CHAPTER XVI.✦

ANOTHER PRESSURE OF THE TYRANT’S VICE.

Experience at Covey’s summed up--First six months severer than the remaining six--Preliminaries to the change--Reasons for narrating the circumstances--Scene in the treading-yard--Author taken ill--Escapes to St. Michaels--The pursuit--Suffering in the woods--Talk with Master Thomas--His beating--Driven back to Covey’s--The slaves never sick--Natural to expect them to feign sickness--Laziness of slaveholders 142

CHAPTER XVII.✦

THE LAST FLOGGING.

A sleepless night--Return to Covey’s--Punished by him--The chase defeated--Vengeance postponed--Musings in the woods-- The alternative--Deplorable spectacle--Night in the woods-- Expected attack--Arrested by Sandy--A friend, not a master-- Sandy’s hospitality--The ash-cake supper--Interview with Sandy--His advice--Sandy a conjuror as well as a Christian-- The magic root--Strange meeting with Covey--His manner-- Covey’s Sunday face--Author’s defensive resolve--The fight-- The victory, and its results 150

CHAPTER XVIII.✦

NEW RELATIONS AND DUTIES.

Change of masters--Benefits derived by change--Fame of the fight with Covey--Reckless unconcern--Author’s abhorence of slavery-- Ability to read a cause of prejudice--The holidays--How spent--Sharp hit at slavery--Effects of holidays--Difference between Covey and Freeland--An irreligious master preferred to a religious one--Hard life at Covey’s useful to the author-- Improved condition does not bring contentment--Congenial society at Freeland’s--Author’s Sabbath-school--Secresy necessary-- Affectionate relations of tutor and pupils--Confidence and friendship among slaves--Slavery the inviter of vengeance 164