Part 14 (2/2)
The public road was near me on one hand, and an enclosed field was before me on the other, but in my present condition it was ier of perishi+ng in the woods, or of being arrested on the road
As evening came on, the air becaht the wind rose high and blew from the northwest, with intense keenness My li adventure, and to co left a few ears of corn, that I had ininto the field near me, I discovered a house at son of fire about it, I determined to reconnoitre the pre alone, with no other inhabitants about it than a few cattle and a flock of sheep Afterthe nails that confined one of the boards at the corner Entering the house I found it nearly filled with corn, in the husks, and so in a heap in one corner
Into these husks I crawled, and covering myself deeply under them, soon became warm, and fell into a profound sleep, fro about in the barn and talking of the cattle and sheep, which it appeared they had co in the corn husks hich I was covered, and throwing them out to the cattle I expected at every moment that they would uncover me; but fortunately before they saw me, they ceased their operations, and went to work, so the husks on the pile overthe husked corn into carts, as I learned by their conversation, and hauling it away to the house The people continued working in the barn all day, and in the evening gavetwo or three hours after one, I rose fro my pockets with ears of corn, issued from the barn at the same place by which I had entered it, and returned to the woods, where I kindled a fire in a pine thicket, and parched allon of corn Before day I returned to the barn, and again secreted ain returned to their work, and husked corn until the evening At night I again repaired to the woods, and parchedin the barn all day, and going to the woods at night; but at length the corn was all husked, and I watched daily the progress that wasthat I must quit my winter retreat before the husks were exhausted Before the husked corn was removed from the barn, I had conveyed several bushels of the ears into the husks, near my bed, and concealed them for my winter's stock
Whilst I lay in this barn there were frequent and great changes of weather The snow that covered the earth to the depth of two feet when I came here, did not remain more than ten days, and was succeeded by more than a week of warm rainy weather, which was in turn succeeded by several days of dry weather, with cold high winds from the North The month of February was cloudy and damp, with several squalls of snow and frequent rains About the first of March, the atmosphere became clear and dry, and the winds boisterous fro filledand all my pockets with parched corn, I quitted ain proceeded on e heap of corn husks still lying in the corner of the barn
On leaving this place, I again pursued the road that had ledmany small streams in , though several of theh as my arm-pits--This road led nearly northeast, and was the only road that I had fallen in with, since I left Georgia, that had reat a distance
Nothing extraordinary befellto turn out earlier than usual in the evening, and proceeding along the road, I found thatthe side of which the road had been cut into the earth ten or twelve feet in depth, having steep banks on each side, which were now so damp and slippery that it was impossible for a man to ascend either the one or the other
Whilst in this narrow place, I heard the sound of horses proceeding up the hill toto listen, in aup the road To escape on either hand was impossible, and to retreat backwards would have exposed me to certain destruction Only one means of salvation was left, and I eully cut in one side of the road, by the water which had run down here in ti down close to the ground, the horseone I arose, and descending the hill, found a river beforethis stream I was compelled to swim at least two hundred yards; and found the cold so oppressive, after co out of the water, that I was forced to stop at the first thick woods that I could find and ain until the next night; and on the fourth night after this, careat river, which I suppose was the Roanoke I was obliged to swireat way down by the rapidity of the current It must have been more than an hour from the time that I entered the water, until I reached the opposite shore, and as the rivers were yet very cold, I suffered greatly at this place
Judging by the aspect of the country, I believed inia; and was now reduced to the utmost extremity for want of provisions The corn that I had parched at the barn and brought with me, was nearly exhausted, and no more was to be obtained in the fields at this season of the year For three or four days I allowed myself only my two hands full of parched corn per day; and after this I traveled three days without tasting food of any kind; but being nearly exhausted with hunger, I one night entered an old stack-yard, hoping that I s, or poultry of some kind I found, instead of these, a stack of oats, which had not been threshed From this stack I took ason a few e fire, and parched at least half a gallon of oats, after rubbing the grain froain rubbed it in ht in feasting on parched oats
The weather was now becoh the water was cold in the rivers; and I perceived the farhed their fields, preparatory to planting corn Every night I saw people burning brush in the new grounds that they were clearing of the wood and brush; and when the day ca after I obtained the oats, I perceived people planting corn in a field about half ato ht of the last day of March that I obtained the oats; and the appearance of the country satisfied
I lay in this pine-wood two days, for the purpose of recruiting ain resu towards the North, and follow it in future; the one that I had been pursuing of late, not appearing to be a principal high-way of the country For this purpose, striking off across the fields, in an easterly direction, I traveled a few hours, and was fortunate enough to coreat road, which wastowards the northeast
My bag was now replenished with allon of parched oats, and I had yet one pair of one, and my last pair of trowsers was now in actual service A tolerable waistcoat still reh full of honorable scars, was yet capable ofresolved to pursue the road I was now in, it was necessary again to resort to the ut only after it was dark, and taking care to stop before the appearance of day, ress was not rapid, but my safety was preserved
The acquisition of food had now becoan to fail, I resorted to the dangerous expedient of attacking the corn-crib of a planter that was near the road The house was built of round logs, and was covered with boards One of these boards I succeeded in re, and by thrusting my arm doards, was able to reach the corn--of which I took as reat coat, and a large handkerchief that I had preserved through all the vicissitudes of my journey This opportune supply of corn furnished me with food more than a week, and before it was consumed I reached the Appomattox river, which I crossed in a canoe that I found tied at the shore, a fewapproached Petersburg in the night, I was afraid to atteh it, lest the patrol should fall in with h the country, reached the river, and crossed in safety
The great road leading to Richly inia, that there was no difficulty in following it, and on the third night after passing Petersburg, I obtained a sight of the capitol of Virginia It was only a little after ht; but here, as well as at Petersburg, I was afraid to atteh the town, under cover of the darkness, because of the patrol Turning, therefore, back into a forest, about two miles from the small town on the south-side of the river, I lay there until after twelve o'clock in the day, when loosening the package fro it in e, as if I had only cohborhood
This was on Sunday, I believe, though according to my computation it was Monday; but it e was quiet, and in passing it I only sao or three persons, whom I passed as if I had not seen thee in safety, and crossed it without attracting the least attention
Entering the city of Rich at a slow pace, and turning my head from side to side, as if much attracted by the objects around me Few persons were in the street, and I was careful to appear more attentive to the houses than to the people At the upper end of the city I saw a great crowd of ladies and gentle fro me, I stood in the street, on the outside of the foot pavement, with my face turned to the opposite side of the street
They all went by without taking any notice of ain resu the pave accosted by any one As soon as I was clear of the city I quickened reat haste, soed in the thickest part of the woods that lay on the North of Richmond, and full four miles from the river This was the boldest exploit that I had perfor ia
My corn was now failing, but as I had once entered a crib secretly, I felt but little apprehension on account of future supplies After this tier, until I reached the place ofthe great road by which I had traveled on reat care not to expose hts I sahite people on the way, but was oftenout of the road; but one ht, five or six days after I left Richmond, a, how long I had been on the road, andthe course of my late journey This man was a mulatto, and carried a heavy cane, or rather club, in his hand I did not like his appearance, and the idea of a familiar conversation with any one seemed to terrify me I determined to watch my co me; but at the sa closer to and following behind an to wish to get rid of hiine how I should effect my purpose To avoid him, I crossed the road several times; but still he followed htly upon our backs, cast his shadow far before me, and enabled me to perceive hismy head towards hith raised his right hand gently, took the stick by the end, and drawing it slowly over his head, was in the very act of striking a blow atround by a stroke on his forehead; and when I had him down, beat him over the back and sides with ed me not to kill him I left him in no condition to pursue et as far fros would carry me
This man was undoubtedly one of those wretches who are employed by white men to kidnap and betray such unfortunate people of color as may chance to fall into their hands but for once the deceiver was deceived, and he who intended to h fallen a sacrifice hiht I crossed the Pa, and secreted myself before day in a dense cedar thicket