The book of wonderful characters: Memoirs and anecdotes of remarkable and eccentric persons in all ages and countries by Wilson Henry

Author:Wilson, Henry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Characters and characteristics, Biography
Publisher: London : J. C. Hotten

they paid him a visit, and told him that as he had not been sold to a planter, if the captain did not come to demand him, he would be publicly sold the next court day, and then generously agreed to purchase him among themselves, and to give him his liberty. Carew was so struck with their kindness, that he could not consent to purchase his liberty at their expense, and desired them to tell the captain who brought the transports where he was. They at last agreed to his request; the captain received the news with great pleasure, sent round his boat for him, had him severely punished with a cat-of-nine-tails, and a heavy iron collar fixed to his neck, and with this galling yoke he was obliged to perform the greatest drudgery. One day, when his spirits were ready to sink with despair, he saw the captains Harvey and Hopkins, two of those who had proposed to purchase his liberty. They were greatly affected with the miseries he suffered, and having sounded the boatswain and mate, prevailed on them to wink at his escape ; but the great obstacle was the penalty of forty pounds and a half-year's imprisonment for any one that took off his iron collar, so that he must be obliged to travel with it on. The captains acquainted him with all the difficulties he would meet with, but he was far from being discouraged, and resolved to set out that night; when directing him what course to take, they gave him a pocket-compass to steer by, a steel and tinder-box, a bag of biscuits, a cheese, and some rum. After taking an affectionate leave of his benefactors, he set out; but he had not travelled far before he began to reflect on his wretched condition : alone, unarmed, unacquainted with the way, galled with a heavy yoke, exposed every moment to the most imminent dangers, and a dark tempestuous night approaching, increased his terror ; his ears were assaulted by the yells of the wild beasts ; but kindling some sticks, he kept them all night at a distance, by constantly swinging a fire-brand round his head. When daylight appeared, he had nothing to do but to seek for the thickest tree he could find, and climbing into it, as he had travelled hard all night, he soon fell asleep. Here he staid all day, eating sparingly of his biscuit and cheese, and

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