Bass faithful to his word--His Arrival on Christmas Eve--The Difficulty of Obtaining an Interview--The Meeting in the Cabin--Non-arrival of the Letter--Bass announces his Intention to proceed North--Christmas--Conversation between Epps and Bass--Young Mistress McCoy, the Beauty of Bayou Boeuf--The "Ne plus ultra" of Dinners--Music and Dancing--Presence of the Mistress--Her Exceeding Beauty--The Last Slave Dance--William Pierce--Oversleep myself--The Last Whipping--Despondency--Cold Morning--Epps' Threats--The Passing Carriage--Strangers approaching through the Cotton-Field--Last Hour on Bayou Boeuf, 279 CHAPTER XXI. The Letter reaches Saratoga--Is forwarded to Anne--Is laid before Henry B. Northup--The Statute of May 14, 1840--Its Provisions--Anne's Memorial to the Governor--The affidavits Accompanying it--Senator Soule's Letter--Departure of the Agent appointed by the Governor--Arrival at Marksville--The Hon. John P. Waddill--The Conversation on New-York Politics--It suggests a Fortunate Idea--The Meeting with Bass--The Secret out--Legal Proceedings instituted--Departure of Northup and the Sheriff from Marksville for Bayou Boeuf--Arrangements on the Way--Reach Epps' Plantation--Discover his Slaves in the Cotton-Field--The Meeting--The Farewell, 289 CHAPTER XXII. Arrival in New-Orleans--Glimpse of Freeman--Genois, the Recorder--His Description of Solomon--Reach Charleston Interrupted by Custom House Officers--Pass through Richmond--Arrival in Washington--Burch Arrested--Shekels and Thorn--Their Testimony--Burch Acquitted--Arrest of Solomon--Burch withdraws the Complaint--The Higher Tribunal--Departure from Washington--Arrival at Sandy Hill--Old Friends and Familiar Scenes--Proceed to Glens Falls--Meeting with Anne, Margaret, and Elizabeth--Solomon Northup Staunton--Incidents--Conclusion, 310 APPENDIX, 323 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PORTRAIT OF SOLOMON IN HIS PLANTATION SUIT, SCENE IN THE SLAVE PEN AT WASHINGTON, SEPARATION OF ELIZA AND HER LAST CHILD, CHAPIN RESCUES SOLOMON FROM HANGING, THE STAKING OUT AND FLOGGING OF THE GIRL PATSEY, SCENE IN THE COTTON FIELD, AND SOLOMON'S DELIVERY, ARRIVAL HOME, AND FIRST MEETING WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN, EDITOR'S PREFACE. When the editor commenced the preparation of the following narrative, he did not suppose it would reach the size of this volume. In order, however, to present all the facts which have been communicated to him, it has seemed necessary to extend it to its present length.