Seeing the boy's anxiety to return home, he was disposed to throw around him invisible chains, and to hold him a captive.

He thus threw every possible hindrance in the way of his return, offered to hire him as his boy of all work, and made him a present of five or six dollars, which perhaps he considered payment in advance, which bound the boy to remain with him until he had worked it out.
David soon perceived that his movements were watched, and that he was not his own master to go or stay as he pleased.

This increased his restlessness.

Four or five weeks thus passed away, when, one morning, three wagons laden with merchandise came along, bound to Knoxville.
They were driven by an old man by the name of Dugan, and his two stalwart sons.

They had traversed the road before, and David had seen the old man at his father's tavern.