that the heartless monster might now do his worst;
he could but kill me, and that might put me out of my misery. Finding me
unable to rise, or rather despairing of my doing so, Covey left me,
with a view to getting on with the work without me. I was bleeding
very freely, and my face was soon covered with my warm blood. Cruel and
merciless as was the motive that dealt that blow, dear reader, the wound
was fortunate for me. Bleeding was never more efficacious. The pain in
my head speedily abated, and I was soon able to rise. Covey had, as I
have said, now left me to my fate; and the question was, shall I return
to my work, or shall I find my way to St. Michael's, and make Capt. Auld
acquainted with the atrocious cruelty of his brother Covey, and beseech
him to get me another master? Remembering the object he had in view,
in placing me under the management of Covey, and further, his cruel
treatment of my poor crippled cousin, Henny, and his meanness in the
matter of feeding and clothing his slaves, there was little ground
to hope for a favorable reception at the hands of Capt. Thomas Auld.
Nevertheless, I resolved to go straight to Capt. Auld, thinking that, if
not animated by motives of humanity, he might be induced to interfere
on my behalf from selfish considerations. "He cannot," thought I, "allow
his property to be thus bruised and battered, marred and defaced; and
I will go to him, and tell him the simple truth about the matter." In
order to get to St. Michael's, by the most favorable and direct road,
I must walk seven miles; and this, in my sad condition, was no easy
performance. I had already lost much blood; I was exhausted by over
exertion; my sides were sore from the heavy blows planted there by the
stout boots of Mr. Covey; and I was, in every way, in an unfavorable
plight for the journey. I however watched my chance, while the cruel
and cunning Covey was looking in an opposite direction, and started{176}
off, across the field, for St. Michael's. This was a daring step; if it
failed, it would only exasperate Covey, and increase the rigors of my
bondage, during the remainder of my term of service under him; but the
step was taken, and I must go forward. I succeeded in getting nearly
half way across the broad field, toward the woods, before Mr. Covey
observed me. I was still bleeding, and the exertion of running had
started the blood afresh. _"Come back! Come back!"_ vociferated Covey,
with threats of what he woul