came in for a deal of scandal, which caused further proceedings at law,
costing the master 1400 hundred dollars, and I was never once suspected or
charged with the deed.

At this time two or three negroes had escaped, and I heard so much about
the free States of the north that I was determined to be free. So I began
to study what we call the north star, or astronomy, to guide me to the
free States. I was in the habit of driving the master; and on one occasion
I had to drive him to Baltimore where two of his sons were studying law;
and while there, I stole some sweet potatoes to roast when I got home; and
how master got to know I had them I never knew; but when I got home he
gave me a note to Mr. Cobb, the overseer, and told me to tell Dick,
(another slave on the plantation) to come to Baltimore to him on the
following evening, and as soon as I took the note in my hand I was certain
there was a flogging in it for me, though he said nothing to me. I held
the note that night and following day, afraid to give it to Mr. Cobb, so
confident was I of what would be the result. Towards evening I began to
reason thus--If I give Cobb the note I shall be whipped; if I withhold the
note from him I shall be whipped, so a whipping appears plain in either
case. Now Dick having arranged to meet his sweetheart this night assumed
sickness, so that he could have an excuse for not meeting master at
Baltimore, and he wanted me to go instead of him. I agreed to go,
providing he would take the note I had to Mr. Cobb, as I had forgot to
give it him, to which he consented, and off I went; and I heard that when
he delivered the note to Mr. Cobb, he ordered him to go to the
whipping-post, and when he asked what he had done he was knocked down, and
afterwards put to the post and thirty-nine lashes were administered, and
failed seeing his sweetheart as well. When I arrived at Baltimore my
master and young master took their seats and I drove away without any
question until we had gone three miles, when he asked what I was doing