on my long return walk with renewed energy.

After traveling about five miles I came to a little town. I was afraid
to go through it on account of the liability of being apprehended; and I
did not like to go around it for fear of getting lost again. I
determined to risk going through the place, and, by avoiding every one,
escape detection. There was quite an excitement here by reason of an
epidemic sickness among the children, and about every other house had a
light in it. I passed through the town with fear; but I escaped arrest
and felt like rejoicing over my good fortune, not once thinking of any
dangers or hardships that might lay before me.

After I got through the town I came to a considerable stream, with a
bridge across it, the name of which I am unable to give; but on the
opposite end of the bridge from the town there is a road-way, or levee,
thrown up across the "bottom" for about two miles. At the time I
crossed, the stream was very much swelled from the recent rains, and the
water extended all over the bottom on each side of the road-grade, and
to within two or three feet of the top of it. This grade I had to cross;
and I was greatly afraid that I would meet some one. I started across,
and when about half way over the grade, or levee, I heard hounds baying
ahead of me; and the sounds seemed to be approaching me, I became very
much frightened, and turned and fled back to the bridge, when, just as I
was stepping on it, I heard men's voices, and stopped, when I found they
were coming across the bridge toward me. I concluded I would rather face
the blood-hounds than the white men, so I made my way back over the
grade as hurriedly as I could. I reached the end of the grade without
meeting the hounds and turned off into the woods. After walking a short
distance I heard the hounds again, and the sound of their yelps was
nearing me rapidly. I turned my course immediately, and ran as fast as I