At the time, it was almost too much for his sympathizing heart to endure.  He felt like moving heaven and earth to rescue her.  The trial came on in the afternoon, and it happened that the presiding magistrate was accustomed to drink rather freely of wine after dinner.  Friend Hopper perceived that his mental faculties were slightly confused, and that the claimant was a heavy, stupid-looking fellow.  With these thoughts there suddenly flashed through his brain the plan of eluding an iniquitous law, in order to sustain a higher law of justice and humanity.  He asked to have the case adjourned till the next day, that there might be further opportunity to inquire into it; adding, “Thomas Harrison and myself will be responsible to the United States for this woman’s appearance to-morrow.  In case of forfeiture, we will agree to pay any sum that may be deemed reasonable.”

The claimant felt perfectly sure of his prey, and made no objection to the proposed arrangement.  It was accordingly entered on the docket that Thomas Harrison and Isaac T. Hopper were bound to the United States, in the sum of one thousand dollars, to produce the woman for further trial at nine o’clock the next morning.

When Friend Hopper had obtained a copy of the recognizance, signed by the magistrate, he chuckled inwardly and marched out of the office.  If there was a flaw in anything, Thomas Harrison had a jocose way of saying, “There is a hole in the ballad.”  As they went into the street together, his friend said, “Thomas, there’s a hole in the ballad.  The recognizance we have just signed is good for nothing.  The United States have not the slightest claim upon that woman.”

The next morning, at nine o’clock all parties, except the woman, were at the mayor’s office.  After waiting for her about an hour, the magistrate said, “Well gentlemen, the woman does not make her appearance, and I shall be obliged to forfeit your recognizance.”

“A thousand dollars is a large sum to lose,” rejoined Friend Hopper.  “But if it comes to the worst, I suppose we must make up our minds to pay the United States all the claim they have upon us.”

“The United States!  The United States!” exclaimed the magistrate quickly.  He turned to look at his docket, and after a slight pause he said to the claimant, “There is difficulty here.  You had better employ counsel.”

Thomas Ross, a respectable lawyer, who lived a few doors above, was summoned, and soon made his appearance.  Having heard the particulars of the case briefly stated, he also examined the docket; then turning to Isaac T. Hopper, with a comical gesture and tone, he exclaimed, “Eh!” To the claimant he said, “You must catch your slave again if you can; for you can do nothing with these securities.”

Of course, the master was very angry, and so was the magistrate, who had inadvertently written the recognizance just as it was dictated to him.  They charged Friend Hopper with playing a trick upon them, and threatened to prosecute him.  He told them he had no fears concerning a prosecution; and if he had played a trick, he thought it was better than to see a helpless woman torn from husband and children and sent into slavery.