mortification she rushed out of the gate and flew down the street.
Up and down, through the streets and lanes of the city, she ran
for hours, not knowing or caring whither she went, until finally,
exhausted and bewildered, she dropped down upon the ground.
Some one raised the panting girl and took her to the guard-house.
There she lay until morning before she could give any distinct
thought to what she had done, and what course she was now to pursue.

When she began to think clearly, she felt that she had acted
very unwisely. For a slave to resist punishment, if it is ever
so undeserved, or to attempt to escape it by running away,
is only to provoke severer chastisement. That she well knew,
and that there was nothing to be done now, but to walk back
to her master's house and meet a fate she could not avoid.
She only hoped that, when she acknowledged her fault, and frankly told
her master that she did it under a wild and bewildering excitement,
he would pardon her and let it pass.

She dragged her weary steps back to her master's house, fainting with
fatigue and hunger, and presented herself before her mistress.

"I's right sorry I runned so," she said, "but I was kind o'
scared like, and didn't know jest what I did. I knows I's no business
to run away when massa cuffed me."

Her mistress made no reply but an angry look; but nothing was said by any
one about what had happened, and Tidy felt that trouble was brewing.
What it would be she could not tell, but her heart was heavy within her.
Nothing occurred that day, but the next morning she was told to tie
up her clothes and be ready to go up the river at ten o'clock.