the refusal and Samuel told to go around and see his future Mistress.  To her he expressed a desire to serve in her employ but he was now determined more than ever that his next master should be himself.  Accordingly he proceeded directly to a friend from whom he purchased a set of free-papers, which had been made out and sold him by a white man.  These required that he should start immediately up the river but upon a full consideration of the matter he decided that the risks were too great in that direction.  The problem was a serious one.  An error of judgment, a step in the wrong direction, would not only be a serious, if not fatal blow to his hopes, but might lead to untold hardships to others most dear to him.

Somewhat irresolutely he turned his steps towards the river front, gazing with longing eyes at the stretch of water, the many ships in harbor, some entering, others steaming away or being towed out to open water.  The thought that in this direction, beyond the wide seas, lay his refuge and ultimate hope came to him with so much force as to cause him to reel like one on whom a severe blow had been dealt.  He stood for some time, seemingly bewildered, in the din and noise of the wharf, noting abstractedly the many bales of cotton, as truck after truck-load was rushed aboard an outward bound steamer.  The bales seemed to fascinate him completely.  A stevedore yelled at him to move out of the way and aroused him into action, but in that interval an idea which seemed to offer a possible means of escape had been evolved.  He would impersonate a merchant from the West Indies in search of a missing bale of goods and endeavor to get passage to the Islands, where he well knew the flag of free England was abundant guarantee for his protection.  The main thought seemed a happy one, for he soon found a merchantman that was to clear that night for Jamaica.  It was not a passenger vessel, but the captain, a good-natured Briton, said that he had an extra bunk in the cabin and if the gentleman did not mind roughing it, he would be glad to have his company.  The first step towards his freedom was successfully taken, the money paid down for the passage and with the injunction from the captain to be aboard by nine o’clock he returned ashore.

Only a few hours now remained to him, before a long, perhaps a lasting separation from his dear wife and baby, and thinking to pass these with them he hurried thence by the most unfrequented route, but had hardly crossed the threshold when Delia, weeping bitterly, implored him to make good his escape, as Master Tom had already sent the officers to look for him.  With a last, fond embrace and a tear, which, falling upon that cradled babe, meant present sorrow, but no less future hope, the husband and father made his way under the friendly shadows of the night, back to the waiting ship.

When the officer from the custom house came aboard to inspect the ship’s papers Samuel was resting, apparently without concern, in the upper bunk of the little cabin.