ithout a cellar,
erected on pillars three or four feet above the ground. One place alone,
near the cistern, presented some chance for a hiding-place, sufficient
to satisfy him quite well under the circumstances. This dark and gloomy
spot he at once willingly occupied rather than return to Slavery. In
this refuge he remained four weeks. Of course he could not live without
food; but to communicate with man or woman would inevitably subject him
to danger. Charles' experience in the neighborhood of his old home left
no ground for him to hope that he would be likely to find friendly aid
anywhere under the shadow of Slavery. In consequence of these fears he
received his food from the "slop tub," securing this diet in the
darkness of night after all was still and quiet around the hotel. To use
his own language, the meals thus obtained were often "sweet" to his
taste.

One evening, however, he was not a little alarmed by the approach of an
Irish boy who came under the hotel to hunt chickens. While prowling
around in the darkness he appeared to be making his way unconsciously to
the very spot where Charles was reposing. How to meet the danger was to
Charles' mind at first very puzzling, there was no time now to plan. As
quick as thought he feigned the bark of a savage dog accompanied with a
furious growl and snarl which he was confident would frighten the boy
half out of his senses, and cause him to depart quickly from his private
apartment. The trick succeeded admirably, and the emergency was
satisfactorily met, so far as the boy was concerned, but the boy's
father hearing the attack of the dog, swore that he would kill him.
Charles was a silent listener to the threat, and he saw that he could no
longer remain in safety in his present quarter. So that night he took
his departure for Bay Shore; here he decided to pass a day in the woods,
but the privacy of this place was not altogether satisfactory to
Charles' mind; but where to find a more secure retreat he could
not,--dared not venture to ascertain that day. It occurred to him,
however, that he would be much safer up a tree than hid in the bushes
and undergrowth. He therefore climbed up a large acorn tree and there
passed an entire day in deep meditation. No gleam of hope appeared, yet
he would not suffer himself to think of returning to bondage. In this
dilemma he remembered a poor washer-woman named Isabella, a slave who
had charge of a wash-house. With her he resolved to s