Chapters5and6
It was
just luck that Uncle Jack Arabus was home when I got there; he was in the
American Army. There were seven or eight black
Men in the company. The rule was that they got themselves free if they
joined up. They took me in the kitchen, with a fire going. A rough wooden table
where the Arabus family ate. Big pots hanging along the walls and cupboards
with pewter mugs and plates inside. Aunt Betsy fed me some pork and cornbread.
As I was eating I told uncle about my story about the British, Pa and Ma.
Just then Mrs. Arabus walked in and said, "who is this?" "She’s my sister’s child,
Wilhelmina." "Why’s she dressed like a boy?" Mrs. Ivers spit. My Aunt was explaining
how I just came from New London and rode in a boat all day long. She looked at me
like I was dirt. Her stare made me a little uneasy. Mr. Arabus walked into the kitchen and said "whose nigger boy is this?" "She isn't a boy she’s a girl" Mrs. Ivers said. Then he
said "whose nigger are you?" I said "I’m a free nigger. Colonel Ledyard set us
free 4 years ago so Pa could join up in the army." "It’ll be easy to get a hold
of Colonel Ledyard." Mr. Arabus said. "He’s dead, I watched him get killed." I said. Suddenly Mrs. Ivers said "I don’t want her in
this house." "She’s staying, until I decide what to do with her." said Mr.
Ivers. Mrs. Ivers turned and said "fine
she can start by scrubbing floors and put her in a dress she is going to work for her supper." So I was put back into slavery. I knew I had freedom papers but they were all
the way back in our cabin. Maybe I can go to New York. Another reason for
leaving was the whole Arabus family slept down in the invers cellar on heaps
of straw. It was a mean damp place down there. I was scared I would get sick in
a place like that. The next day Mrs. Ivers put me to work scrubbing floors. I
wanted to shout at her but if I did I would get beat and she would twist my
ear. Mr. Ivers told me to stand up then he said "Colonel Ledyard is dead you
say?" "Yes sir, I seen it." I said. "I
suppose you have papers for your freedom?" "Oh yes sir." I said. "Where are they?" He said. "In our cabin" I said. I talked to Uncle Jack, and he said it’s too risky to go
to New York alone. Captain Ivers came In the back door and said, "where’s Dan?" He
said "I want him to take a message for me." “He’s in the barn sir I’ll take it.” I said. “Do you know where doctor’s
beach house is?" He said. And I said "Yes I do." So I
took the note and put on my Aunt’s old coat and went outside. Aunt Betsy said "hurry back so u can help with supper." I felt like I wanted to hug her, because
I didn't know when I would see her again. I trotted down the path toward the beach and my heart started beating
really fast. I left the shore. But then I had to pole into and outlet for night so I didn't make a hole in my boat by hitting something. As I was pulling into shore
there was about 5 or 6 boats coming my way really fast. These boats were big
whale boats like 30 feet long coming lickety-split my way! Now I could see the outlines there was about 30
men in each boat. Then I heard a loud shout and all the boats were coming right
toward me!
The men
from the whale boats took me and dumped me into the bottom of one of their
boats. I was just sitting there staring at the sky on my back, until one of them
crouched down beside me. I told him "I am going to Stanford to see my friends. I am going to Stafford because my Pa got killed by the British,
and Ma got taken by the British." The man said "that’s the truth?" I said "yes, I
saw it with my own eyes." They believed my story but still made me sit there on
my back and said they’ll decide what to do with me later. There was no knowing
on what they would do with me, maybe they would found out I was a run away and
send me back to Captain Ivers. Then I would never find my Ma. So I just lay
on my back and stared at the stars, then as I was looking at the sky I fell
asleep. I woke up to the crunching of pebbles and rocks. There was men jumping
out and pulling the boats onto shore. Somebody grabbed my shoulder and said out
of there now boy. Then we were on shore, me and only 20 other men. All the rest of the men went away into the woods. Then I got an idea I got up off the gunnel and
walked a little while down the beach and bent down and looked like I was
washing my hands then I picked up a couple little rocks. I quickly threw them
into the woods and they hit a tree and all of the soldiers turned and were like
what’s that? Then I threw another one and they all got up. Then I started
moving down the beach and I ran 50 feet away where all I saw was ship outlines
then I started running down the beach then I found woods and hid in there. Then
I found a field and ran across until I found a fence and jumped over it. As I was
passing through village’s an old lady gave me a ride and gave me some potatoes. I
stopped once, and got out two potatoes and cooked them over a fire. They tasted very
good. Then as I kept going I saw some
ships that looked like prison ships. I was thinking my mom could be on one of
them ships, the only way to know was to find out myself.
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