Slave Life in Georgia - African American History

Slave Life in Georgia 42
24.03.2006
I had calculated upon this circumstance, which I felt might serve me, when the
time came to take advantage of it.
On the evening in question, having quite succeeded
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in turning away my little jailer's attention from me, I thought the time was come
for making another attempt to escape. I had heard that Arres was looked for
every day, and, of course, my master with him. Wiggins was in the kitchen,
which was thirty yards away from the dwelling-house, and I knew it would take
but a very little while for the child to run there and back: but on the use I could
make of those few minutes I felt all my present hopes of getting away depended.
Watching my opportunity, I took the chisel and the whaffle-irons which the
cook had left standing in the chimney-corner, and with the two tried to break a
link of my chain. The whaffle-irons failed, so I put them down, and reached
over to get an old pan-handle that did service as a poker. With it I succeeded in
breaking the chain. I waited a few moments to fetch breath, for my heart beat so,
at the thought that I was so far free, that I could scarcely sit still. Presently I told
the child to go and tell her father I wanted him. She gave me one look and
started off. No sooner was she gone than I made off too, only in another
direction, bounding like a hare over every thing that came in my way.
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After running a good distance, I stopped to listen for sounds, and to breathe, for
I was quite blown. I could hear nothing, and concluded I was safe for the
present. It was now past ten, and as I had no money nor clothes, nor any thing to
eat, I thought I would go round to Posey's, and try and get my bundle. I found
my way there, for I knew the direction of the house, and that it was not more
than a mile from Wiggins', with no house or dwelling between them. When I got
up to it I listened at the windows, and soon discovered that Posey was at home,
so that any chance of getting my bundle was gone. What to do I did not know.
To pursue my own inclination, and try to complete my escape, I felt would be
exposing myself to certain re-capture, and most severe punishment; for I knew I
could not remain long in the neighbourhood, and that it would be raised in
search of me as soon as morning broke. On the other hand, I concluded that if I
were to go back to my master I might get a flogging but that another more
favourable chance of escaping might offer, and my going back of my own
accord, as I had done before, would perhaps be in my favour. After weighing