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have failed to discover that it called for a very different…looking
person from myself； and in that case it would have been his duty
to arrest me on the instant； and send me back to Baltimore
from the first station。 When he left me with the assurance
that I was all right； though much relieved； I realized that
I was still in great danger： I was still in Maryland；
and subject to arrest at any moment。 I saw on the train
several persons who would have known me in any other clothes；
and I feared they might recognize me； even in my sailor 〃rig；〃
and report me to the conductor； who would then subject me
to a closer examination； which I knew well would be fatal to me。
Though I was not a murderer fleeing from justice； I felt perhaps
quite as miserable as such a criminal。 The train was moving
at a very high rate of speed for that epoch of railroad travel；
but to my anxious mind it was moving far too slowly。 Minutes were hours；
and hours were days during this part of my flight。 After Maryland；
I was to pass through Delawareanother slave State； where slave…catchers
generally awaited their prey； for it was not in the interior of the State；
but on its borders； that these human hounds were most vigilant and active。
The border lines between slavery and freedom were the dangerous ones
for the fugitives。 The heart of no fox or deer； with hungry hounds
on his trail in full chase； could have beaten more anxiously or noisily
than did mine from the time I left Baltimore till I reached Philadelphia。
The passage of the Susquehanna River at Havre de Grace was at that time
made by ferry…boat； on board of which I met a young colored man by the name
of Nichols； who came very near betraying me。 He was a 〃hand〃 on the boat；
but； instead of minding his business； he insisted upon knowing me；
and asking me dangerous questions as to where I was going；
when I was coming back； etc。 I got away from my old and inconvenient
acquaintance as soon as I could decently do so； and went to another part
of the boat。 Once across the river； I encountered a new danger。
Only a few days before； I had been at work on a revenue cutter；
in Mr。 Price's ship…yard in Baltimore； under the care of Captain McGowan。
On the meeting at this point of the two trains； the one going
south stopped on the track just opposite to the one going north；
and it so happened that this Captain McGowan sat at a window where
he could see me very distinctly； and would certainly have recognized
me had he looked at me but for a second。 Fortunately； in the hurry
of the moment； he did not see me； and the trains soon passed each
other on their respective ways。 But this was not my only hair…
breadth escape。 A German blacksmith whom I knew well was on the
train with me； and looked at me very intently； as if he thought
he had seen me somewhere before in his travels。 I really
believe he knew me； but had no heart to betray me。 At any rate；
he saw me escaping and held his peace。
The last point of imminent danger； and the one I dreaded most；
was Wilmington。 Here we left the train and took the steam…boat
for Philadelphia。 In making the change here I again apprehended arrest；
but no one disturbed me； and I was soon on the broad and beautiful Delaware；
speeding away to the Quaker City。 On reaching Philadelphia in the afternoon；
I inquired of a colored man how I could get on to New York。 He directed me
to the William…street depot； and thither I went； taking the train that night。
I reached New York Tuesday morning； having completed the journey in less
than twenty…four hours。
My free life began on the third of September； 1838。 On the morning
of the fourth of that month； after an anxious and most perilous but safe
journey； I found myself in the big city of New York； a FREE MAN
one more added to the mighty throng which； like the confused waves
of the troubled sea； surged to and fro between the lofty walls of Broadway。
Though dazzled with the wonders which met me on every hand； my thoughts
could not be much withdrawn from my strange situation。 For the moment；
the dreams of my youth and the hopes of my manhood were completely fulfilled。
The bonds that had held me to 〃old master〃 were broken。 No man now
had a right to call me his slave or assert mastery over me。 I was
in the rough and tumble of an outdoor world； to take my chance with
the rest of its busy number。 I have often been asked how I felt
when first I found myself on free soil。 There is scarcely anything
in my experience about which I could not give a more satisfactory answer。
A new world had opened upon me。 If life is more than breath and the
〃quick round of blood；〃 I lived more in that one day than in a year
of my slave life。 It was a time of joyous excitement which words
can but tamely describe。 In a letter written to a friend soon after
reaching New York； I said： 〃I felt as one might feel upon escape
from a den of hungry lions。〃 Anguish and grief； like darkness and rain；
may be depicted； but gladness and joy； like the rainbow； defy the skill
of pen or pencil。 During ten or fifteen years I had been； as it were；
dragging a heavy chain which no strength of mine could break；
I was not only a slave； but a slave for life。 I might become a husband；
a father； an aged man； but through all； from birth to death； from the cradle
to the grave； I had felt myself doomed。 All efforts I had previously made
to secure my freedom had not only failed； but had seemed only to rivet
my fetters the more firmly； and to render my escape more difficult。
Baffled； entangled； and discouraged； I had at times asked myself
the question； May not my condition after all be God's work；
and ordered for a wise purpose； and if so； Is not submission my duty？
A contest had in fact been going on in my mind for a long time；
between the clear consciousness of right and the plausible make…
shifts of theology and superstition。 The one held me an abject
slavea prisoner for life； punished for some transgression in
which I had no lot nor part； and the other counseled me to manly
endeavor to secure my freedom。 This contest was now ended； my
chains were broken； and the victory brought me unspeakable joy。
But my gladness was short…lived； for I was not yet out of the reach
and power of the slave…holders。 I soon found that New York was not quite
so free or so safe a refuge as I had supposed； and a sense of loneliness
and insecurity again oppressed me most sadly。 I chanced to meet on the street；
a few hours after my landing； a fugitive slave whom I had once known well
in slavery。 The information received from him alarmed me。 The fugitive
in question was known in Baltimore as 〃Allender's Jake；〃 but in New York
he wore the more respectable name of 〃William Dixon。〃 Jake； in law；
was the property of Doctor Allender； and Tolly Allender； the son
of the doctor； had once made an effort to recapture MR。 DIXON；
but had failed for want of evidence to support his claim。
Jake told m