New Dangers

The doctor, more exasperated than ever, again tried to revenge himself on my relatives. He arrested uncle Phillip on the charge of having aided my flight. He was carried before a court, and swore truly that he knew nothing of my intention to escape, and that he had not seen me since I left my master’s plantation. The doctor then demanded that he should give bail for five hundred dollars that he would have nothing to do with me. Several gentlemen offered to be security for him; but Mr. Sands told him he had better go back to jail, and he would see that he came out without giving bail.

The doctor was more furious than ever and again tried to take revenge on my relatives. He had uncle Phillip arrested for helping me escape. Phillip was brought before a court. He truthfully swore that he had known nothing of my plan to escape. He also swore that he had not seen me since I left my master’s plantation. The doctor then demanded that Phillip post a five-hundred-dollar bond to guarantee that he would have nothing to do with me. Several gentlemen offered to guarantee the bond for him. But Mr. Sands told Phillip he would be better off returning to jail. Mr. Sands would see that he got out without posting bond.

The news of his arrest was carried to my grandmother, who conveyed it to Betty. In the kindness of her heart, she again stowed me away under the floor; and as she walked back and forth, in the performance of her culinary duties, she talked apparently to herself, but with the intention that I should hear what was going on. I hoped that my uncle’s imprisonment would last but few days; still I was anxious. I thought it likely Dr. Flint would do his utmost to taunt and insult him, and I was afraid my uncle might lose control of himself, and retort in some way that would be construed into a punishable offence; and I was well aware that in court his word would not be taken against any white man’s. The search for me was renewed. Something had excited suspicions that I was in the vicinity. They searched the house I was in. I heard their steps and their voices. At night, when all were asleep, Betty came to release me from my place of confinement. The fright I had undergone, the constrained posture, and the dampness of the ground, made me ill for several days. My uncle was soon after taken out of prison; but the movements of all my relatives, and of all our friends, were very closely watched.

News of his arrest reached my grandmother, who told Betty. Out of kindness, Betty once again hid me under the floor. As she walked back and forth doing her cooking, she talked as if to herself. But she meant for me to hear what was happening. I hoped my uncle would be imprisoned for only a few days, but I was still anxious. I thought Dr. Flint would likely do all he could to taunt and insult him. I feared my uncle might lose control and respond in a way that could be treated as a punishable offense. I also knew very well that a court would not take his word over any white man’s. The search for me began again. Something had raised suspicions that I was nearby. They searched the house where I was hiding. I heard their footsteps and voices. At night, when everyone was asleep, Betty came to let me out of my hiding place. The fright, my cramped position, and the damp ground made me ill for several days. Soon afterward, my uncle was released from prison. But all my relatives and all our friends were watched very closely.

We all saw that I could not remain where I was much longer. I had already staid longer than was intended, and I knew my presence must be a source of perpetual anxiety to my kind benefactress. During this time, my friends had laid many plans for my escape, but the extreme vigilance of my persecutors made it impossible to carry them into effect.

We all saw that I could not stay where I was much longer. I had already stayed longer than intended. I knew my presence must have been a constant source of anxiety for the kind woman helping me. During this time, my friends had made many plans for my escape. But my persecutors were so watchful that it was impossible to carry out those plans.

One morning I was much startled by hearing somebody trying to get into my room. Several keys were tried, but none fitted. I instantly conjectured it was one of the housemaids; and I concluded she must either have heard some noise in the room, or have noticed the entrance of Betty. When my friend came, at her usual time, I told her what had happened. “I knows who it was,” said she. “’Pend upon it, ’twas dat Jenny. Dat nigger allers got de debble in her.” I suggested that she might have seen or heard something that excited her curiosity.

One morning, I was startled to hear someone trying to get into my room. Several keys were tried, but none fit. I immediately guessed it was one of the housemaids. I thought she must have heard a noise in the room or noticed Betty going in. When my friend came at her usual time, I told her what had happened. “I know who it was,” she said. “You can be sure it was Jenny. That girl always has the devil in her.” I suggested that Jenny might have seen or heard something that made her curious.

“Tut! tut! chile!” exclaimed Betty, “she ain’t seen notin’, nor hearn notin’. She only ’spects someting. Dat’s all. She wants to fine out who hab cut and make my gownd. But she won’t nebber know. Dat’s sartin. I’ll git missis to fix her.”

“Oh, hush, child!” exclaimed Betty. “She hasn’t seen or heard anything. She only suspects something. That’s all. She wants to find out who cut and made my gown. But she’ll never know. That’s certain. I’ll get missis to deal with her.”

I reflected a moment, and said, “Betty, I must leave here to-night.”

I thought for a moment and said, “Betty, I have to leave here tonight.”

“Do as you tink best, poor chile,” she replied. “I’se mighty ’fraid dat ’ere nigger vill pop on you some time.”

“Do what you think is best, poor child,” she replied. “I’m very afraid that nigger will come upon you suddenly someday.”

She reported the incident to her mistress, and received orders to keep Jenny busy in the kitchen till she could see my uncle Phillip. He told her he would send a friend for me that very evening. She told him she hoped I was going to the north, for it was very dangerous for me to remain any where in the vicinity. Alas, it was not an easy thing, for one in my situation, to go to the north. In order to leave the coast quite clear for me, she went into the country to spend the day with her brother, and took Jenny with her. She was afraid to come and bid me good by, but she left a kind message with Betty. I heard her carriage roll from the door, and I never again saw her who had so generously befriended the poor, trembling fugitive! Though she was a slaveholder, to this day my heart blesses her!

She reported the incident to her mistress, who ordered her to keep Jenny busy in the kitchen until she could see my uncle Phillip. He told her he would send a friend for me that very evening. She told him she hoped I was going north, because it was very dangerous for me to stay anywhere nearby. Sadly, it was not easy for someone in my situation to go north. To leave the way clear for me, she went into the country to spend the day with her brother and took Jenny with her. She was afraid to come and say goodbye, but she left a kind message with Betty. I heard her carriage roll away from the door. I never again saw the woman who had so generously befriended the poor, trembling fugitive! Though she was a slaveholder, my heart blesses her to this day!

I had not the slightest idea where I was going. Betty brought me a suit of sailor’s clothes,—jacket, trowsers, and tarpaulin hat. She gave me a small bundle, saying I might need it where I was going. In cheery tones, she exclaimed, “I’se so glad you is gwine to free parts! Don’t forget ole Betty. P’raps I’ll come ’long by and by.”

I had no idea where I was going. Betty brought me a sailor’s outfit: a jacket, trousers, and a tarpaulin hat. She gave me a small bundle, saying I might need it where I was going. Cheerfully, she exclaimed, “I’m so glad you’re going to a free place! Don’t forget old Betty. Perhaps I’ll come along later.”

I tried to tell her how grateful I felt for all her kindness, but she interrupted me. “I don’t want no tanks, honey. I’se glad I could help you, and I hope de good Lord vill open de path for you. I’se gwine wid you to de lower gate. Put your hands in your pockets, and walk ricketty, like de sailors.”

I tried to tell her how grateful I was for all her kindness, but she interrupted me. “I don’t want any thanks, honey. I’m glad I could help you, and I hope the good Lord will open the path for you. I’m going with you to the lower gate. Put your hands in your pockets and walk unsteadily, like the sailors.”

I performed to her satisfaction. At the gate I found Peter, a young colored man, waiting for me. I had known him for years. He had been an apprentice to my father, and had always borne a good character. I was not afraid to trust to him. Betty bade me a hurried good by, and we walked off. “Take courage, Linda,” said my friend Peter. “I’ve got a dagger, and no man shall take you from me, unless he passes over my dead body.”

I did as she asked, to her satisfaction. At the gate, I found Peter, a young Black man, waiting for me. I had known him for years. He had been my father’s apprentice and had always had a good reputation. I was not afraid to trust him. Betty said a hurried goodbye, and Peter and I walked away. “Take courage, Linda,” said my friend Peter. “I have a dagger, and no man will take you from me unless he steps over my dead body.”

It was a long time since I had taken a walk out of doors, and the fresh air revived me. It was also pleasant to hear a human voice speaking to me above a whisper. I passed several people whom I knew, but they did not recognize me in my disguise. I prayed internally that, for Peter’s sake, as well as my own, nothing might occur to bring out his dagger. We walked on till we came to the wharf. My aunt Nancy’s husband was a seafaring man, and it had been deemed necessary to let him into our secret. He took me into his boat, rowed out to a vessel not far distant, and hoisted me on board. We three were the only occupants of the vessel. I now ventured to ask what they proposed to do with me. They said I was to remain on board till near dawn, and then they would hide me in Snaky Swamp, till my uncle Phillip had prepared a place of concealment for me. If the vessel had been bound north, it would have been of no avail to me, for it would certainly have been searched. About four o’clock, we were again seated in the boat, and rowed three miles to the swamp. My fear of snakes had been increased by the venomous bite I had received, and I dreaded to enter this hiding-place. But I was in no situation to choose, and I gratefully accepted the best that my poor, persecuted friends could do for me.

It had been a long time since I had walked outside, and the fresh air revived me. It was also pleasant to hear a human voice speak to me above a whisper. I passed several people I knew, but they did not recognize me in my disguise. I silently prayed that, for Peter’s sake and my own, nothing would happen to make him draw his dagger. We walked on until we reached the wharf. My aunt Nancy’s husband was a sailor, and it had been considered necessary to tell him our secret. He took me in his boat, rowed out to a vessel nearby, and helped me aboard. The three of us were the only people on the vessel. I finally dared to ask what they planned to do with me. They said I was to stay aboard until nearly dawn. Then they would hide me in Snaky Swamp until my uncle Phillip had prepared a hiding place for me. Even if the vessel had been headed north, it would have been no help to me. It would certainly have been searched. Around four o’clock, we got back into the boat and rowed three miles to the swamp. The venomous bite I had received had made me even more afraid of snakes, and I dreaded entering the swamp. But I was in no position to choose. I gratefully accepted the best that my poor, persecuted friends could do for me.

Peter landed first, and with a large knife cut a path through bamboos and briers of all descriptions. He came back, took me in his arms, and carried me to a seat made among the bamboos. Before we reached it, we were covered with hundreds of mosquitos. In an hour’s time they had so poisoned my flesh that I was a pitiful sight to behold. As the light increased, I saw snake after snake crawling round us. I had been accustomed to the sight of snakes all my life, but these were larger than any I had ever seen. To this day I shudder when I remember that morning. As evening approached, the number of snakes increased so much that we were continually obliged to thrash them with sticks to keep them from crawling over us. The bamboos were so high and so thick that it was impossible to see beyond a very short distance. Just before it became dark we procured a seat nearer to the entrance of the swamp, being fearful of losing our way back to the boat. It was not long before we heard the paddle of oars, and the low whistle, which had been agreed upon as a signal. We made haste to enter the boat, and were rowed back to the vessel. I passed a wretched night; for the heat of the swamp, the mosquitos, and the constant terror of snakes, had brought on a burning fever. I had just dropped asleep, when they came and told me it was time to go back to that horrid swamp. I could scarcely summon courage to rise. But even those large, venomous snakes were less dreadful to my imagination than the white men in that community called civilized. This time Peter took a quantity of tobacco to burn, to keep off the mosquitos. It produced the desired effect on them, but gave me nausea and severe headache. At dark we returned to the vessel. I had been so sick during the day, that Peter declared I should go home that night, if the devil himself was on patrol. They told me a place of concealment had been provided for me at my grandmother’s. I could not imagine how it was possible to hide me in her house, every nook and corner of which was known to the Flint family. They told me to wait and see. We were rowed ashore, and went boldly through the streets, to my grandmother’s. I wore my sailor’s clothes, and had blackened my face with charcoal. I passed several people whom I knew. The father of my children came so near that I brushed against his arm; but he had no idea who it was.

Peter landed first and used a large knife to cut a path through bamboo and all kinds of briers. He came back, took me in his arms, and carried me to a seat among the bamboo. Before we reached it, hundreds of mosquitoes covered us. Within an hour, their bites had so poisoned my skin that I was a pitiful sight. As it grew lighter, I saw snake after snake crawling around us. I had been used to seeing snakes all my life, but these were larger than any I had ever seen. To this day, I shudder when I remember that morning. As evening approached, the snakes became so numerous that we had to keep beating them with sticks. Otherwise, they would have crawled over us. The bamboo was so tall and thick that we could see only a short distance ahead. Just before dark, we found a seat closer to the swamp’s entrance. We were afraid of losing our way back to the boat. Soon we heard the sound of oars and the low whistle we had agreed on as a signal. We hurried into the boat and were rowed back to the vessel. I had a miserable night. The heat of the swamp, the mosquitoes, and my constant terror of snakes had brought on a burning fever. I had just fallen asleep when they came and told me it was time to return to that horrible swamp. I could hardly find the courage to get up. But even those large, venomous snakes were less frightening to me than the white men in that so-called civilized community. This time Peter brought tobacco to burn and keep the mosquitoes away. The smoke kept them away, but it made me nauseated and gave me a severe headache. At dark we returned to the vessel. I had been so sick during the day that Peter said I should go home that night. He said I should go even if the devil himself was on patrol. They told me a hiding place had been prepared for me at my grandmother’s house. I could not imagine how anyone could hide me there. The Flint family knew every nook and corner of her house. They told me to wait and see. We were rowed ashore and walked boldly through the streets to my grandmother’s house. I wore my sailor’s clothes and had blackened my face with charcoal. I passed several people I knew. The father of my children came so close that I brushed against his arm, but he had no idea who I was.

“You must make the most of this walk,” said my friend Peter, “for you may not have another very soon.”

“Make the most of this walk,” said my friend Peter, “because you may not get another one very soon.”

I thought his voice sounded sad. It was kind of him to conceal from me what a dismal hole was to be my home for a long, long time.

I thought his voice sounded sad. It was kind of him not to tell me how miserable the place would be, since it would be my home for a long, long time.