“On the passage to Mobile, who should I see, among the passengers, but the tall, long-haired man that had eyed me so closely in the slave market a few day before. His eyes were again on me, and he appeared anxious to speak to me, and I as reluctant to be spoken to. The first evening after leaving New Orleans, soon after twilight had let her curtain down, while I was seated on the deck of the boat, near the ladies’ cabin, looking upon the rippled waves, and the reflection of the moon upon the sea, all at once I saw the tall young man standing by my side. I immediately arose from my seat, and was in the act of returning to the cabin, when he in broken accent said: “‘Stop a moment; I wish to have a word with you. I am your friend.’ “I stopped and looked him full in the face, and he said, ‘I saw you some days since in the slave market, and I intended to have purchased you to save you from the condition of a slave. I called on Monday, but you had been sold and had left the market. I inquired and learned who the purchaser was, and that you had to go to Mobile, so I resolved to follow you. If you are willing I will try and buy you from your present owner, and you shall be free.’ “Although this was said in an honest and offhand manner, I could not believe the man was sincere in what he said. “‘Why should you wish to set me free?’ I asked. “‘I had an only sister,’ he replied, ‘who died three years ago in France, and you are so much like her that, had I not known of her death, I would most certainly have taken you for her.’ “‘However much I may resemble your sister, you are aware that I am not her, and why take so much interest in one whom you have never seen before?’ “‘The love,’ said he, ‘which I had for my sister is transferred to you.’ “I had all along suspected that the man was a knave, and his profession of love confirmed me in my former belief, and I turned away and left him. “The next day, while standing in the cabin and looking through the window, the French gentleman (for such he was) came to the window, while walking on the guards, and again commenced as on the previous evening. He took from his pocket a bit of paper and put it into my hand, at the same time saying: “‘Take this; it may some day be of service to you. Remember it is from a friend,’ and left me instantly. “I unfolded the paper and found it to be a $100 bank note, on the United States Branch Bank, at Philadelphia. My first impulse was to give it to my mistress, but upon a second thought, I resolved to seek an opportunity, and to return the hundred dollars to the stranger. Therefore I looked for him, but in vain; and had almost given up the idea of seeing him again, when he passed me on the guards of the boat and walked towards the stern of the vessel. It being nearly dark I approached him and offered the money to him. “He declined, saying at the same time, ‘I gave it you—keep it.’ “‘I do not want it,’ I said.