Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-03-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the True esleyan.
THE FUGITIVE.
(CoNCLUDED.)

The southern mode of settlements favored this
plan, as their plantations are generally removed
from the public roads, lessening very much the
danger of travelling by night, except when near
villages and large towns Thus he pursued his
way onward by night, and hiding himself by day,
subsisting upon such things as he could plumber
from plantations by night, or find wild in the
woods by day. At one time, he fed upon vine
of wild grapes, at another he fell upon tree laden
with wild pums, at other times berries were found
on the hills whittier he sought security by day.
Several times he had the good fortune to relieve
his hunger by taking oppossums which are found
in the woods of Alabama. When hunger compel
led HIM to run the hazard, he fell upon the plan
tations for relief, sometimes running very narrow
chances of being taken. He had not so much to
fear from the sleepy negroes, as from the more
watchful dogs In one of these hazardous depre-
dations upon plantation, he came very nigh los
ing his life. 1t was approaching the break of day,
when the knawings of hunger forced him to seek
relief at all hazards. He approached plantation
after due search, he could find nothing that was
eatable, and being pushed to desperation by hun
ger he finally made an attempt upon the smoke
house, feeling that piece of bacon would be an
excellent substitute for wild fruits and green CORN
and applying his axe to the door, he was laboring
with all his might to force the door open, when
being heard by some wakeful inmate Of the house
near by, he was startled hearing the door open;
and before he had time to commence a flight, a
gun was discharged at him, the contents of which,
were scattered around him so closely that several
shot pierced his clothes, and one even drew blood
from his arm, yet did not injure him. Like deer
he fed leaping fences and whatever lay in his
course, until he found himself in the woods, the
nearest portion of which was not far. distant So
rapid was his flight, that he could not tell whether
he was pursued or not. After flying short
distance into the thick woods, he paused, and be-
came satisfiedthat no immediate pursuit was push
ed, and as it was yet dark he feared none until
daylight. He was sure that there no dogs
on the plantation, or they would have been reused
to immediate pursuit, but presumed dogs would
be procured from some neighborng plantation,
and pursuit be commenced as soon after daylight
as arrangements could be made; to secure himself
against it was therefore his first effort. His safe
ty depended much upon the distance he could gain
before the pursuit should commence, and this de-
pended in part upon his speed and partly upon the
time required on their part to procure the blood
hounds of some other plantation. Faint and hun
cry as he was, yet fear gave him wings, and he
bounded through the forest at no mean rate, keep
ing the highest ground until he had gone mile or
two, when he descended from the ridge of land
and entered an extensive swamp, through which
he was sure they could not pursue him on horse
back, this being the usual mode of chase when the
face of the country would admit Of it, He press
cd his way slowly through the swamp, being able
to keep his course as daylight had broke upon his
way to aid his flight. Having passed the swamp,
he came upon hard ground, passing over which he
came to another swamp so dense and so set with
brambles and other shrubbery and wild vines as to
render it almost inaccessible. Into this he plung-
ed and though it was with the greatest difficulty
that he could make progress, he considered that it
was peculiar providence that had guided him to
such place of security and gaining the centre as
he supposed, he felt satisfied that he should be
perfectly safe from the approach of man, unless