f his life. But on this point
he seemed to give himself no more concern than he would have done to
know which way the wind would blow the next day. He had his own
convictions about dying and the future, and he declared, that he had "no
fear of death," however it might come. Still, he was not disposed to be
reckless or needlessly to imperil his life, or the lives of those he
undertook to aid. Nor was he averse to receiving compensation for his
services. In Richmond, Norfolk, Petersburg, and other places where he
traded, many slaves were fully awake to their condition. The great slave
sales were the agencies that served to awaken a large number. Then the
various mechanical trades were necessarily given to the Slaves, for the
master had no taste for "greasy, northern mechanics." Then, again, the
stores had to be supplied with porters, draymen, etc., from the slave
population. In the hearts of many of the more intelligent amongst the
slaves, the men, as mechanics, etc., the women, as dress-makers,
chamber-maids, etc., notwithstanding all the opposition and hard laws,
the spirit of Freedom was steadily burning. Many of the slaves were half
brothers, and sisters, cousins, nephews, and nieces to their owners, and
of course "blood would tell."

It was only necessary for the fact to be made known to a single reliable
and intelligent slave, that a man with a boat running North had the love
of Freedom for all mankind in his bosom to make that man an object of
the greatest interest. If an angel had appeared amongst them doubtless
his presence would not have inspired greater anxiety and hope than did
the presence of Captain F. The class most anxious to obtain freedom
could generally manage to acquire some means which they would willingly
offer to captains or conductors in the South for such assistance as was
indispensable to their escape. Many of the slaves learned if they could
manage to cross Mason and Dixon's line, even though they might be
utterly destitute and penniless, that they would then receive aid and
protection from the Vigilance Committee. Here it may be well to state
that, whilst the Committee gladly received and aided all who might come
or be brought to them, they never employed agents or captains to go into
the South with a view of enticing or running off slaves. So when
captains operated, they did so with the full understanding that they
alone were responsible for any failures attending their movements.

The way is