ler, and I began to fear he would die before
I should have grown to man's estate, and I resolved if he did I would make
his children suffer by punishing them instead of their father. At this
time my master's wife had two lovers, this same Burmey and one Rogers, and
they despised each other from feelings of jealousy. Master's wife seemed
to favour Burmey most, who was a great smoker, and she provided him with a
large pipe with a German silver bowl, which screwed on the top; this pipe
she usually kept on the mantel piece, ready filled with tobacco. One
morning I was dusting and sweeping out the dining-room, and saw the pipe
on the mantel-piece. I took it down, and went to my young master William's
powder closet and took out his powder horn, and after taking half of the
tobacco out of the pipe filled it nearly full with powder, and covered it
over with tobacco to make it appear as usual when filled with tobacco,
replaced it, and left. Rogers, came in about eight o'clock in the morning,
and remained until eleven, when Mr. Burmey came, and in about an hour I
saw a great number running about from all parts of the plantation. I left
the barn where I was thrashing buck-wheat, and followed the rest to the
house, where I saw Mr. Burmey lying back in the arm chair in a state of
insensibility, his mouth bleeding profusely and from particulars given it
appeared he took the pipe as usual and lighted it, and had just got it to
his mouth when the powder exploded, and the party suspected was Rogers,
who had been there immediately preceding; and Burmey's son went to Rogers
and they fought about the matter. Law ensued, which cost Rogers 800
dollars, Burmey 600 dollars and his face disfigured; and my master's wife
came in for a deal of scandal, which caused further proceedings at law,
costing the master 1400 hundred dollars, and I was never once suspected or
charged with the deed.

At this time two or three negroes had escaped, and I heard so much about
the free States of the north that I was determined to be free. So I began
to study what we call the north star, or astronomy, to guide me to the
free States. I was in the habit of driving the master; and on one occasion
I had to drive him to Baltimore where two of his sons were studying law;
and while there, I stole some sweet potatoes to roast when I got home; and
how master got to know I had them I never knew; but when I got home he
gave me a note to Mr. Cobb, the overseer, and told me to t