True, there were a thousand men in arms in Southampton County, to inspire
security. But the blow had been struck by only seven men before; and
unless there were an armed guard in every house, who could tell but any
house might at any moment be the scene of new horrors? They might kill or
imprison negroes by day, but could they resist their avengers by night?
"The half cannot be told," wrote a lady from another part of Virginia, at
this time, "of the distresses of the people. In Southampton County, the
scene of the insurrection, the distress beggars description. A gentleman
who has been there says that even here, where there has been great alarm,
we have no idea of the situation of those in that county.... I do not
hesitate to believe that many negroes around us would join in a massacre
as horrible as that which has taken place, if an opportunity should
offer."

Meanwhile the cause of all this terror was made the object of desperate
search. On Sept. 17 the governor offered a reward of five hundred dollars
for his capture; and there were other rewards, swelling the amount to
eleven hundred dollars,--but in vain. No one could track or trap him. On
Sept. 30 a minute account of his capture appeared in the newspapers, but
it was wholly false. On Oct. 7 there was another, and on Oct. 18 another;
yet all without foundation. Worn out by confinement in his little cave,
Nat Turner grew more adventurous, and began to move about stealthily by
night, afraid to speak to any human being, but hoping to obtain some
information that might aid his escape. Returning regularly to his retreat
before daybreak, he might possibly have continued this mode of life until
pursuit had ceased, had not a dog succeeded where men had failed. The
creature accidentally smelt out the provisions hid in the cave, and
finally led thither his masters, two negroes, one of whom was named
Nelson. On discovering the formidable fugitive, they fled precipitately,