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| 432 THE UNDERGROUND RAIL ROAD. times smooth," to use his own words: The reason of his leaguing with his fellow-servants to abandon the old prison-house, was traceable to the rumor, that he and eome others were to appear on the stage, or rather the auction-block, in Baltimore, the coming Spring. TOM, another member of the McLane institution, was about twenty-five years of age, of unmixed blood, and a fair specimen of a well-trained field-hand. He conceived that he had just ground to bring damages against the Hon. L. McLane for a number of years of hard service, and for being deprived of education. He had been compelled to toil for the Honorable gentleman, not only on his own place, but cm the farms of others. At the time that Tom escaped, he was hired for one hundred dollars per annum (and his clothes found him), which hire McLane had withheld from him contrary to all justice and fair dealing; but as Tom was satisfied, that he could get no justice through the Maryland courts, and knew that an old and intimate friend of his master had already proclaimed, that " negroes had no rights which white men are bound to respect;" also, as his experience tended to confirm hira in the belief, that the idea was practically carried out ia the courts of Maryland; he thought, that it would be useless to put in a plea foe justice in Maryland. He was not, however, without a feeling of some satisfaction, that his old master, in giving an account of his stewardship at the Bar of the Just One, would be made to understand the amount of his indebtedness to those whom he had oppressed. With this impression, and the prospects of equal rights and Canada, under her British Majesty's possessions, he manifested as much delight as if lie was traveling with a half million of dollars in his pocket. SAM, another likely-looking member of this party, was twenty-two years of age, and a very promising-looking young fugitive, having the appearance of being able to take education without difficulty. He had fully made up his mind, that slavery was never intended for man, and that he would never wear himself out working for the " white people for nothing." He wanted to work for himself and enjoy the benefits of education, etc. BILL SCOTT, another member of the McLane party, was twenty-one years of age, " fat and slick," and fully satisfied, that Canada would agree with him in every particular. Not a word did he utter in favor of Maryland, but said much against the manner in which slaves were treated, how he had felt about the matter, ete. ABE was also from the McLane estate. He possessed apparently more general intelligence than either of his companions. He was quite bright-•\vitted, a ready talker, and with his prospects he was much satisfied. He was twenty-two years of age, black, good-looking, and possessed very good manners. He represented, that his distinguished master died, leaving thirteen head of slaves. His (Abe's) father, Tom's mother and the mother of the Scotts were freed by McLane. Strong hopes were entertained that |