Road voyage, he had occasion to go
out to see the Underground Rail Road agent, and asked the clerk to give
him a pass. This favor was peremptorily refused. Henry, "not willing to
give it up so," sat down to write a pass for himself; he found it all
that was necessary, and was thus enabled to accomplish his business
satisfactorily. Next day his Christmas holiday commenced, but instead of
his enjoying the sight of his mother, he felt that he had seen her for
the last time in the flesh. It was a sad reflection. That evening at
dark, he was at the wharf, according to promise. The man with the ashes
immediately appeared and signalled him. In his three suits of clothing
(all on his back), he walked on the boat, and was conducted to the coal
covering, where Egyptian darkness prevailed. The appointed hour for the
starting of the steamer, was ten o'clock the following morning. By the
aid of prayer, he endured the suffering that night. No sooner had the
steamer got under way, than a heavy gale was encountered; for between
three and four days the gale and fog combined, threatened the steamer
with a total loss. All the freight on deck, consisting of tobacco and
cotton, had to be thrown overboard, to save the passengers.

Henry, in his state of darkness, saw nothing, nor could he know the
imminent peril that his life was in. Fortunately he was not sea-sick,
but slept well and long on the voyage. The steamer was five days coming.
On landing at Philadelphia, Henry could scarcely see or walk; the spirit
of freedom, however, was burning brightly in the hidden man, and the
free gales of fresh air and a few hours on free soil soon enabled him to
overcome the difficulties which first presented themselves, and he was
soon one of the most joyful mortals living. He tarried two days with his
friends in Philadelphia, and then hastened on to Boston. After being in
Boston two months, he was passing through the market one day, when, to
his surprise, he espied his young master, Charles L. Hobson. Henry was
sure, however, that he was not recognized, but suspected that he was
hunted. Instantly, Henry pulled up his coat collar, and drew his hat
over his face to disguise himself as much as possible; but he could not
wholly recover from the shock he had thus sustained. He turned aside
from the market and soon met a friend formerly from Richmond, who had
been in servitude in the tobacco factory owned by his master. Henry
tried to prevail on him to spot o