But Master Billy could not get Mr.Freeland to see matters precisely as he did; nor could he get Master Thomas so excited as he was himself.

The latter--I must say it to his credit--showed much humane feeling in his part of the transaction, and atoned for much that had been harsh, cruel{237} and unreasonable in his former treatment of me and others.

His clemency was quite unusual and unlooked for.

"Cousin Tom" told me that while I was in jail, Master Thomas was very unhappy; and that the night before his going up to release me, he had walked the floor nearly all night, evincing great distress; that very tempting offers had been made to him, by the Negro-traders, but he had rejected them all, saying that _money could not tempt him to sell me to the far south_.

All this I can easily believe, for he seemed quite reluctant to send me away, at all.