with the patrol, I took one of my master's horses to go to a negro dance,
and on my return the patrols were so numerous on the road that I was
unable to return home without observation, and it being past the usual
hour for being at home, I was so afraid that when two of them observed me
I left the horse and took to my feet, and made my way to the woods, where
I remained all day, afraid to go home for fear of the consequences. But at
night I returned to the barn, where my money was hid in the hay, and
having recovered it, I started for Dr. Tillotson's (my master's
father-in-law), and told him my master had sent for a horse which he had
lent him a few weeks before. After enquiring of the overseer if the horse
had not gone home, and finding it had not, he ordered it to be given up to
me. I mounted the horse and rode off for Baltimore, a distance of 37
miles, where I arrived early in the morning, when I abandoned the horse
and took to the woods, and remained there all day. At night I ventured to
a farm-house, and having a club with me, I knocked over two barn fowl, and
took them to my place in the woods; I struck a light with the tinder, made
a fire of brushwood, roasted them before the fire, and enjoyed a hearty
meal without seasoning or bread.

The following night I went to the city, and meeting with some blacks I
entered into conversation with them, and I asked if they had heard of any
runaways at Baltimore, they said they had heard of one Jake having run
from Eastern shore, and showed me the bill at the corner which had been
put up that evening. I knew it was no other than me, so I bid them good
evening, and left them saying I was going to church. I took a back road
for Milford, in Delaware, and travelled all night; towards morning I met
four men, who demanded to know to whom I belonged, my answer was taking to
my heels, and the chase was hot on my part for about half-an-hour, when I
got into a swamp surrounded by young saplings, where I remained about two
hours, and as soon as it was sufficiently dark to venture out, I made my