Page:The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African.pdf/233

[ 189 ] recoil; and my heart sunk that instant within me, 'What! said he, give you your freedom? Why, where did you get the money; Have you gotforty pounds sterling?' 'Yes, sir,' I answered. 'How did you get it;' replied he; I told him, 'Very honestly.' The captain than said he knew I got the money very honestly, and with much industry, and that I was particularly careful. On which my master replied, I got money much faster than he did; and said he would not have made the promise he did if he had thought I should have got the money so soon. 'Come, come,' said my worthy captain, clapping my master on the back, 'Come. Robert, (which was his name), I think you must let him have his freedom; — you have laid your money out very well; you have received good interest for it all this time, and here is now the principal at last. I know Gustavus had earned you more than one hundred a-year, and he will still save you money, as he will not leave you: Come, Robert, take the money.' My master then said, he would not be worse than his promise; and, taking the money, told me to go to the Secretary at the Register Office, and get my manumission drawn up. These words of my master were like a voice from heaven to me; in