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us that they could take the devil out of us in a very
little while； if we were only in their hands。
While in jail； we found ourselves in much more
comfortable quarters than we expected when we
went there。 We did not get much to eat； nor that
which was very good； but we had a good clean room；
from the windows of which we could see what was go…
ing on in the street； which was very much better
than though we had been placed in one of the dark；
damp cells。 Upon the whole； we got along very well；
so far as the jail and its keeper were concerned。
Immediately after the holidays were over； contrary
to all our expectations； Mr。 Hamilton and Mr。 Free…
land came up to Easton； and took Charles； the two
Henrys； and John； out of jail； and carried them
home； leaving me alone。 I regarded this separation
as a final one。 It caused me more pain than any
thing else in the whole transaction。 I was ready for
any thing rather than separation。 I supposed that
they had consulted together； and had decided that；
as I was the whole cause of the intention of the
others to run away； it was hard to make the innocent
suffer with the guilty； and that they had； therefore；
concluded to take the others home； and sell me； as
a warning to the others that remained。 It is due
to the noble Henry to say； he seemed almost as
reluctant at leaving the prison as at leaving home
to come to the prison。 But we knew we should； in
all probability； be separated； if we were sold； and
since he was in their hands； he concluded to go
peaceably home。
I was now left to my fate。 I was all alone； and
within the walls of a stone prison。 But a few days
before； and I was full of hope。 I expected to have
been safe in a land of freedom； but now I was cov…
ered with gloom； sunk down to the utmost despair。
I thought the possibility of freedom was gone。 I
was kept in this way about one week； at the end
of which； Captain Auld； my master； to my surprise
and utter astonishment； came up； and took me out；
with the intention of sending me； with a gentleman
of his acquaintance； into Alabama。 But； from some
cause or other； he did not send me to Alabama；
but concluded to send me back to Baltimore； to
live again with his brother Hugh； and to learn a
trade。
Thus； after an absence of three years and one
month； I was once more permitted to return to my
old home at Baltimore。 My master sent me away；
because there existed against me a very great preju…
dice in the community； and he feared I might be
killed。
In a few weeks after I went to Baltimore； Master
Hugh hired me to Mr。 William Gardner； an ex…
tensive ship…builder； on Fell's Point。 I was put there
to learn how to calk。 It； however； proved a very
unfavorable place for the accomplishment of this
object。 Mr。 Gardner was engaged that spring in
building two large man…of…war brigs； professedly for
the Mexican government。 The vessels were to be
launched in the July of that year； and in failure
thereof； Mr。 Gardner was to lose a considerable sum；
so that when I entered； all was hurry。 There was
no time to learn any thing。 Every man had to do
that which he knew how to do。 In entering the ship…
yard； my orders from Mr。 Gardner were； to do what…
ever the carpenters commanded me to do。 This was
placing me at the beck and call of about seventy…five
men。 I was to regard all these as masters。 Their
word was to be my law。 My situation was a most
trying one。 At times I needed a dozen pair of hands。
I was called a dozen ways in the space of a single
minute。 Three or four voices would strike my ear
at the same moment。 It was〃Fred。； come help me
to cant this timber here。〃〃Fred。； come carry this
timber yonder。〃〃Fred。； bring that roller here。〃
〃Fred。； go get a fresh can of water。〃〃Fred。； come
help saw off the end of this timber。〃〃Fred。； go
quick； and get the crowbar。〃〃Fred。； hold on the
end of this fall。〃〃Fred。； go to the blacksmith's
shop； and get a new punch。〃〃Hurra； Fred。！ run
and bring me a cold chisel。〃〃I say； Fred。； bear a
hand； and get up a fire as quick as lightning under
that steam…box。〃〃Halloo； nigger！ come； turn this
grindstone。〃〃Come； come！ move； move！ and BOWSE
this timber forward。〃〃I say； darky； blast your eyes；
why don't you heat up some pitch？〃〃Halloo！
halloo！ halloo！〃 （Three voices at the same time。）
〃Come here！Go there！Hold on where you are！
Damn you； if you move； I'll knock your brains out！〃
This was my school for eight months； and I might
have remained there longer； but for a most horrid
fight I had with four of the white apprentices； in
which my left eye was nearly knocked out； and I
was horribly mangled in other respects。 The facts
in the case were these： Until a very little while
after I went there； white and black ship…carpenters
worked side by side； and no one seemed to see any
impropriety in it。 All hands seemed to be very well
satisfied。 Many of the black carpenters were freemen。
Things seemed to be going on very well。 All at once；
the white carpenters knocked off； and said they
would not work with free colored workmen。 Their
reason for this； as alleged； was； that if free colored
carpenters were encouraged； they would soon take
the trade into their own hands； and poor white men
would be thrown out of employment。 They therefore
felt called upon at once to put a stop to it。 And；
taking advantage of Mr。 Gardner's necessities； they
broke off； swearing they would work no longer； unless
he would discharge his black carpenters。 Now；
though this did not extend to me in form； it did
reach me in fact。 My fellow…apprentices very soon
began to feel it degrading to them to work with
me。 They began to put on airs； and talk about the
〃niggers〃 taking the country； saying we all ought to
be killed； and； being encouraged by the journey…
men； they commenced making my condition as
hard as they could； by hectoring me around； and
sometimes striking me。 I； of course； kept the vow
I made after the fight with Mr。 Covey； and struck
back again； regardless of consequences； and while
I kept them from combining； I succeeded very well；
for I could whip the whole of them； taking them
separately。 They； however； at length combined； and
came upon me； armed with sticks； stones； and heavy
handspikes。 One came in front with a half brick。
There was one at each side of me； and one behind
me。 While I was attending to those in front； and on
either side； the one behind ran up with the hand…
spike； and struck me a heavy blow upon the head。
It stunned me。 I fell； and with this they all ran
upon me； and fell to beating me with their fists。 I
let them lay on for a while； gathering strength。 In
an instant； I gave a sudden surge； and rose to my
hands and knees。 Just as I did that； one of their
number gave me； with his heavy boot； a powerful
kick in the left eye。 My eyeball seemed to have
burst。 When they saw