parted from their antagonists. Not being contented,
however, thus to give up the struggle, after getting
some yards off, they fired a loaded gun in the midst of
the fugitives, peppering two of them considerably about
the head and face, and one about the arms. As the shot
was light they were not much damaged, however, at any
rate not discouraged. Not forgetting which way to steer
across the bay, in the direction of the lighthouse, they
rowed for that point with all possible speed, but their
bark being light, and the wind and rough water by no
means manageable, ere they reached the desired shore
they were carried a considerable distance off their
course, in the immediate vicinity of a small island.
Leaving their boat they went upon the island, the women
sick, and there reposed without food, utterly ignorant
of where they were for one whole day and night, without
being able to conjecture when or where they should find
free land for which they had so long and fervently
prayed. However, after thus resting, feeling compelled
to start on again, they set off on foot. They had not
walked a mile ere, providentially, they fell in with an
oyster man and a little boy waiting for the tide. With
him they ventured to converse, and soon felt that he
might be trusted with, at least, a hint of their
condition. Accordingly they made him acquainted in part
with their piteous story, and he agreed to bring them
within fifteen miles of ---- for twenty-five dollars,
all the capital they had. Being as good as his word, he
did not leave them fifteen miles off the city, but
brought them directly to it." * * * * "How happy
they were at finding themselves in the hands of friends,
and surrounded with flattering prospects of soon
reaching Canada you may imagine, but I could not
describe."[A]

[Footnote A: In those days the writer in giving
information enjoined the utmost secresy, considering
that the cause might be sadly damaged simply by being
inadvertently exposed even by friends, thousands of
miles away. The Pro-slavery-mob spirit at that time was
also very rampant in Philadelphia and other northern
cities, threatening aboli