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26
SKETCHES OF THE

pursuers to have lost the track and abandoned the search. But not so; their spies -were on the line watching every little skiff in Black Bock harbor, when friend Andrew, just at daylight, having signaled the boatmen, left his carriage in a back street, and led Dan through a narrow lane to where a boat lay hid, and out of the water. It was launched in a moment, and Dan and two boatmen were on their way to Canada before the spies watching the other boats could give the alarm.

While friend A. stood on the shore watching the fugitive as he landed on the Canada side, the slave hunters arrived on the spot, and seeing an honest looking face under a broad brim, inquired if he had seen a “nigger” starting from somewhere along there in a boat. Being answered in the affirmative, with a pretty good description of him, and the remark that “he is safe now, for he has just landed under the flag of Old England,” they came out on the old man with a terrible volley of oaths, threats and imprecations. His cool answer was, “Friend, inasmuch as such conversation can avail thee nothing, would it not be wise to say no more about it? Farewell;” and he went to his carriage and started homeward.

Dan came back and worked for the Captain the next summer. Afterwards he attended school, and when the 112th Regiment went to the front, from this county, Dan went as waiter for an officer.