On Sunday morning, as master was sitting in his porch, I went to him, and offered to give him the $230 I had already paid him, if, beside them, he would take for my freedom the $600 he had given for me.  He drove me away, saying I had no way to get the money.  I sat down for a time, and went to him again.  I repeated my offer to procure the $690, and he again said I could not.  He called his wife out of the room to the porch, and said to her, ’Don’t you think Moses has taken to getting drunk?’ She asked me if it was so; I denied it, when she inquired what was the matter.  Master replied, ’Don’t you think he wants me to sell him?’ She said, ’Moses, we would not take any money for you.  Captain Cormack put a thousand dollars for you on the supper table last Friday night, and Mr. Sawyer would not touch it; he wants you to be overseer in the Dismal Swamp.’  I replied, ’Captain Cormack never said any thing to me about buying me; I would cut my throat from ear to ear rather than go to him.  I know what made him say so; he is courting Miss Patsey, and he did it to make himself look big.’  Mistress laughed and turned away, and slammed to the door; master shook himself with laughing, and put the paper he was reading before his face, knowing that I spoke the truth.  Captain Cormack was an old man who went on crutches.  Miss Patsey was the finest of master’s daughters.  Master drove me away from him again.

On Monday morning, Mr. Brooks, the overseer, blew the horn as usual for all to go to the field.  I refused to go.  I went to master, and told him that if he would give me a paper, I would go and fetch the $600; he then gave me a paper, stating that he was willing to take that sum for my freedom:  so I hired an old horse and started for Norfolk, fifty miles off.

When I reached Deep Creek, I went to the house of Captain Edward Minner.  He was very glad to see me, for in former days I had done much business for him; he said how sorry he had been to hear that I was at field work.  He inquired where I was going.  I said, to Norfolk, to get some of the merchants to let me have money to buy myself.  He replied, ’What did I always say to you?  Was it not, that I would let you have the money at any time, if you would only tell me when you could be sold?’ He called Mrs. Minner into the room, and told her I could be sold for my freedom; she was rejoiced to hear it.  He said, ’Put up your horse at Mr. Western’s tavern, for you need go no farther; I have plenty of old rusty dollars, and no man shall put his hand on your collar again to say you are a slave.  Come and stay with me to-night, and in the morning I will get Mr. Garret’s horse, and go with you.’