or ten months before he was
successful in finding the Underground Road, this brave-hearted young
fugitive abode in the swamps--three months in a cave--surrounded with
bears, wild cats, rattle-snakes and the like.

While in the swamps and cave, he was not troubled, however, about
ferocious animals and venomous reptiles. He feared only man!

From his own story there was no escaping the conclusion, that if the
choice had been left to him, he would have preferred at any time to have
encountered at the mouth of his cave a ferocious bear than his master,
the governor of North Carolina. How he managed to subsist, and
ultimately effected his escape, was listened to with the deepest
interest, though the recital of these incidents must here be very brief.

After night he would come out of his cave, and, in some instances, would
succeed in making his way to a plantation, and if he could get nothing
else, he would help himself to a "pig," or anything else he could
conveniently convert into food. Also, as opportunity would offer, a
friend of his would favor him with some meal, etc. With this mode of
living he labored to content himself until he could do better. During
these ten months he suffered indescribable hardships, but he felt that
his condition in the cave was far preferable to that on the plantation,
under the control of his Excellency, the Governor. All this time,
however, William had a true friend, with whom he could communicate; one
who was wide awake, and was on the alert to find a reliable captain from
the North, who would consent to take this "property," or "freight," for
a consideration. He heard at last of a certain Captain, who was then
doing quite a successful business in an Underground way. This good news
was conveyed to William, and afforded him a ray of hope in the
wilderness. As Providence would have it, his hope did not meet with
disappointment; nor did his ten months' trial, warring against the
barbarism of Slavery, seem too great to endure for Freedom. He was about
to leave his cave and his animal and reptile neighbors,--his heart
swelling with gladness,--but the thought of soon being beyond the reach
of his mistress and master thrilled him with inexpressible delight. He
was brought away by Captain F., and turned over to the Committee, who
were made to rejoice with him over the signal victory he had gained in
his martyr-like endeavors to throw off the yoke, and of course they took
much pleasure in aiding h