rcome the mountainous difficulties which I am now about to describe。
After this we rose and stood for a few moments in breathless silence；we were afraid that some one might have been about the cottage listening and watching our movements。 So I took my wife by the hand； stepped softly to the door； raised the latch； drew it open； and peeped out。 Though there were trees all around the house； yet the foliage scarcely moved； in fact； everything appeared to be as still as death。 I then whispered to my wife； 〃Come； my dear； let us make a desperate leap for liberty！〃 But poor thing； she shrank back； in a state of trepidation。 I turned and asked what was the matter； she made no reply； but burst into violent sobs； and threw her head upon my breast。 This appeared to touch my very heart； it caused me to enter into her feelings more fully than ever。 We both saw the many mountainous difficulties that rose one after the other before our view； and knew far too well what our sad fate would have been； were we caught and forced back into our slavish den。 Therefore on my wife's fully realizing the solemn fact that we had to take our lives； as it were； in our hands； and contest every inch of the thousand miles of slave territory over which we had to pass； it made her heart almost sink within her； and； had I known them at that time； I would have repeated the following en… couraging lines； which may not be out of place here
〃The hill； though high； I covet to ascend； The DIFFICULTY WILL NOT ME OFFEND； For I perceive the way to life lies here： Come； pluck up heart； let's neither faint nor fear； Better； though difficult； the right way to go； Than wrong； though easy； where the end is woe。〃
However； the sobbing was soon over； and after a few moments of silent prayer she recovered her self…possession； and said； 〃Come； William； it is getting late； so now let us venture upon our peril… ous journey。〃
We then opened the door； and stepped as softly out as 〃moonlight upon the water。〃 I locked the door with my own key； which I now have before me； and tiptoed across the yard into the street。 I say tiptoed； because we were like persons near a totter… ing avalanche； afraid to move； or even breathe freely； for fear the sleeping tyrants should be aroused； and come down upon us with double vengeance； for daring to attempt to escape in the manner which we contemplated。
We shook hands； said farewell； and started in different directions for the railway station。 I took the nearest possible way to the train； for fear I should be recognized by some one； and got into the negro car in which I knew I should have to ride； but my MASTER （as I will now call my wife） took a longer way round； and only arrived there with the bulk of the passengers。 He obtained a ticket for himself and one for his slave to Savannah； the first port； which was about two hundred miles off。 My master then had the luggage stowed away； and stepped into one of the best carriages。
But just before the train moved off I peeped through the window； and； to my great astonishment； I saw the cabinet…maker with whom I had worked so long； on the platform。 He stepped up to the ticket… seller； and asked some question； and then com… menced looking rapidly through the passengers； and into the carriages。 Fully believing that we were caught； I shrank into a corner； turned my face from the door； and expected in a moment to be dragged out。 The cabinet…maker looked into my master's carriage； but did not know him in his new attire； and； as God would have it； before he reached mine the bell rang； and the train moved off。
I have heard since that the cabinet…maker had a pre… sentiment that we were about to 〃make tracks for parts unknown；〃 but； not seeing me； his suspicions vanished； until he received the startling intelligence that we had arrived freely in a free State。
As soon as the train had left the platform； my master looked round in the carriage； and was terror…stricken to find a Mr。 Crayan old friend of my wife's master； who dined with the family the day before； and knew my wife from childhood sitting on the same seat。
The doors of the American railway carriages are at the ends。 The passengers walk up the aisle； and take seats on either side； and as my master was engaged in looking out of the window； he did not see who came in。
My master's first impression； after seeing Mr。 Cray； was； that he was there for the purpose of securing him。 However； my master thought it was not wise to give any information respecting him… self； and for fear that Mr。 Cray might draw him into conversation and recognise his voice； my master resolved to feign deafness as the only means of self…defence。
After a little while； Mr。 Cray said to my master； 〃It is a very fine morning； sir。〃 The latter took no notice； but kept looking out of the window。 Mr。 Cray soon repeated this remark； in a little louder tone； but my master remained as before。 This indifference attracted the attention of the passengers near； one of whom laughed out。 This； I suppose； annoyed the old gentleman； so he said； 〃I will make him hear；〃 and in a loud tone of voice repeated； 〃It is a very fine morning； sir。〃
My master turned his head； and with a polite bow said； 〃Yes；〃 and commenced looking out of the window again。
One of the gentlemen remarked that it was a very great deprivation to be deaf。 〃Yes；〃 replied Mr。 Cray； 〃and I shall not trouble that fellow any more。〃 This enabled my master to breathe a little easier； and to feel that Mr。 Cray was not his pur… suer after all。
The gentlemen then turned the conversation upon the three great topics of discussion in first… class circles in Georgia； namely； Niggers； Cotton； and the Abolitionists。
My master had often heard of abolitionists； but in such a connection as to cause him to think that they were a fearful kind of wild animal。 But he was highly delighted to learn； from the gentle… men's conversation； that the abolitionists were persons who were opposed to oppression； and therefore； in his opinion； not the lowest； but the very highest； of God's creatures。
Without the slightest objection on my master's part； the gentlemen left the carriage at Gordon； for Milledgeville （the capital of the State）。
We arrived at Savannah early in the evening； and got into an omnibus； which stopped at the hotel for the passengers to take tea。 I stepped into the house and brought my master something on a tray to the omnibus； which took us in due time to the steamer； which was bound for Charles… ton； South Carolina。
Soon after going on board； my master turned in； and as the captain and some of the passengers seemed to think this strange； and also questioned me respecting him； my master thought I had better get out the flannels and opodeldoc which we had prepared for the rheumatism； warm them quickly by the stove in the gentleman's saloon； and bring them to his berth。 We did this as an excuse for my master's retiring to bed so early。
While at the stove one of the passengers said to me； 〃Buck； what have you got there？〃 〃Opodel… doc； sir；〃 I replied。 〃I should think it's opo… DEVIL；〃 said a lanky swell； who was leaning back in a chair with his heels upon the back of another； and chewing tobacco as if for a wager； 〃it stinks enough to kill or cure twenty men。 Away with it； or I reckon I will throw it overboard！〃
It was by this time warm enough； so I took it to my master's berth； remained there a little while； and then went on deck and asked the steward where I was to sleep。 He said there was no place provided for coloured passengers； whether slave or free。 So I paced the deck till a late hour； then mounted some cotton bags； in a warm place near the funnel； sat there till morning； and then went and assisted my master to get ready for breakfast。
He was seated at the right hand of the captain； who； together with all the passengers； inquired very kindly after his health。 As my master had one hand in a sling； it was my duty to carve his food。 But when I went out the captain said； 〃You have a very attentive boy； sir； but you had better watch him like a hawk when you get on to the North。 He seems all very well here； but he may act quite differently there。 I know several gentlemen who have lost their valuable niggers among them dd cut…throat abolitionists。〃
Before my master could speak； a rough slave… dealer； who was sitting opposite； with both elbows on the table； and with a large piece of broiled fowl in his fingers； shook his head with emphasis； and in a deep Yankee tone； forced through his crowded mouth the words； 〃Sound doctrine； captain； very sound。〃 He then dropped the chicken into the plate； leant back； placed his thumbs in the armholes of his fancy waistcoat； and continued； 〃I would not take a nigger to the North under no consideration。 I have had a deal to do with niggers in my time； but I never saw one who ever had his heel upon free soil that was worth a dn。〃 〃Now stranger；〃 addressing my master； 〃if you have made up your mind to sell that ere nigger； I am your man； just mention your price； and if it isn't out of the way； I will pay for him on this board with hard silver dollars。〃 This hard…featured； bristly…bearded； wire…headed； red…eyed monster； staring at my master as the serpent did at Eve； said； 〃What do you say； stranger？〃 He replied； 〃I don't wish to sell； sir； I cannot get on well with… out him。〃
〃You will have to get on without him if you take him to the North；〃 continued this man； 〃for I can tell ye； stranger； as a friend； I am an older cove than you； I have seen lots of this ere world； and I reckon I have had more dealings with niggers than any man living or dead。 I was once employed by General Wade Hampton； for ten years； in doing nothing but breaking 'em in； and everybody knows that the General would not have a man that didn't understand his business。 So I tell ye； stranger； again； you had better sell； and let me take him down to Orleans。 He will do you no good if you take him across Mason's and Dixon's line； he is a keen nigger； and I can see from the cut of his eye that he is certain to run away。〃 My master said； 〃I think not； sir； I have great confidence in his fidelity。〃 〃FiDEVIL；〃 indignantly said the dealer； as his fist came down upon the edge