Page:The Under-Ground Railroad.djvu/116

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sheriff, being a praying man, he asked God from the depth of his sorrowful soul to assist him to escape. He outran the sheriff, leaping over fences into fine cultivated gardens, and thus out of one into another, until the sheriff lost sight of him. The officer informed the owner of what had happened, closing his note with these memorable words:—"I will never have anything to do with another praying nigger." I trust he has kept his word. This Slave came back to his old master, who owned his wife and child, intending to get them, and pass into Canada. Again he was betrayed, and delivered to his late master, who bought his wife and child. They were taken to New Orleans, and all sold to one man, Deacon Whitfield, a professed Christian and a deacon of a church. Mr. H— went to a prayer meeting without his master's consent, for which he asked and was denied; finishing his task, he went without it, and got home before he was needed. But on his arrival, his wife told him that his master had promised he should have the next day four hundred lashes for disobeying his orders. What to do he knew not. He took, however, a mule, and rode ten miles into the forest; remained there till the following night. He returned with the mule, and left it, then took his wife and child, and went in quite a different direction. The next day the bloodhounds traced them out. They were taken back. His hands and feet tied to