hunters, to me it was like a person entering a wilderness among wolves and vipers, blindfolded.  I was compelled from necessity to enter this place for refuge under the most extraordinary state of excitement, without regard to its geographical position.  I found myself surrounded with a large block of buildings, which comprised a whole square, built up mostly on three sides, so that I could see no way to pass out without exposing myself perhaps to the gaze of patrols, or slave catchers.

In wandering around through the dark, I happened to find a calf in a back yard, which was bawling after the cow; the cow was also lowing in another direction, as if they were trying to find each other.  A thought struck me that there must be an outlet somewhere about, where the cow and calf were trying to meet.  I started in the direction where I heard the lowing of the cow, and I found an arch or tunnel extending between two large brick buildings, where I could see nothing of the cow but her eyes, shining like balls of fire through the dark tunnel, between the walls, through which I passed to where she stood.  When I entered the streets I found them well lighted up.  My heart was gladdened to know there was another chance for my escape.  No bird ever let out of a cage felt more like flying, than I felt like running.

Before I left the city, I chanced to find by the way, an old man of color.  Supposing him to be a friend, I ventured to make known my situation, and asked him if he would get me a bite to eat.  The old man most cheerfully complied with my request.  I was then about forty miles from the residence of Wm. Gatewood, where my wife, whom I sought to rescue from slavery, was living.  This was also in the direction it was necessary for me to travel in order to get back to the free North.  Knowing that the slave catchers would most likely be watching the public highway for me, to avoid them I made my way over the rocky hills, woods and plantations, back to Bedford.

I travelled all that night, guided on my way by the shining stars of heaven alone.  The next morning just before the break of day, I came right to a large plantation, about which I secreted myself, until the darkness of the next night began to disappear.  The morning larks commenced to chirp and sing merrily—­pretty soon I heard the whip crack, and the voice of the ploughman driving in the corn field.  About breakfast time, I heard the sound of a horn; saw a number of slaves in the field with a white man, who I supposed to be their overseer.  He started to the house before the slaves, which gave me an opportunity to get the attention of one of the slaves, whom I met at the fence, before he started to his breakfast, and made known to him my wants and distresses.  I also requested him to bring me a piece of bread if he could when he came back to the field.