按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
before； and hope never to again。 Early in the
morning； we went； as usual； to the field。 We were
spreading manure； and all at once； while thus en…
gaged； I was overwhelmed with an indescribable feel…
ing； in the fulness of which I turned to Sandy； who
was near by； and said； 〃We are betrayed！〃 〃Well；〃
said he； 〃that thought has this moment struck me。〃
We said no more。 I was never more certain of any
thing。
The horn was blown as usual； and we went up
from the field to the house for breakfast。 I went for
the form； more than for want of any thing to eat
that morning。 Just as I got to the house； in looking
out at the lane gate； I saw four white men； with
two colored men。 The white men were on horseback；
and the colored ones were walking behind； as if tied。
I watched them a few moments till they got up to
our lane gate。 Here they halted； and tied the colored
men to the gate…post。 I was not yet certain as to
what the matter was。 In a few moments； in rode
Mr。 Hamilton； with a speed betokening great excite…
ment。 He came to the door； and inquired if Master
William was in。 He was told he was at the barn。 Mr。
Hamilton； without dismounting； rode up to the barn
with extraordinary speed。 In a few moments； he and
Mr。 Freeland returned to the house。 By this time；
the three constables rode up； and in great haste dis…
mounted； tied their horses； and met Master William
and Mr。 Hamilton returning from the barn； and
after talking awhile； they all walked up to the
kitchen door。 There was no one in the kitchen but
myself and John。 Henry and Sandy were up at the
barn。 Mr。 Freeland put his head in at the door； and
called me by name； saying； there were some gentle…
men at the door who wished to see me。 I stepped
to the door； and inquired what they wanted。 They
at once seized me； and； without giving me any satis…
faction； tied melashing my hands closely together。
I insisted upon knowing what the matter was。 They
at length said； that they had learned I had been in a
〃scrape；〃 and that I was to be examined before my
master； and if their information proved false； I
should not be hurt。
In a few moments； they succeeded in tying John。
They then turned to Henry； who had by this time
returned； and commanded him to cross his hands。
〃I won't！〃 said Henry； in a firm tone； indicating his
readiness to meet the consequences of his refusal。
〃Won't you？〃 said Tom Graham； the constable。 〃No；
I won't！〃 said Henry； in a still stronger tone。 With
this； two of the constables pulled out their shining
pistols； and swore； by their Creator； that they would
make him cross his hands or kill him。 Each cocked
his pistol； and； with fingers on the trigger； walked
up to Henry； saying； at the same time； if he did not
cross his hands； they would blow his damned heart
out。 〃Shoot me； shoot me！〃 said Henry； 〃you can't
kill me but once。 Shoot； shoot；and be damned！ ~I
won't be tied！~〃 This he said in a tone of loud defi…
ance； and at the same time； with a motion as quick
as lightning； he with one single stroke dashed the
pistols from the hand of each constable。 As he did
this； all hands fell upon him； and； after beating
him some time； they finally overpowered him； and
got him tied。
During the scuffle； I managed； I know not how；
to get my pass out； and； without being discovered；
put it into the fire。 We were all now tied； and just
as we were to leave for Easton jail； Betsy Freeland；
mother of William Freeland； came to the door with
her hands full of biscuits； and divided them between
Henry and John。 She then delivered herself of a
speech； to the following effect：addressing herself
to me； she said； 〃~You devil！ You yellow devil！~ it was
you that put it into the heads of Henry and John
to run away。 But for you； you long…legged mulatto
devil！ Henry nor John would never have thought
of such a thing。〃 I made no reply； and was imme…
diately hurried off towards St。 Michael's。 Just a mo…
ment previous to the scuffle with Henry； Mr。 Hamil…
ton suggested the propriety of making a search for
the protections which he had understood Frederick
had written for himself and the rest。 But； just at
the moment he was about carrying his proposal into
effect； his aid was needed in helping to tie Henry；
and the excitement attending the scuffle caused
them either to forget； or to deem it unsafe； under
the circumstances； to search。 So we were not yet
convicted of the intention to run away。
When we got about half way to St。 Michael's；
while the constables having us in charge were look…
ing ahead； Henry inquired of me what he should
do with his pass。 I told him to eat it with his biscuit；
and own nothing； and we passed the word around；
〃~Own nothing；~〃 and 〃~Own nothing！~〃 said we all。
Our confidence in each other was unshaken。 We
were resolved to succeed or fail together； after the
calamity had befallen us as much as before。 We
were now prepared for any thing。 We were to be
dragged that morning fifteen miles behind horses；
and then to be placed in the Easton jail。 When we
reached St。 Michael's； we underwent a sort of exami…
nation。 We all denied that we ever intended to run
away。 We did this more to bring out the evidence
against us； than from any hope of getting clear of
being sold； for； as I have said； we were ready for
that。 The fact was； we cared but little where we
went； so we went together。 Our greatest concern was
about separation。 We dreaded that more than any
thing this side of death。 We found the evidence
against us to be the testimony of one person； our
master would not tell who it was； but we came to
a unanimous decision among ourselves as to who
their informant was。 We were sent off to the jail at
Easton。 When we got there； we were delivered up
to the sheriff； Mr。 Joseph Graham； and by him
placed in jail。 Henry； John； and myself； were placed
in one room togetherCharles； and Henry Bailey；
in another。 Their object in separating us was to
hinder concert。
We had been in jail scarcely twenty minutes；
when a swarm of slave traders； and agents for slave
traders； flocked into jail to look at us； and to as…
certain if we were for sale。 Such a set of beings I
never saw before！ I felt myself surrounded by so
many fiends from perdition。 A band of pirates never
looked more like their father； the devil。 They
laughed and grinned over us； saying； 〃Ah； my boys！
we have got you； haven't we？〃 And after taunting
us in various ways； they one by one went into an
examination of us； with intent to ascertain our value。
They would impudently ask us if we would not like
to have them for our masters。 We would make them
no answer； and leave them to find out as best they
could。 Then they would curse and swear at us； telling
us that they could take the devil out of us in a very
little while； if we were only in their hands。
While in jai