the undersigned, in Pontotoc County. The above reward
will be given for his apprehension and return to me alive.

"JAMES WILSON."

This settled the matter. The reward was soon known over the whole
country, and every slave-hunter was on the chase to gain the reward. I
"laid close" and waited to escape from that part of the country, so that
I might not compromise Mr. Dansley. He was already under surveillance by
slave-owners, and was in danger of being driven from the country; in
fact, threats of lynching had been made against him.

The last day I was there I lay hid in some cotton-pens, close to the
house, when two men came on the hunt of me. They had their blood-hounds
with them, and demanded permission of Dansley to search his house. The
permission was granted, when the men began the search. I could see and
hear all that was going on, and trembled for my safety. I put myself on
the mercy of the Almighty and resigned myself entirely into his hands.
The search was made all over the premises, including the cotton-pens in
which I was hid; but God was on my side, and I was saved from their
clutches. I earnestly thanked God for my deliverance on this occasion.

As soon as dark came I emerged from my hiding-place, and, after being
supplied with what provisions I could conveniently carry, I bid good-by
to Christian Dansley and his family, and started on my perilous journey
to the free states and Canada.

My progress was necessarily slow and wearisome, being compelled to
travel altogether at night. The first point I designed making on my
journey was Memphis, where I hoped to find means of escape to Illinois.