He was conveyed to Maryland and lodged in jail.  Several weeks after, he was taken thence and sold to a speculator, who was making up a coffle of slaves for the far South.  After crossing the Susquehanna, they stopped at a miserable tavern, where the speculator and his companions drank pretty freely, and then began to amuse themselves by shooting at a mark.  They placed the slave by the tavern door, where they could see him.  While he sat there, thinking of his wife and children, feeling sad and forlorn beyond description, he noticed that a fisherman drew near the shore with a small boat, to which was fastened a rope and a heavy stone, to supply the place of an anchor.  When he saw the man step out of the boat and throw the stone on the ground, Friend Hopper’s parting advice instantly flashed through his mind.  Hardship, scanty food, and above all, continual distress of mind, had considerably reduced his flesh.  He looked at his emaciated hands, and thought it might be possible to slip them through his iron cuffs.  He proceeded cautiously, and when he saw that his guard were too busy loading their pistols to watch him, he released himself from his irons by a violent effort, ran to the river, threw the stone anchor into the boat, jumped in, and pushed for the opposite shore.  The noise attracted the attention of his guard, who threatened him with instant death if he did not return.  They loaded their pistols as quickly as possible, and fired after him, but luckily missed their aim.  James succeeded in reaching the opposite side of the river, where he set the boat adrift, lest some one should take it back and enable them to pursue him.  He bent his course toward Philadelphia, and on arriving there, went directly to Friend Hopper’s house.  He had become so haggard and emaciated, that his friend could hardly believe it was James Davis who stood before him.  He said he dared not go near his old home, and begged that some place might be provided where he could meet his wife and children in safety.  This was accomplished, and Friend Hopper was present when the poor harassed fugitive was restored to his family.  He described the scene as affecting beyond description.  The children, some of whom were very small, twined their little arms round him, eagerly inquiring, “Where have you been?  How did you get away?” and his wife sobbed aloud, while she hugged the lost one to her heart.

The next morning he was sent to Bucks County in a market wagon.  Some friends there procured a small house for him, and his family soon joined him.  He was enabled to earn a comfortable living, and his place of retreat was never afterward discovered by enemies of the human family.

MARY HOLLIDAY.