Overseers--How they are Armed and Accompanied--The Homicide--His Execution at Marksville--Slave Drivers--Appointed Driver on removing to Bayou Boeuf--Practice makes perfect--Epps's Attempt to Cut Platt's Throat--The Escape from him--Protected by the Mistress--Forbids Reading and Writing--Obtain a Sheet of Paper after Nine Years' Effort--The Letter--Armsby, the Mean White--Partially confide in him--His Treachery--Epps' Suspicions--How they were quieted--Burning the Letter--Armsby leaves the Bayou--Disappointment and Despair, 223 CHAPTER XVII. Wiley disregards the counsels of Aunt Phebe and Uncle Abram, and is caught by the Patrollers--The Organization and Duties of the latter--Wiley Runs Away--Speculations in regard to him--His Unexpected Return--His Capture on the Red River, and Confinement in Alexandria Jail--Discovered by Joseph B. Roberts--Subduing Dogs in anticipation of Escape--The Fugitives in the Great Pine Woods--Captured by Adam Taydem and the Indians--Augustus killed by Dogs--Nelly, Eldret's Slave Woman--The Story of Celeste--The Concerted Movement--Lew Cheney, the Traitor--The Idea of Insurrection, 236 CHAPTER XVIII. O'Niel, the Tanner--Conversation with Aunt Phebe overheard--Epps in the Tanning Business--Stabbing of Uncle Abram--The Ugly Wound--Epps is Jealous--Patsey is Missing--Her Return from Shaw's--Harriet, Shaw's Black Wife--Epps Enraged--Patsey denies his Charges--She is Tied Down Naked to Four Stakes--The Inhuman Flogging--Flaying of Patsey--The Beauty of the Day--The Bucket of Salt Water--The Dress stiff with Blood--Patsey grows Melancholy--Her Idea of God and Eternity--Of Heaven and Freedom--The Effect of Slave-Whipping--Epps' Oldest Son--"The Child is Father to the Man," 250 CHAPTER XIX. Avery, on Bayou Rouge--Peculiarity of Dwellings--Epps builds a New House--Bass, the Carpenter--His Noble Qualities--His Personal Appearance and Eccentricities--Bass and Epps discuss the Question of Slavery--Epps' Opinion of Bass--I make myself known to him--Our Conversation--His Surprise--The Midnight Meeting on the Bayou Bank--Bass' Assurances--Declares War against Slavery--Why I did not Disclose my History--Bass writes Letters--Copy of his Letter to Messrs. Parker and Perry--The Fever of Suspense--Disappointments--Bass endeavors to cheer me--My Faith in him, 263 CHAPTER XX.