d told me that
we were betrayed, I could not, at that moment, have felt more certain of
the fact.

In a few minutes after this, the long, low and distant notes of the horn
summoned us from the field to breakfast. I felt as one may be supposed
to feel before being led forth to be executed for some great offense. I
wanted no breakfast; but I went with the other slaves toward the house,
for form's sake. My feelings were{224} not disturbed as to the right of
running away; on that point I had no trouble, whatever. My anxiety arose
from a sense of the consequences of failure.

In thirty minutes after that vivid presentiment came the apprehended
crash. On reaching the house, for breakfast, and glancing my eye toward
the lane gate, the worst was at once made known. The lane gate off Mr.
Freeland's house, is nearly a half mile from the door, and shaded by the
heavy wood which bordered the main road. I was, however, able to descry
four white men, and two colored men, approaching. The white men were
on horseback, and the colored men were walking behind, and seemed to be
tied. _"It is all over with us,"_ thought I, _"we are surely betrayed_."
I now became composed, or at least comparatively so, and calmly awaited
the result. I watched the ill-omened company, till I saw them enter the
gate. Successful flight was impossible, and I made up my mind to stand,
and meet the evil, whatever it might be; for I was not without a slight
hope that things might turn differently from what I at first expected.
In a few moments, in came Mr. William Hamilton, riding very rapidly, and
evidently much excited. He was in the habit of riding very slowly, and
was seldom known to gallop his horse. This time, his horse was nearly
at full speed, causing the dust to roll thick behind him. Mr. Hamilton,
though one of the most resolute men in the whole neighborhood, was,
nevertheless, a remarkably mild spoken man; and, even when greatly
excited, his language was cool and circumspect. He came to the door, and
inquired if Mr. Freeland was in. I told him that Mr. Freeland was at the
barn. Off the old gentleman rode, toward the barn, with unwonted speed.
Mary, the cook, was at a loss to know what was the matter, and I did
not profess any skill in making her understand. I knew she would have
united, as readily as any one, in cursing me for bringing trouble into
the family; so I held my peace, leaving matters to develop themselves,
without my assistance. In a few mo