Mountain, very far to the Northward in Virginia.

After I had been with him about a Month, I was very much discontented, that I should work 7 Years for nothing, and therefore my Thoughts were always taken up in meditating my Escape, which I accomplished by taking his Horse, a Peck of Meal, and what other Necessaries I wanted, and steered my Course away one Night in very bad Weather, in thundering and raining all the Night, which I thought was very advantageous to my Purpose; for I imagined, and not without Reason, that my Master would hardly chuse to go far after me in such bad Weather.

I made the best of my Way 'till I came to a Place called Hern's Ordinary , within 7 Miles of Fredericksburgh , and then a Man, who was sent with a Hue and Cry after me, met me in the Road. Upon his meeting me, he asked me, if I had not seen a stray Horse, I told him, I had not, upon which, he rode past me about 50 Yards, and then turned back upon me.

I having a guilty Conscience, presently knew him to be one Hunt, my Master's Smith, and when we came to a House, he told me, he must speak with me, and I should stop: I answered him, that I was upon hasty Business, and he, nor no Man should stop me; upon which, he drew a Ctlass, and aim'd a Blow at my Head, which I made him repent, for having a Hedging Bill in my Hand, I was obliged to fight to vindicate myself, chusing rather to suffer Death than to go back to be used in such a barbarous Manner as I should have been.

I therefore endeavoured to do him as much Mischief as he did me, but, to my great Joy, I did not kill him, for I only struck him on the Arm, and knocked him off his Horse:

After this, I was obliged to ride into the Woods, through which I travelled 'till I had got 8 Miles beyond Fredericksburgh , and then Night coming on, I ventured into the open Road, and kept on my Journey 'till Day-light, when I turned my Horse a-drift, and lay all Day in the Woods, mixing up my Meal in my Hat into Dough, which I bak'd for my Subsistance by a Fire in the Woods, having what they call Punk to get a light with.

I then travelled down to a Place called West-Point , on the Edge of York-River , where I arrived about eleven at Night: Here I thought my Journey was stopped, for the River was at least 3 Miles wide, so that it was impossible for me to swim over; but I providentially heard a Boat approaching towards me.

I waited very quietly in Hopes of making myself Master of it, and it answered my Expectation, for the Men came on Shore, and left the Boat; upon which I jump'd into it, having first cut down a Pine Bush, which being fixed in the Boat, served me for Mast and Sail. I then shov'd my Boat off, and before I had got half Way over the River, my Boat was almost full of Water; I thought I must have perished inevitably; but taking good Heart, I applyed myself to throwing out the Water with my Hat, and with some Difficulty, I reached the Shore.

I was now 17 Miles from Williamsburgh , and made the best of my Way to Colonel Worrel's Ferry, on the Edge of James River , which was 5 Miles over, were I thought to hide myself 'till Night, but the Man of the Ferry happened to see me, upon which I went up to him, and he accosted me with, Sir, are you going over? I told him, I had no Money to pay my Ferryage, which made him scruple me. He said, he believed I was a Runaway: I told him, I was sorry for his Folly, and that he should have no more Sense, for I could with Ease, know a Runaway by his Looks.

He asked me, whence I came? I told him I came from York , in a Sloop belonging to Boston in New-England , laden with Rum: Aye! said the Ferryman, I am very glad of that, for now we shall have Rum in the Country again.

I told him the Ship was called the Page, Capt. Johnson, (that being what first came in my Head) and on his asking me my Reason for leaving the Ship, I told him, the Commander starved me in the Passage, and that I had rather go to my Native Place than be used in such a Manner. The Ferryman's Wife and Sister happened to be sitting by the River-side, and thinking to move their Compassion towards me, I told them a doplorable Story, that I had left my Wife and 2 Children in England, and that I expected another when I came Home, having left my Wife big, although I never was married. I offered to give the Ferryman my Coat for my Passage; but his Wife and Sister believing what I had told them to be