Frederick’s face did not change expression, but he squared his shoulders. “Yes, sir,” he said to Mr. Auld. “I’ll take my time.” “Very well. You can start Monday.” The master joined his wife in the living room. She did not like what he told her. “You shouldn’t let him,” she frowned over her mending. “They can’t look out after themselves. It’s wicked!” “He’ll be back.” Mr. Auld settled himself comfortably in his favorite chair. “The young buck’s restless. This will be a good lesson to him.” Back in the kitchen Frederick turned worried eyes on Nada. She gave him one of her rare smiles. “No worry!” she said. “Yo’ come live by me.” Jeb was appalled. Frederick had taught him to read, and he regarded the young man with something akin to adoration. That night in their attic room they talked. “Yo’ gonna run away! Yo’ gonna run away!” All the terrors of pursuing hounds, starvation and dragging chains choked the boy’s voice. “Hush!” Frederick gripped his shoulder. Then he whispered fiercely, “Do you want to be a slave all your life?” “No! Oh, Jesus! No!” He began to sob. “Then keep still--and let me go!” The boy gulped piteously. He put his mouth close to Frederick’s ear. “Take me wid yo’, Fred, take me wid yo’! I not feared.” But Frederick pushed him away gently. “Don’t talk. Wait!” “Yo’ not forget me?” And Frederick promised. “I will not forget.” The following evening when Nada disappeared down the alley, Frederick was with her. * * * * * Events now moved rapidly. The entire membership of the East Baltimore Mental Improvement Society was concerned with Frederick. They all knew what he was trying to do. The caulkers were on the alert for any extra jobs, older men advised, and Anna Murray’s eyes began to glow softly. Sometimes Frederick entered into the discussions at the meeting now, but usually he sat silent, listening. Afterward he walked home with Anna, avoiding the lighted streets. And he poured into her willing ear his whole mad scheme. The stringent cordon thrown around Baltimore to prevent slaves from escaping demanded a bold plan. Frederick knew that he had to get well away or he would surely be captured, and he knew that a second failure would be fatal. The railroad from Baltimore to Philadelphia was under such rigid regulations that even free colored travelers were practically excluded. They had to carry free papers on their persons--papers describing the name, age, color, height and form of the traveler, especially any scars or other marks he had. Negroes were measured and carefully examined before they could enter the cars, and they could only go in the daytime. The steamboats had similar rules. British seamen of color were forbidden to land at Southern ports. An American seaman of African descent was required to have always on him a “sailor’s protection,” describing the bearer and certifying to the fact that he was a free American sailor.