EPISODES 271 



Only think of my situation, reader! Here I was, ten 

 miles at least from home, and four or five from the nearest 

 plantation, in the camp of runaway slaves, and quite at 

 their mercy. My eyes involuntarily followed their motions, 

 but as I thought I perceived in them a strong desire to 

 make me their confidant and friend, I gradually relin- 

 quished all suspicions. The venison and potatoes looked 

 quite tempting, and by this time I was in a condition to 

 relish much less savory fare ; so, on being humbly asked 

 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 the wife were desirous 

 of communicating something to me, I at once and fear- 

 lessly 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 wife, 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 corresponding to their 

 qualifications. 



The Runaway chanced to be bought by the overseer of 

 the plantation ; the wife was bought by an individual re- 

 siding about a hundred miles off, and the children went to 

 different places along the river. The heart of the husband 



