a racket in the house, induced me to run there and see what had broken
out. When I entered the house, I found my mistress in a violent
passion with my wife, for what she informed me was a mere trifle; such
a small affair that I forbear to put my mistress to the shame of
having it known. I earnestly requested my wife to beg pardon of her
mistress for the sake of peace even if she had given no just occasion
for offence. But whilst I was thus saying my mistress turned the
blows which she was repeating on my wife to me. She took down her
horse-whip, and while she was glutting her fury with it, I reached out
my great black hand, raised it up and received the blows of the whip
on it which were designed for my head. Then I immediately committed
the whip to the devouring fire.

When my master returned from the island, his wife told him of the
affair, but for the present he seemed to take no notice of it, and
mentioned not a word of it to me. Some days after his return, in the
morning as I was putting on a log in the fire-place, not suspecting
harm from any one, I received a most violent stroke on the crown of my
head with a club two feet long and and as large around as a chair-
post. This blow very badly wounded my head, and the scar of it
remains to this day. The first blow made me have my wits about me as
you may suppose, for as soon as he went to renew it, I snatched the
club out of his hands and dragged him out of the door. He then sent
for his brother to come and assist him, but I presently left my
master, took the club he wounded me with, carried it to a neighboring
Justice of the Peace, and complained of my master. He finally advised
me to return to my master, and live contented with him until he abused
me again, and then complain. I consented to do accordingly. But
before I set out for my master's, up he come and his brother Robert
after me. The Justice improved this convenient opportunity to caution