After two or three days of vain search in the woods for the runaway slave, Mr. Clarkson asked some of the other negroes on the plantation, if they saw him, to tell him if he came home he would not whip him.  Of course, as a general thing, when they stayed in the woods until they were captured, they were whipped but they were not when they came home themselves.  One morning after several days of fruitless search in the woods for the runaway slave by the overseer and the hunter, while at breakfast, Isom came up to the door.  As soon as Mr. Clarkson learned that the runaway slave was at the door he got up from his breakfast and went out.

“Well, Isom,” said Mr. Clarkson.  “Well, Massa Thomas,” said Isom.  “Where have you been?” said Mr. Clarkson.  “I been in the woods, sir,” answered Isom.  Of course it would not have been well for him to tell Mr. Clarkson that he was hidden and fed right in the house, for it would have made it bad for the other negroes who were house servants, among whom he had a brother and sister.

Mr. Clarkson.  “Isom, did you get with some other runaways?” “Yes, sir,” said Isom.  Of course Isom’s answer was in keeping with the belief of Mr. Clarkson that he had got in with some experienced runaway in the woods.  “How many were with you?” asked Mr. Clarkson.  “Two,” answered Isom.  “What are their names, and to whom do they belong?” asked Mr. Clarkson.  “I don’t know, sir,” said Isom.  “Didn’t you ask their names?” said Mr. Clarkson.  “No, sir,” said Isom.  “Can you describe them?” asked Mr. Clarkson.  “One is big, like you, and the other was little like the man who was hunting me,” said Isom.  “Where did you see the hunter?” asked Mr. Clarkson.  “In the woods, sir,” said Isom.  “Isom, do you want something to eat?” asked Mr. Clarkson.  “Yes, sir,” said Isom.  He sent him around to the kitchen and told the cook to give him something to eat.

Mrs. Clarkson thought a great deal of Isom, so while he was in the kitchen eating, she went in and had a long talk with him about how he got along since he had been away, as they supposed.

As I have said, in general, when runaway slaves came home themselves, they were not whipped, but were either handcuffed or put in stocks, and locked up for two or three days.

While Isom was eating and talking with Mrs. Clarkson, Mr. Clarkson appeared at the kitchen door with a pistol in one hand and handcuffs in the other.  Mrs. Clarkson said, “What are you going to do, Thomas?” “I want Isom as soon as he is through eating,” said Mr. Clarkson.  “You are not going to lock him up, are you Thomas?” said Mrs. Clarkson.  Mrs. Clarkson’s name was Henrietta, but her pet name was Henie.  Mr. Clarkson said.  “Henie, I shan’t hurt Isom.”

Isom, who had a smooth, black, round face, full eyes, white teeth, was a very beautiful negro.  When he saw the pistol and handcuffs in Mr. Clarkson’s hands, those large eyes of his were stretched so wide, one could see the white, like great sheets in them.