I war to be taken down by trading schooner,
to be landed on de coast, and to make my way to a place in de center
ob a big swamp whar an ole nigger, named Joe, had been carrying
on de work for four years. He had sent to say dat he war bery ill
wid de swamp fever and like to die, dat he should not leabe de
work as long as he libed, but hoped dat dey would send anoder man
out to take on his work after his death.
"Well, sar, I was landed, and I made my way to de place. It war
no easy matter. De niggers all say dey know no such person, but I
found de next post, and dere de man guided me to de path which led
into de swamp. Dey told me dey thought de ole man dead, for dat no
one had come along to dem from him for nigh two month. Well, sar,
as I 'spected I found him dead, and I buried him, and took up my
place in de hut. Soon it became known through de plantations round
dat de hut was occupied again, and dey began to come to me to ask
for assistance. My 'structions war dat only to enable a husband to
join his wife, or a wife her husband, or in cases where de masters
were uncommon cruel, dat I was to send 'em along by de underground
railway. De risks was too great to be run often.
Pages:
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239