wards the plantation he struck into a narrow path leading through thick bushes towards a dense forest. I managed to follow him nearly half a mile into the woods, when I saw the light of a large fire shining on the tall trees. A few men were sitting around on logs, and others constantly coming, but no women or children. I hid myself near the cleared spot and waited until almost midnight, when I saw a man approach the fire towards whom the negroes (as many as a hundred had arrived), showed a marked respect He immediately stepped on to a stump and commenced a speech, having first called on Tom to say if any spies were about. Tom’s answer being satisfactory, he said, ‘I have come a long way to-night to hear your decision. Tom, we will hear from you.’
“Tom came forward and said in a firm voice, ’I cannot not comsent to this rising. It can do no good. True, word comes all the way from Virginia and Missouri that if we will commence here where there are few white folks, we can make a good start, and soon an army will fill the land and nothing can stand before us; but, my friends, it isn’t so. We can do nothing to better our condition;’ and after repeating a part of the Sermon on the Mount he sat down.
“Then the stranger came forward. He was very black, his face shone in the light of the fire. He stood like a statue, his eyes turned towards the heavens for so long a time that the silence seemed painful. Then the tears started from his eyes ; he commenced in low, musical tones, ‘It’s all over, no man will stand by me! God help us!’ He then began to speak of the injustice of slavery, the cruelties, the licentiousness, the degradation, and such impassioned eloquence I never heard from any man as he exhibited when in his final appeal he called upon them to avenge themselves even though there
