This friend lived about eight miles from my hiding place, to which he
walked after his day’s work was ended. He wished me to go home and
stay with him until he was ready to leave. I was very glad to do
this, as he had a secure place, where they would least expect to find
me. We had appointed two different times before this to start, and
had been disappointed; still, his determination was firm to go.
I left my old hiding place, where I had spent one comfortable week,
in solemn meditation and sweet communion with God, and went home with
my friend.
He was coachman to his master, and had a room above the kitchen,
which no one entered but himself, and where he concealed me. His
master drove, whipped, and clothed his slaves most unmercifully, but
fed them uncommonly well; consequently, my friend was able to feed me
well, while I was his guest, he often coming to his room unseen, to
see if I needed any thing.
He went one night to the neighborhood where I had lived, but returned
with very discouraging news. Three hundred dollars had been offered
for me, and I had been advertised in all the papers; therefore, he
thought my way so much hedged in, that my escape was impossible,
and finally concluded not to try himself. I did not care so much
for the advertisement, as for this determination of his, which
rather discouraged me, for I knew he was a shrewd man, also, that
his business had often taken him from home in different directions;
therefore, I thought he would know more of the way than myself, and I
had accordingly, waited long for, and relied much upon, him. But my
trust in Him who will not forsake in time of need, was greater; so I
resolved to try the road alone and abide the consequences.
I passed most of my time in supplication to my Great Conductor,
until the next Friday, the time appointed for my departure. The most
discouraging thing seemed my ignorance of the direction I ought to
pursue. I knew well that dangers thickly beset the pathway, and that
should I miss my way, it would be almost certain failure to inquire
it of a white man; also, that I must starve rather than ask one for
food.
Various were the suggestions which the enemy of souls continually
presented to my mind, to weaken my trust in God; but, like Abraham
of old, I drove them away, still held my confidence, and prayed
incessantly. The all-important Friday now came, and I thought it
necessary to make one more trial, a third covenant with God, since it
is said a threefold cord is not easily broken. So I again inquired of
Him relative to this undertaking, and was soon spiritually convinced
that He was still with me, and would so continue to the end of my
journey; so I fully and finally committed myself to his charge, and
determined to start that night.
About three o’clock in the afternoon my friend came in with the good
tidings that he had changed his mind, and concluded to accompany me,
which quite encouraged me, though it did not change my trust from
divine to human aid. The evening came, and with it my friend, true to
his promise. He said, “Come, let us be going; I believe God’s promise
is sufficient, and I will try Him, and see what He will do for me.
Let us trust everything to him and serve him better. If we are taken,
he has power to provide a way for our escape.”
We started about 8 o’clock in the evening. After travelling about
three miles, we saw many horses feeding near the road, and concluding
that four legs were better adapted to speed than two, we took
one apiece. We went to a barn and took two blankets, but while
hunting for bridles, were routed and chased some distance by the
faithful watch dogs of the farm. Then we concluded to go to nature’s
manufactory; so we cut grape vines, made for ourselves bridles,
mounted our horses, and rode at full speed until daybreak, after
which we turned them loose, leaving them to shift for themselves, and
thanking them for their aid to us. I think we must have travelled at
least forty miles that night; yet, strange to say, did not meet a
single person.
The following day we travelled rapidly, and, about four o’clock, P.
M., reached Washington city. I went to a store and bought a pair of
shoes, and on the way met a colored man with whom I was acquainted,
we having been raised on the same farm. He inquired what wind blew
me there at that time of year, it not being holiday time. I knew
this man was a Christian, and therefore that it was safe to trust
him, which is not true of all, since there are as many treacherous
colored, as white men. I told him I had started for the free States,
and thought to go to Baltimore by steamboat; but he said that would
be impossible.
I asked what I should do; to which he replied that he could not tell,
but pointing to a house near by, said, “There lives Mrs. R., a free
woman, and one of God’s true children, who has travelled there many
times, and can direct you. You may depend upon what she tells you.”
I went as directed, and inquired for Mrs. R. She invited me to enter,
and asked where I was from; upon which I related my whole history,
during the recital of which tears ran down her cheeks. When I ended,
she said, “let us pray.” We knelt before God, when such a prayer as I
never heard from mortal lips, fell from hers. I felt God’s presence
sensibly.
After the prayer was concluded, she gave us a very good dinner. I
asked for pen and ink, and prepared to write a pass, upon which she
said, “Lay aside those earthly, selfish dependencies; God cannot work
when you depend partly on self; you must put your trust entirely in
Him, believing him to be all-sufficient. If you will do this,” she
added, with raised hands, “I will give my head for a chopping block,
if he does not carry you safely through, for I never knew him to
fail.”
She then gave us directions for our journey, naming the dangerous
places which we were to avoid; after which we started with renewed
courage. After travelling about two miles we came to a bridge, upon
which were many hands at work, under the supervision of a “boss.”
They did not address us, although they looked steadily at us, as if
they wished to do so.
This was a toll bridge, at which footmen paid two cents, but when we
crossed, the toll man was in so high dispute with a teamster, who had
just crossed, that he did not notice us. Thus God paid our toll.
About a mile beyond this, we came to a place where were several
Irishmen quarrying stone. They stopped work as we approached, looked
hard at us, and I heard them say, “Here come two negroes who look
like runaways; we can make a penny apiece off them, let’s take them
up.” This was a trying time, and exercised all the faith of which we
were possessed. But faith is the substance of things hoped for, and
the evidence of things not seen; by it the elders obtained a good
report.
But notwithstanding the suggestions of these men and our passing near
them, still they did not molest us, although they followed us with
their eyes, as far as they could see us. This was another Ebenezer
for us to raise, in token of God’s deliverance; so when we were out
of their sight, we knelt and offered up our thanksgiving to God for
this great salvation.
Three miles farther on we passed a village tavern, at the door of
which stood a stage coach loaded with passengers, of the driver of
which we inquired the way to a certain town. We had travelled about
a mile in the direction he designated, when we saw two horsemen
following us, in great haste. We suspected they were in pursuit of
us, but as there were no woods near, saw no means of escape.
As they came up they said, “Boys, where are you going?” We named the
town which was about three miles distant. “You will not get there
to-night,” said one. “No, sir, we don’t expect it,” I answered.
They kept along with us for about a mile. I soon suspected their
object was to arrest us, that they dared not attempt it alone, but
that they hoped to meet some one who would assist them. One of them
entered a tavern, which we passed, but finding no help there, came
out and continued on with us.
After awhile one of them rode on ahead of us, when the other tried to
check him by saying, “We must not go so fast, they will take another
road.” This verified our suspicions that they were after us.
My companion began to complain that it was now a gone case with
us, and said he wished he had not come. I reproved him for this
faithlessness; told him if this was his course of procedure, that we
should soon be taken up, and reminded him of his promise to trust
in God, let danger assume whatever shape it might. I told him my
confidence remained unshaken, that I had no reason at all to doubt.
Upon this he braved up, and went on cheerfully.
When we approached the town of Rockville, our undesirable companions
rode off at full speed, thinking, doubtless, that we should be
foolish enough to follow. We thought it wisest, however, as soon as
they were out of sight, to take the woods until night. But whilst
resting under the bushes, we observed two boys approaching, one
black the other white. The latter exclaimed at once, “There are two
runaways, I will go and tell my father.”
The boys went directly to a man who was near by ploughing, and
informed against us. We saw that to remain there would be unsafe,
so we resumed our journey. As we stood on a hill near Rockville,
we could look down into the village, where we saw many people,
apparently awaiting our arrival; therefore we presumed the two
horsemen had only gone ahead to prepare for our reception.
We saw a colored man near by, of whom we inquired what course
we could take to go around the village; but he would give us no
information whatever. So we decided that our best way was to venture
directly through the town, and had started to do so, when a colored
man, who was driving a wood team, seeing that we were strangers, and
guessing we were runaways, came near and said to us, “I see you are
strangers, and I hope you will excuse my boldness in addressing you.
I wish to say, that you had best not go through the village, unless
you have the necessary papers. Whether you have such documents you
best know. No colored man can pass here, without being subjected to a
close examination.”
We thanked him, and gave him to understand that we felt our cases
to be nearly desperate, and wished him to tell us the best way to
go around the town. He kindly told us, and we started to follow his
directions, which were to go through the woods and enter the main
road again, on the other side of the town.
But we had proceeded but a little way into the wood, when, to our
surprise, we saw coming towards us, down the road, a great number
of men, some on foot, others on horses, who had probably seen us as
we left the road for the wood. We fell back farther into the woods,
but it being large timber, with few bushes, we had little chance of
concealment, and were truly in a bad fix.
We at last found an old tree, which had fallen so that the trunk was
supported by the limbs about two feet from the ground. Under this
we crawled and lay flat upon our faces, as being the safest place
we could find, and little safety there seemed to me in this, for I
thought a man a hundred yards off might have seen us, with half an
eye.
We saw the huntsmen and their dogs within ten yards of us, and even
heard them say, “They must be near this place!” We lay still, and
held God to his promise, though when danger came so near, our hopes
began to vanish, and like Israel we began to mourn. But stand still
and see the salvation of God, which he will show thee to-day.
Presently one man said, “I think they have gone farther into the
woods. There is no place of concealment here, and besides the dogs
would find them.” Oh, foolish man! God bestowed their senses and he
can take them away. He can touch one nerve of the brain, and directly
their understanding is lost.
They finally went farther into the woods, listening to their dogs,
who seemed as anxious as their masters, to find us; but they could
not hit upon the right trail. We remained under the friendly tree
from five in the afternoon until ten in the evening; when, thinking
all was safe, after returning God our thanks, we left our hiding
place, and pursued our journey, determining to travel hereafter no
more by day.