He found the box, opened it, and helped himself.

In eight days, the boat tied up at the wharf at the place of her destination.

It was late at night; the boat's crew, with the single exception of the man on watch, were on shore.

The hatches were off, and the fugitive quietly made his way on deck and jumped on shore.

The man saw the fugitive, but too late to seize him.
Still in a Slave State, Jerome was at a loss to know how he should proceed.