The next day after my arrival in Bedford, Daniel Lane came to the very house wherein I was concealed and talked in my hearing to the family about my escape from him out of the stable in Louisville.  He was near enough for me to have laid my hands on his head while in that house—­and the intimidation which this produced on me was more than I could bear.  I was also aware of the great temptation of the reward offered to white or colored persons for my apprehension; I was exposed to other calamities which rendered it altogether unsafe for me to stay longer under that roof.

One morning about 2 o’clock, I took leave of my little family and started for Canada.  This was almost like tearing off the limbs from my body.  When we were about to separate, Malinda clasped my hand exclaiming, “oh my soul! my heart is almost broken at the thought of this dangerous separation.  This may be the last time we shall ever see each other’s faces in this life, which will destroy all my future prospects of life and happiness forever.”  At this time the poor unhappy woman burst into tears and wept loudly; and my eyes were not dry.  We separated with the understanding that she was to wait until the excitement was all over; after which she was to meet me at a certain place in the State of Ohio; which would not be longer than two months from that time.

I succeeded that night in getting a steamboat conveyance back to Cincinnati, or within ten miles of the city.  I was apprehensive that there were slave-hunters in Cincinnati, watching the arrival of every boat up the river, expecting to catch me; and the boat landing to take in wood ten miles below the city, I got off and walked into Cincinnati, to avoid detection.

On my arrival at the house of a friend, I heard that the two young men who betrayed me for the three hundred dollars had returned and were watching for me.  One of my friends in whom they had great confidence, called on the traitors, after he had talked with me, and asked them what they had done with me.  Their reply was that I had given them the slip, and that they were glad of it, because they believed that I was a good man, and if they could see me on my way to Canada, they would give me money to aid me on my escape.  My friend assured them that if they would give any thing to aid me on my way, much or little, if they would put the same into his hands, he would give it to me that night, or return it to them the next morning.

They then wanted to know where I was and whether I was in the city; but he would not tell them, but one of them gave him one dollar for me, promising that if I was in the city, and he would let him know the next morning, he would give me ten dollars.

But I never waited for the ten dollars.  I received one dollar of the amount which they got for betraying me, and started that night for the north.  Their excuse for betraying me, was, that catching runaways was their business, and if they had not done it somebody else would, but since they had got the reward they were glad that I had made my escape.