on the raft I had made across the Father of Waters.
When they returned I looked back and saw them running alongside
of the river where they could see me, willing to die with me. I
broke down in tears and could not look back any more, because I
would have gone back and died with them.

For hundreds of miles I made a path where no human foot had ever
trod. I swam rivers and made harbors where no boat had ever
landed. At last I reached Texas. For many days I travelled
without seeing any house. At night I was afraid of being
destroyed by some wild beast, so I would climb a tree and stay
awake until morning. But none of these things moved me for I had
ten years' study of my journey and whatever it might bring, even
death. Coming to a little town I found work with one of my race.
I thought all colored people were like those on the plantation so
I told my employer everything and from what plantation I came. He
said I had taken the right step. Imagine my surprise therefore
when I discovered that I was captured! It almost broke my heart.
Rather than go back to the old plantation I would suffer death. I
pulled away from my captors and ran with all my might. My
pretended friend was ahead trying to overtake me but I soon freed
myself in a large swamp. This taught me a lesson I did not have
to go to school to learn, I found out that some among my own race
would put me to death for a dollar and I learned to keep my mouth
shut.

When I reached Chattanooga, the nights were so cold I saw I could
no longer lie out. For many months I had not slept in a bed, nor
eaten a cooked meal. My clothes were those I wore away from home
and they were what you can imagine they would be. I did not know
how to go about getting a job. Finally I found a good place and
before long was earning enough to make me comfortable. But one
day when I was out in town I saw a drummer who had sold goods to
the store on our plantation, for many years. He recognized me and
called out, "The boss is going to break your head, nigger, if he
gets you!" This ended my happy home. I had not yet learned to get
on a train but with my same dependence I soon ran away to
Knoxville. Writing to a certain place from there I learned of my
father's death. These were dark days for me. I was strolling
abo