They would not punish me by putting irons on my limbs, but would give me a good name, and sell me to some gentleman in Louisville for a house servant.

They thought I would soon make money enough to buy myself, and would not part with me if they could get along without.

But I had cost them so much in advertising and looking for me, that they were involved by it.

In the first place they paid eight hundred and fifty dollars for me; and when I first run away, they paid one hundred for advertising and looking after me; and now they had to pay about forty dollars, expenses travelling to and from Cincinnati, in addition to the three hundred dollars reward; and they were not able to pay the reward without selling me.
I knew then the only alternative left for me to extricate myself was to use deception, which is the most effectual defence a slave can use.
I pretended to be satisfied for the purpose of getting an opportunity of giving them the slip.
But oh, the distress of mind, the lamentable thought that I should never again see the face nor hear the gentle voice of my nearest and dearest friends in this life.

I could imagine what must be my fate from my peculiar situation.