Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom; or, the escape of William and Ellen Craft from slavery by William Craft;Ellen Craft
page 77 of 114 (67%)
page 77 of 114 (67%)
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as God would have it, the officer all at once thrust
his fingers through his hair, and in a state of great agitation said, "I really don't know what to do; I calculate it is all right." He then told the clerk to run and tell the conductor to "let this gentleman and slave pass;" adding, "As he is not well, it is a pity to stop him here. We will let him go." My master thanked him, and stepped out and hobbled across the platform as quickly as pos- sible. I tumbled him unceremoniously into one of the best carriages, and leaped into mine just as the train was gliding off towards our happy desti- nation. We thought of this plan about four days before we left Macon; and as we had our daily employ- ment to attend to, we only saw each other at night. So we sat up the four long nights talking over the plan and making preparations. We had also been four days on the journey; and as we travelled night and day, we got but very limited opportunities for sleeping. I believe nothing in the world could have kept us awake so long but the intense excitement, produced by the fear of being retaken on the one hand, and the bright anticipation of liberty on the other. We left Baltimore about eight o'clock in the evening; and not being aware of a stopping- |
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