her to death for killing the dog that caught her, even that is better than to be driven and sold away from each other.”
Fearing that they might be put in jail the next morning, they started about midnight, taking nothing with them, traveling in the road until it began to be light, when they went into a swamp and waded in creeks and swamps until almost noon, so as to baffle the dogs. Then going as near the road as they thought would be safe, they rested until dark, when they started again. Before morning they were so faint from hunger and fatigue that Rosa could go no farther; the next day Joe found some berries and brought to her these and a few roots, and some hours of sleep revived her so that they went forward. The fourth night they became so exhausted by hunger and fatigue that they laid down in the woods expecting to die there, but after resting a while Joe determined to obtain food for his wife at all hazards, and having slept until evening, he left her and Avent in search of a house. Coming to a road he followed it until he found that he had passed a house. Having the superstition common among slaves, he feared bad luck if he turned back, and so he went on and soon came to another house and knocked at the door. A man opened the door, and looking at Joe, said, “You are a fugitive slave, but be not afraid, come in.” It was with great effort that Joe stepped into the house and sat down. The man spoke kindly to him, and when he learned which way he came, he said, “It is well for you that you did not stop at the house you came past; they would have betrayed you. What can I do for you«?” Joe could only say “bread.” When it was given to him he looked at it and turned it over, seeming as the man thought, to almost devour it with his eyes. He said, “You are starved; why don’t you eat?” “Yes,” said
