that he left
me in the hands of Mr。 Covey。 This kick had the
effect of not only weakening Hughes； but Covey