I made no reply, but my thought was, that I was as near Baltimore and Baltimore-packets as would answer my purpose.

In a few moments I came to the road to which the lad had referred, and felt some relief when I had gotten out of that great public highway, “The National Turnpike,” which I found it to be.

When I had walked a mile on this road, and when it had now gotten to be about nine o’clock, I met a young man with a load of hay.  He drew up his horses, and addressed me in a very kind tone, when the following dialogue took place between us.

“Are you travelling any distance, my friend?”

“I am on my way to Philadelphia.”

“Are you free?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I suppose, then, you are provided with free papers?”

“No, sir.  I have no papers.”

“Well, my friend, you should not travel on this road:  you will be taken up before you have gone three miles.  There are men living on this road who are constantly on the look-out for your people; and it is seldom that one escapes them who attempts to pass by day.”

He then very kindly gave me advice where to turn off the road at a certain point, and how to find my way to a certain house, where I would meet with an old gentleman who would further advise me whether I had better remain till night, or go on.

I left this interesting young man; and such was my surprise and chagrin at the thought of having so widely missed my way, and my alarm at being in such a dangerous position, that in ten minutes I had so far forgotten his directions as to deem it unwise to attempt to follow them, lest I should miss my way, and get into evil hands.

I, however, left the road, and went into a small piece of wood, but not finding a sufficient hiding-place, and it being a busy part of the day, when persons were at work about the fields, I thought I should excite less suspicion by keeping in the road, so I returned to the road; but the events of the next few moments proved that I committed a serious mistake.

I went about a mile, making in all two miles from the spot where I met my young friend, and about five miles from the toll-gate to which I have referred, and I found myself at the twenty-four miles’ stone from Baltimore.  It was now about ten o’clock in the forenoon; my strength was greatly exhausted by reason of the want of suitable food; but the excitement that was then going on in my mind, left me little time to think of my need of food.  Under ordinary circumstances as a traveller, I should have been glad to see the “Tavern,” which was near the mile-stone; but as the case stood with me, I deemed it a dangerous place to pass, much less to stop at.  I was therefore passing it as quietly and as rapidly as possible, when from the lot just opposite the house, or sign-post, I heard a coarse stern voice cry, “Halloo!”

I turned my face to the left, the direction from which the voice came, and observed that it proceeded from a man who was digging potatoes.  I answered him politely; when the following occurred:—­