The Man Who Deserved to Die!

    I was looking at my pocket watch anxiously. I was waiting for the ship to arrive. I clutched the stack of money in my hand. I stared at the other people around me. Finally, I saw a small shape gliding over the water towards me. A few minutes later the ship came ashore. The captain and his crew along with hundreds of chained slaves came off the ship. The captain separated the slaves into two groups. One was weak and sickly and the other was strong and healthy. I studied the healthy group carefully. In the middle of the group I spotted a young strong looking man. We lined up waiting for the captains signal. He gave the signal and I charged at the slave I picked out. I grabbed his arm . I shouted, "How much does he cost?" He Answered, "$2,660!" I counted the money and shoved it into his hand. I had barely any money left so I hoped he would be worth it. The captain asked, "What is your name?" I answered in a rough voice, "Paul, Paul Mitchell Thomas." I pushed the slave towards my wagon, but he didn't budge. I pulled out my whip and whipped him till he stumbled into the wagon bleeding.

About two hours later we arrived at my sugar plantation in Florida. I stepped out of the wagon. My overseer had been waiting for me. I pulled the slave out toward the sugar cane field. When we got there I let go of him expecting him to work, but he did nothing. I whipped him for this. He did nothing still so I whipped him again. Nothing happened. I got furious so I slashed the long leather strap against his bruised and bloody back till he was on the ground bleeding. I stood there for a moment. Finally slowly he managed to rise and he started working. I knew the filthy creature would make me money. I ordered my overseer to watch over him. I noticed it was getting late so I went inside, ate supper, and went to bed.

The next morning I woke up, ate breakfast, and went outside to check on my 373 slaves. When I went outside my overseer came running at me. He was panting hard. Finally he managed to say, "Sir! Sir! Your newest slave escaped!" I was stunned. How in the world did he escape so fast! Panic rushed over me even though I knew what to do. I hired a slave hunter, but still what if the other slaves escaped! I wouldn't be able to run my plantation! Four days later  late in the night the slave hunter returned. He said, "Sorry, I couldn't find your slave. I searched the woods north of here and I also asked the people around here if they have seen a runaway slave." He paused for a few seconds. "On the 3rd day I heard something rustling in the woods, but I didn't see anything." I was furious. I also was almost positive that the slave hunter heard my slave. I decided that I was going to go after my slave the next morning.

The next morning I woke up and ate. I gathered my supplies and told one of my slave drivers to tell my overseer that he was in charge while I am gone. Once everything was done, I set out to find my slave. I wasn't used to the woods. I usually traveled in a wagon on a dirt road. It also was too quiet compared to my plantation. You can hear the slaves grunting and rarely hear them talking. You can hear shovels and pickaxes digging into the ground. You can hear the horses and oxen. In the woods you can hear occasional bird songs and the leaves crunching under your feet. I walked on till night fall . I fell to the ground exhausted and before I knew it, I was fast asleep. The next morning I ate cold biscuit, drank some water, and continued on.

It has been almost a year now. I thought it would take a lot less time to find my slave. It was morning now, so I got up and I started to eat a cold biscuit. I am now planning to go back home. It is kind of hopeless now that I am so close to the northern border. All of a sudden I saw my slave run out of an underground tunnel. I rubbed my eyes in amazement. I would finally have my slave back. I dropped my biscuit and darted after my slave. Before I knew it, we were on a small field. A few minutes later and I saw a tiny camp. It had a Union flag! I stopped in my tracks! The Union soldiers saw me! One raised gun! I turned around and started running. I heard a boom, and I knew I was dead.