surprise, he proposed to walk. We had gone about a mile and a-half, and
were approaching a wood through which the road passed with a bend. I fixed
upon that as the spot where I would either free myself from this man, or
die in his arms. I had resolved upon a plan of operation--it was this: to
stop short, face about, and commence action; and neither ask or give
quarters, until I was free or dead!

We had got within six rods of the spot, when a gentleman turned the
corner, meeting us on horseback. He came up, and entered into conversation
with my captor, both of them speaking in Dutch, so that I knew not what
they said. After a few moments, this gentleman addressed himself to me in
English, and I then learned that he was one of the magistrates on whom we
had called in the morning; I felt that another crisis was at hand. Using
his saddle as his bench, he put on an extremely stern and magisterial-like
face, holding up his horse not unlike a field-marshal in the act of
reviewing troops, and carried me through a most rigid examination in
reference to the statement I had made. I repeated carefully all I had
said; at the close, he said, "Well, you had better stay among us a few
months, until we see what is to be done with you." It was then agreed that
we should go back to the tavern, and there settle upon some further plan.
When we arrived at the tavern, the magistrate alighted from his horse, and
went into the bar-room. He took another close glance at me, and went over
some points of the former examination. He seemed quite satisfied of the
correctness of my statement, and made the following proposition: that I
should go and live with him for a short time, stating that he had a few
acres of corn and potatoes to get in, and that he would give me
twenty-five cents per day. I most cheerfully assented to this proposal. It
was also agreed that I should remain at the tavern with my captor that
night, and that he would accompany me in the morning. This part of the
arrangement I did not like, but of course I could not say so. Things being