replied to him that my master had given me so much to perform that
day, and that I must therefore faithfully complete it in that time.
He then broke out in a great rage, snatched a pitchfork and went to
lay me over the head therewith; but I as soon got another and defended
myself with it, or otherwise he might have murdered me in his outrage.
He immediately called some people who were hearing at work for him,
and ordered them to take his hair rope and and come and bind me with
it. They all tried to bind me but in vain, tho' there were three
assistants in number. My upstart master than desisted, put his pocket
handkerchief before his eyes and went home with a design to tell his
mother of the struggle with young VENTURE. He told her that their
young VENTURE had become so stubborn that he could not controul him,
and asked her what he should do with him. In the mean time I
recovered my temper, voluntarily caused myself to be bound by the same
men who tried in vain before, and carried before my young master, that
he might do what he pleased with me. He took me to a gallows made for
the purpose of hanging cattle on, and suspended me on it. Afterwards
he ordered one of his hands to go to the peach orchard and cut him
three dozens of whips to punish me with. These were brought to him,
and that was all that was done with them, as I was released and went
to work after hanging on the gallows about an hour.

After I lived with my master thirteen years, being then about twenty
two years old, I married Meg, a slave of his who was about my age. My
master owned a certain Irishman, named Heddy, who about that time
formed a plan of secretly leaving his master. After he had long had
this plan in meditation he suggested it to me. At first I cast a deaf
ear on it, and rebuked Heddy for harboring in his mind such a rash
undertaking. But after he had persuaded and much enchanted me with
the prospect of gaining my freedom with such a method, I at length