I give you
your option; you shall either consent to be my husband, or you shall
remain as you are, and toil hard; but any time that you think better of
it, and are willing to embrace my offer, you will be free, and I will be
as a wife in subjection."

"So you say," replied I; "but suppose I was to make you angry after I
married you, you would do to me as you have done now. I may, perhaps,
one day get free from this chain, but, once married to you, I am a slave
for ever."

"You may think otherwise before long," replied she; "in the mean time,
you may walk out and cool yourself."

She then returned to her room, and I rose, having determined to walk out
and cool myself, as she proposed; but when I was on my legs, I found
that to the other end of the chain, which was very heavy and about two
yards long, was riveted an iron ball of about thirty pounds weight, so
that I could not walk without carrying this heavy weight in my hands,
for it could not be dragged. I lifted up the iron ball, and went out of
the house. I was no longer afraid of her. I was in too great a rage to
fear anything. As I calmed, I considered my case, and found it to be
hopeless; as I thought of Amy, and the many months of hope deferred, I
wept bitterly; and I had no consolation, for the reader may recollect
that I lost my Bible when I was sent on shore, naked almost, by the
rascally captain of the Transcendant.

I had now been twenty months away from Liverpool, and I felt as if my
chance of seeing her that I loved was indeed hopeless. I might remain
chained in such a solitude for years, or I might expire under her
barbarous treatment, for I fully knew what I had to expect. However, I
was resolved. I prayed fervently for support and succour in my time of
trouble, and became more composed. I remained out the whole of the
night, and watched the rising sun. The two convicts came out to their
work, and shrugged their shoulders as they passed me, but they dared not
speak to me.

My mistress at last came out. She commenced with abuse, but I gave no
answer. She tried soothing, but I was mute. At last she became frantic
in her passion, hurled me away from her, and after being dreadfully
beaten I fell to the ground. She put her foot upon my neck, and she
stood there, looking like a fury. She loaded me with epithets, and then
of a sudden went down on her knees by me, and begged my pardon, calling
me her dear Alexander--her life--entreating me