Summary

Chapter 11

To repay the kindness of Ford and his wife for allowing him refuge, Solomon helps trim and tend to her garden. Four days later, Ford and Solomon return to the bayou. As they journey, Tibeats joins them. Ford tells Tibeats that he must sell or hire out Solomon, or Ford himself will take matters into his own hands. Eliza believes it would have been better if Solomon had died in the swamps. Solomon is hired out to Mr. Eldret to work thirty-eight miles south on the Big Cane Brake, off the Red River. There, Solomon works to clear the land for a massive plantation expansion for Eldret. Four large girls are sent to hack down trees and undergrowth in addition to Solomon and another slave, Sam. Eldret allows Solomon the right to visit Ford’s plantation in exchange for good work. But...