conducted me to a rising ground among the trees, and set me down. "Now,"
said they, "tell us the truth about those abolition lectures you have been
giving at the North." I replied that I had related the circumstances
before the court in the morning; and could only repeat what I had then
said. "But that was not the truth--tell us the truth." I again said that
any different story would be false, and as I supposed I was in a few
minutes to die, I would not, whatever they might think I would say under
other circumstances, pass into the other world with a lie upon my lips.
Said one, "you were always, Lunsford, when you were here, a clever fellow,
and I did not think you would be engaged in such business as giving
abolition lectures." To this and similar remarks, I replied that the
people of Raleigh had always said the abolitionists did not believe in
buying slaves, but contended that their masters ought to free them without
pay. I had been laboring to buy my family; and how then could they suppose
me to be in league with the abolitionists?

After other conversation of this kind, and after they seemed to have
become tired of questioning me, they held a consultation in a low whisper
among themselves. Then a bucket was brought and set down by my side; but
what it contained or for what it was intended, I could not divine. But
soon, one of the number came forward with a pillow, and then hope sprung
up, a flood of light and joy within me. The heavy weight on my heart
rolled off; death had passed by and I unharmed. They commenced stripping
me till every rag of clothes was removed; and then the bucket was set
near, and I discovered it to contain tar. One man, I will do him the honor
to record his name, Mr. WILLIAM ANDRES, a journeyman printer, when he is
any thing, except a tar-and-featherer, put his hands the first into the
bucket, and was about passing them to my face. "Don't put any in his face
or eyes," said one.[A] So he desisted; but he, with three other
"gentlemen," whose names I should be happy to record if I could recall