Chapter IV. At intervals during the first night of Eliza's incarceration in the pen, she complained bitterly of Jacob Brooks,her young mistress' husband.
She declared that had she been aware of the deception he intended to practice upon her,he never would have brought her there alive.
They had chosen the opportunity of getting her away when Master Berry was absent from the plantation.
He had always been kind to her.
She wished that she could see him; but she knew that even he was unable now to rescue her.
Then would she commence weeping again—kissing the sleeping children—talking first to one, then to the other,as they lay in their unconscious slumbers,with their heads upon her lap.
So wore the long night away;and when the morning dawned, and night had come again,still she kept mourning on,and would not be consoled.
About midnight following,the cell door opened,and Burch and Radburn entered, with lanterns in their hands.
Burch,with an oath,ordered us to roll up our blankets without delay, and get ready to go on board the boat.
He swore we would be left unless we hurried fast.