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40 Canada. I knew, from his appearance, he was a Fugitive Slave, which he did not conceal. In a couple of hours his pursuers were in town, hunting for him. Before I could possibly remove him from my house, even for my own or his safety, it was literally surrounded by them. As my house was detached from any other, there was no possibility of removing him without being seen. I was at my wit's end; what to do I knew not. If the Slave was caught in my possession, I must pay a fine of 1,000 dollars and be imprisoned six months, neither of which were desirable, especially having a wife and children. The Slave-hunters demanded my door to be opened, that they might search my house. I am not as obedient as I ought to be, even in cases where duty is at stake, therefore it is not to be wondered at that I should be so in this case. I absolutely refused to comply, unless they had authority from the Mayor of the town. As they did not attempt to come in, I took it for granted that they did not possess that authority, in which conclusion I found I was correct. This defect was met by dispatching one of their company into the town, or merely up the street, after a warrant. Action of some kind was imperative. In a short space of time I must submit to have my house searched. Just at this trying moment, I found the great necessity, or advantage, of having a wife. She arose from her seat, as if by Divine