Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/142

126 that he had heard that his master had come to New York with a search-warrant, and was expecting to arrest him and carry him off to the South. Mr. Carter gladly contributed towards the poor fellow’s travelling expenses to Canada, as he had repeatedly done in similar cases before. That afternoon the fugitive slave took passage on a Hudson River boat for Albany, when, just as the boat started, a carriage was driven furiously up, and his master with a constable came on board. The feeling was so strong against the Fugitive Slave Law that the master did not think it best to raise a commotion on the boat by arresting him at once, but thought he would take quiet possession of the man when they were disembarking at Albany. The poor slave cowered down among some bales in the forward part of the boat, and felt that his hour had almost come. Among the passengers he noticed a man with a very benevolent countenance, and he thought he would throw himself upon his protection. He managed to attract the gentleman’s attention, and told him his story while his master and the constable were amusing themselves in the cabin, knowing that the boat did not make any stops before reaching Albany, and feeling sure that their victim was securely trapped. The kindly man’s sympathies were all aroused by the poor fellow’s story, and he went to the captain to see what could be done. The captain said that it would not do for him to seem to take any part in the matter, but that the gentleman might tell the slave that when they reached Albany the vessel would accidentally touch the pier, and then veer off into the stream again, that he must be ready to spring for liberty, and that it would then take about half an hour to turn the boat and touch the wharf properly, and in the mean while the train for Canada would