I am glad there was no necessity for this; for resistance to him could not have ended so happily for me, as it did in the case of Covey.

He was not a man to be safely resisted by a slave; and I freely own, that in my conduct toward him, in this instance, there was more folly than wisdom.
Master Hugh closed his reproofs, by telling me that, hereafter, I need give myself no uneasiness about getting work; that he "would, himself, see to getting work for me, and enough of it, at that." This threat I confess had some terror in it; and, on thinking the matter over, during the Sunday, I resolved, not only to save him the trouble of getting me work, but that, upon the third day of September, I would attempt to make my escape from slavery.

The refusal to allow me to hire my time, therefore, hastened the period of flight.

I had three weeks, now, in which to prepare for my journey.
Once resolved, I felt a certain degree of repose, and on Monday, instead of waiting for Master Hugh to seek employment for me, I was up by break of day, and off to the ship yard of Mr.Butler, on the City Block, near the draw-bridge.

I was a favorite{257} with Mr.B., and, young as I was, I had served as his foreman on the float stage, at calking.