Nothing of importance occurred during the day, until about the middle of the afternoon, when I was thrown into a panic by the appearance of a party of gunners, who passed near me with their dogs.  After shooting one or two birds, however, and passing within a few rods of my frail covering, they went on, and left me once more in hope.  Friday night came without any other incident worth naming.  As I sallied out, I felt evident benefit from the ear of corn I had nibbled away.  My strength was considerably renewed; though I was far from being nourished, I felt that my life was at least safe from death by hunger.  Thus encouraged, I set out with better speed than I had made since Sunday and Monday night.  I had a presentiment, too, that I must be near free soil.  I had not yet the least idea where I should find a home or a friend, still my spirits were so highly elated, that I took the whole of the road to myself; I ran, hopped, skipped, jumped, clapped my hands, and talked to myself.  But to the old slaveholder I had left, I said, “Ah! ha! old fellow, I told you I’d fix you.”

After an hour or two of such freaks of joy, a gloom would come over me in connexion with these questions, “But where are you going?  What are you going to do?  What will you do with freedom without father, mother, sisters, and brothers?  What will you say when you are asked where you were born?  You know nothing of the world; how will you explain the fact of your ignorance?”

These questions made me feel deeply the magnitude of the difficulties yet before me.

Saturday morning dawned upon me; and although my strength seemed yet considerably fresh, I began to feel a hunger somewhat more destructive and pinching, if possible, than I had before.  I resolved, at all risk, to continue my travel by day-light, and to ask information of the first person I met.

The events of the next chapter will shew what fortune followed this resolve.

CHAPTER IV.

THE GOOD WOMAN OF THE TOLL-GATE DIRECTS ME TO W.W.—­MY RECEPTION BY HIM.

The resolution of which I informed the reader at the close of the last chapter, being put into practice, I continued my flight on the public road; and a little after the sun rose, I came in sight of a toll-gate again.  For a moment all the events which followed my passing a toll-gate on Wednesday morning, came fresh to my recollection, and produced some hesitation; but at all events, said I, I will try again.

On arriving at the gate, I found it attended by an elderly woman, whom I afterwards learned was a widow, and an excellent Christian woman.  I asked her if I was in Pennsylvania.  On being informed that I was, I asked her if she knew where I could get employ?  She said she did not; but advised me to go to W.W., a Quaker, who lived about three miles from her, whom I would find to take an interest in me.  She gave me directions which way to take; I thanked her, and bade her good morning, and was very careful to follow her directions.