Slave Life in Georgia - African American History

Slave Life in Georgia 75
24.03.2006
"Well, Sir," I answered, "I can't remember his name. I've forgotten it. But I was
told he used to live about here."
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"Name CÆsar?" asked the stranger.
"That's it, I think," said I.
"Well, yes, there's a coloured man of that name does live on this side. He's down
away yonder, a good bit, cutting walnut cord-wood. If you go on, you're sure to
meet with him."
With my heart leaping almost into my throat, I thanked the man, and went on,
and some time after came to the place where CÆsar was very busy plying his
axe. We were not long in coming to an understanding. I told him my story; he
gave me shelter in his shanty, shared his food with me, and I sat with him till
dark. I learnt from him that he was the only coloured man who lived on that
side, close to the river, for there was no business doing there; so although the
question I had put to the white man was quite a natural one, under the
circumstances in which I was placed, I had every reason to congratulate myself
on having been so fortunate as to fall in with CÆsar at this particular time.
This good fellow gave me the most precise information about the country,
advising me what roads to take, and what towns to avoid. He advised me not to
make for Chicago; to avoid Springfield, and to go to Indianapolis by way of
Vandalia. He also directed me to call at a place,
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the name of which, I think, is Rockville, where I should find a coloured man, a
friend of his, from North Carolina, on whose aid I might rely. Accordingly I set
off again at night, walking until day-break, through a small prairie, extending
between the Mississippi and the forks of the Springfield and Vandalia roads. By
the time it was light, however, I had not got further than about seven miles from
the river, the road through the prairie being cut up into deep ruts by waggons
and carts, and all filled with mud and water. As it was not safe for me to
continue my journey, I looked about for a place of concealment, and soon found
one, in the lock of a high wooden fence, the end of which went down to the
water's edge. Here I intended staying till night. I made my walking-stick serve
as a seat, by fixing it across the timbers of the fence, and then crouched down,