se where slaves are situated as we
were; no tattling; no giving each other bad names to Mr. Freeland; and
no elevating one at the expense of the other. We never undertook to do
any thing, of any importance, which was likely to affect each other,
without mutual consultation. We were generally a unit, and moved
together. Thoughts and sentiments were exchanged between us, which might
well be called very incendiary, by oppressors and tyrants; and perhaps
the time has not even now come, when it is safe to unfold all the flying
suggestions which arise in the minds of intelligent slaves. Several of
my friends and brothers, if yet alive, are still in some part of
the house of bondage; and though twenty years have passed away, the
suspicious malice of slavery might punish them for even listening to my
thoughts.

The slaveholder, kind or cruel, is a slaveholder still--the every
hour violator of the just and inalienable rights of man; and he is,
therefore, every hour silently whetting the knife of vengeance for his
own throat. He never lisps a syllable in commendation of the fathers
of this republic, nor denounces any attempted oppression of himself,
without inviting the knife to his own throat, and asserting the rights
of rebellion for his own slaves.

The year is ended, and we are now in the midst of the Christmas
holidays, which are kept this year as last, according to the general
description previously given.

CHAPTER XIX. _The Run-Away Plot_

NEW YEAR'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATIONS--AGAIN BOUGHT BY FREELAND--NO
AMBITION TO BE A SLAVE--KINDNESS NO COMPENSATION FOR SLAVERY--INCIPIENT
STEPS TOWARD ESCAPE--CONSIDERATIONS LEADING THERETO--IRRECONCILABLE
HOSTILITY TO SLAVERY--SOLEMN VOW TAKEN--PLAN DIVULGED TO THE
SLAVES--_Columbian Orator--_SCHEME GAINS FAVOR, DESPITE PRO-SLAVERY
PREACHING--DANGER OF DISCOVERY--SKILL OF SLAVEHOLDERS IN READING
THE MINDS OF THEIR SLAVES--SUSPICION AND COERCION--HYMNS WITH
DOUBLE MEANING--VALUE, IN DOLLARS, OF OUR COMPANY--PRELIMINARY
CONSULTATION--PASS-WORD--CONFLICTS OF HOPE AND FEAR--DIFFICULTIES TO BE
OVERCOME--IGNORANCE OF GEOGRAPHY--SURVEY OF IMAGINARY DIFFICULTIES--EFFECT
ON OUR MINDS--PATRICK HENRY--SANDY BECOMES A DREAMER--ROUTE TO THE NORTH
LAID OUT--OBJECTIONS CONSIDERED--FRAUDS PRACTICED ON FREEMEN--PASSES
WRITTEN--ANXIETIES AS THE TIME DREW NEAR--DREAD OF FAILURE--APPEALS
TO COMRADES--STRANGE PRESENTIMENT--COINCIDENCE--THE BETRAYAL
DISCOVERED--THE MANNER OF ARRESTING US--RESISTAN