d. Mr. McKim thought
that a man who might be taken for a negro trader would be the right kind
of a man to send on this errand. Garrett and Hunn being consulted
heartily acquiesced in this plan, and after much reflection and inquiry,
Isaac S. Flint, an uncompromising abolitionist, living in Wilmington,
Delaware, was elected to buy Burris at the sale, providing that he was
not run up to a figure exceeding the amount in hand.

Flint's abhorrence of Slavery combined with his fearlessness, cool
bearing, and perfect knowledge from what he had read of the usages of
traders at slave sales, without question admirably fitted him to play
the part of a trader for the time being.

When the hour arrived, the doomed man was placed on the auction-block.
Two traders from Baltimore were known to be present; how many others the
friends of Burris knew not. The usual opportunity was given to traders
and speculators to thoroughly examine the property on the block, and
most skillfully was Burris examined from the soles of his feet to the
crown of his head; legs, arms and body, being handled as horse-jockies
treat horses. Flint watched the ways of the traders and followed for
effect their example. The auctioneer began and soon had a bid of five
hundred dollars. A Baltimore trader was now in the lead, when Flint, if
we mistake not, bought off the trader for one hundred dollars. The bids
were thus suddenly checked, and Burris was knocked down to Isaac S.
Flint (a strange trader). Of course he had left his abolition name at
home and had adopted one suited to the occasion. When the crier's hammer
indicated the last bid, although Burris had borne up heroically
throughout the trying ordeal, he was not by any means aware of the fact
that he had fallen into the hands of friends, but, on the contrary,
evidently labored under the impression that his freedom was gone. But a
few moments were allowed to pass ere Flint had the bill of sale for his
property, and the joyful news was whispered in the ear of Burris that
all was right; that he had been bought with abolition gold to save him
from going south. Once more Burris found himself in Philadelphia with
his wife and children and friends, a stronger opponent than ever of
Slavery. Having thus escaped by the skin of his teeth, he never again
ventured South.

After remaining a year or two in Philadelphia, about the year 1852 he
went to California to seek more lucrative employment than he had
hitherto found.