d not command the high price demanded.

While Davis was thus daily trying to sell Charles, Charles was
contemplating how he might escape. Being uncommonly shrewd he learned
something about a captain of a schooner from Boston, and determined to
approach him with regard to securing a passage. The captain manifested a
disposition to accommodate him for the sum of ten dollars, provided
Charles could manage to get to Old Point Comfort, there to embark. The
Point was about one hundred and sixty miles distant from Richmond.

A man of ordinary nerve would have declined this condition
unhesitatingly. On the other hand it was not Charles' intention to let
any offer slide; indeed he felt that he must make an effort, if he
failed. He could not see how his lot could be made more miserable by
attempting to flee. In full view of all the consequences he ventured to
take the hazardous step, and to his great satisfaction he reached Old
Point Comfort safely. In that locality he was well known, unfortunately
too well known, for he had been raised partly there, and, at the same
time, many of his relatives and acquaintances were still living there.
These facts were evidently well known to the trader, who unquestionably
had snares set in order to entrap Charles should he seek shelter among
his relatives, a reasonable supposition. Charles had scarcely reached
his old home before he was apprised of the fact that the hunters and
watch dogs of Slavery were eagerly watching for him. Even his nearest
relatives, through fear of consequences had to hide their faces as it
were from him. None dare offer him a night's lodging, scarcely a cup of
water, lest such an act might be discovered by the hunters, whose
fiendish hearts would have found pleasure in meting out the most dire
punishments to those guilty of thus violating the laws of Slavery. The
prospect, if not utterly hopeless, was decidedly discouraging. The way
to Boston was entirely closed. A "reward of $200" was advertised for his
capture. For the first week after arriving at Old Point he entrusted
himself to a young friend by the name of E.S. The fear of the pursuers
drove him from his hiding-place at the expiration of the week. Thence he
sought shelter neither with kinfolks, Christians, nor infidels, but in
this hour of his calamity he made up his mind that he would try living
under a large hotel for a while. Having watched his opportunity, he
managed to reach Higee hotel, a very large house w