off and never catch him."

After a short parley they concluded to get some more dogs and be on the
ground before daylight, so as to make sure of me. As soon as they had
gone out of my hearing I emerged from the brier thicket. I found my
limbs had become sore and benumbed from the exposure and hardships I
had undergone, and I was intensely hungry. I worried along, however, to
get out of that neighborhood as soon as possible. The sky was now clear,
the air frosty, and my rags were but a scant protection to me. After
walking awhile I found my soreness began to leave me, when I began to
accelerate my pace. I had to walk as fast as I could, and exercise my
limbs all I could, in order to keep warm. After walking some time I came
to a plantation. Upon reconnoitering, I found an old house, and
approaching it with the intention of seeking a little rest in it during
the remainder of the night and the next day, I saw a light in it. I went
in, however, and found it to be the workshop of the plantation, and five
colored men were there putting handles in their axes. I asked them for
something to eat, and was about to tell them the truth regarding myself,
when one of the negroes hurried me out of the cabin, saying he would get
me something to eat. After we got out he told me I was very imprudent,
for if I had told the negroes who I was and that I was a runaway, they
would have taken me themselves. He got me some meat and bread, and after
I had told him who I was and that I wanted to find my way back to
Thompson's, he put me on the right road and gave me such directions as I
required.

I found that I was about fifty miles from Thompson's plantation, and
that it would require two nights' hard walking to get there. I felt very
much discouraged, and grieved considerably to myself. However, having
satisfied the cravings of my appetite, I plucked up courage and started