how I could pass the day without food.  The reader will remember it is Thursday, and the only regular meal I have taken since Sunday, was yesterday, in the midst of great agitation, about four o’clock; that since that I have performed my arduous night’s travel.  At one moment, I had nearly concluded to go and present myself at the door, and ask the woman of the house to have compassion and give me food; but then I feared the consequences might be fatal, and I resolved to suffer the day out.  The wind sprang up fresh and cool; the barn being small and the crevices large, my wet clothes were dried by it, and chilled me through and through.

I cannot now, with pen or tongue, give a correct idea of the feeling of wretchedness I experienced; every nerve in my system quivered, so that not a particle of my flesh was at rest.  In this way I passed the day till about the middle of the afternoon, when there seemed to be an unusual stir about the public road, which passed close by the barn.  Men seemed to be passing in parties on horseback, and talking anxiously.  From a word which I now and then overheard, I had not a shadow of doubt that they were in search of me.  One I heard say, “I ought to catch such a fellow, the only liberty he should have for one fortnight, would be ten feet of rope.”  Another I heard say, “I reckon he is in that wood now.”  Another said, “Who would have thought that rascal was so ’cute?” All this while the little fice was mingling his voice with those of the horsemen, and the noise of the horses’ feet.  I listened and trembled.

Just before the setting of the sun, the labouring man of the house returned, and commenced his evening duties about the house and barn; chopping wood, getting up his cow, feeding his pigs, &c, attended by the little brute, who continued barking at short intervals.  He came several times into the barn below.  While matters were passing thus, I heard the approach of horses again, and as they came up nearer, I was led to believe that all I had heard pass, were returning in one party.  They passed the barn and halted at the house, when I recognised the voice of my old captor; addressing the labourer, he asked, “Have you seen a runaway nigger pass here to-day?”

LABOURER.—­“No; I have not been at home since early this morning.  Where did he come from?”

CAPTOR.—­“I caught him down below here yesterday morning.  I had him all day, and just at night he fooled me and got away.  A party of us have been after him all day; we have been up to the line, but can’t hear or see anything of him.  I heard this morning where he came from.  He is a blacksmith, and a stiff reward is out for him, two hundred dollars.”

LAB.—­“He is worth looking for.”

CAP.—­“I reckon so.  If I get my clutches on him again, I’ll mosey[A] him down to ——­ before I eat or sleep.”

[Footnote A:  An expression which signifies to drive in a hurry.]