30 THE RUNAWAY. 



from home, and four or five from the nearest plantation, in the camp of 

 runaway slaves, and quite at their mercy. My eyes involuntarily follow- 

 ed their motions, but as I thought I perceived in them a strong desire to 

 make me their confidant and friend, I gradually relinquished all suspicion. 

 The venison and potatoes looked quite tempting, and by this time I was 

 in a condition to rehsh much less savoury fare ; so, on being humbly ask- 

 ed to divide the viands before us, I partook of as hearty a meal as I had 

 ever done in my life. 



Supper over, the fire was completely extinguished, and a small lighted 

 pine-knot placed in a hollowed calabash. Seeing that both the husband 

 and wife were desirous of communicating something to me, I at once and 

 fearlessly desired them to unburden their minds ; when the Runaway told 

 me a tale of which the following is the substance. 



About eighteen months before, a planter residing not very far off, 

 having met with some losses, was obliged to expose his slaves at a public 

 sale. The value of his negroes was well known, and on the appointed 

 day, the auctioneer laid them out in small lots, or offered them singly, in 

 the manner which he judged most advantageous to their owner. The 

 Runaway, who was well known as being the most valuable next to his Avife, 

 was put up by himself for sale, and brought an immoderate price. For 

 his wife, who came next, and alone, eight hundred dollars were bidden 

 and paid down. Then the children were exposed, and, on account of their 

 breed, brought high prices. The rest of the slaves went off at rates cor- 

 responding to their quahficatrons. 



The Runaway chanced to be purchased by the overseer of the planta- 

 tion ; the wife was bought by an individual residing about a hundred 

 miles off, and the children went to different places along the river. The 

 heart of the husband and father failed him under this dire calamity. For 

 a while he pined in deep sorrow under his new master ; but having mark- 

 ed down in his memory the names of the different persons who had pur- 

 chased each dear portion of his family, he feigned illness, if indeed he 

 whose affections had been so grievously blasted could be said to feign it, 

 refrained from food for several days, and was little regarded by the over- 

 seer, who felt himself disappointed in what he had considered a bargain. 



On a stormy night, when the elements raged with all the fury of a 

 hurricane, the poor negro made his escape, and, being well acquainted 

 with all the neighbouring swamps, at once made directly for the cane 



