Having passed through the town without being recognised, I now found myself under cover of night, a solitary wanderer from home and friends; my only guide was the _north star_, by this I knew my general course northward, but at what point I should strike Penn, or when and where I should find a friend, I knew not.

Another feeling now occupied my mind,--I felt like a mariner who has gotten his ship outside of the harbour and has spread his sails to the breeze.

The cargo is on board--the ship is cleared--and the voyage I must make; besides, this being my first night, almost every thing will depend upon my clearing the coast before the day dawns.

In order to do this my flight must be rapid.

I therefore set forth in sorrowful earnest, only now and then I was cheered by the _wild_ hope, that I should somewhere and at sometime be free.
The night was fine for the season, and passed on with little interruption for want of strength, until, about three o'clock in the morning, I began to feel the chilling effects of the dew.
At this moment, gloom and melancholy again spread through my whole soul.
The prospect of utter destitution which threatened me was more than I could bear, and my heart began to melt.