Chapter 4

           AtintervalsduringthefirstnightofEliza’sincarcerationinthepen,shecomplainedbitterlyofJacobBrooks,heryoungmistress’husband. Shedeclaredthathadshebeenawareofthedeceptionheintendedtopracticeuponher,heneverwouldhavebroughthertherealive. TheyhadchosentheopportunityofgettingherawaywhenMasterBerrywasabsentfromtheplantation. Hehadalwaysbeenkindtoher. Shewishedthatshecouldseehim;butsheknewthatevenhewasunablenowtorescueher. Thenwouldshecommenceweepingagain—kissingthesleepingchildren—talkingfirsttoone,thentotheother,astheylayintheirunconsciousslumbers,withtheirheadsuponherlap. Soworethelongnightaway;andwhenthemorningdawned,andnighthadcomeagain,stillshekeptmourningon,andwouldnotbeconsoled. 

           Aboutmidnightfollowing,thecelldooropened,andBurchandRadburnentered,withlanternsintheirhands. Burch,withanoath,orderedustorollupourblanketswithoutdelay,andgetreadytogoonboardtheboat. Hesworewewouldbeleftunlesswehurriedfast. Hearousedthechildrenfromtheirslumberswitharoughshake,andsaidtheywered—dsleepy,itappeared. Goingoutintotheyard,hecalledClemRay,orderinghimtoleavetheloftandcomeintothecell,andbringhisblanketwithhim. WhenClemappeared,heplacedussidebyside,andfastenedustogetherwithhand-cuffs—mylefthandtohisright. JohnWilliamshadbeentakenoutadayortwobefore,hismasterhavingredeemedhim,greatlytohisdelight. ClemandIwereorderedtomarch,Elizaandthechildrenfollowing. Wewereconductedintotheyard,fromthenceintothecoveredpassage,andupaflightofstepsthroughasidedoorintotheupperroom,whereIhadheardthewalkingtoandfro.