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Sept. 26—Continued.

The situation in which I was placed was perilous in the extreme. There I
was in the grasp of a madman, seated upon the box of my coach, the reins
thrown over the backs of the horses and they flying like the wind—in fact runing
away: I did not dare to struggle lest we should both fall head-long from
the box. He grasped me tightly round the waist, pinning one of my arms while
I held on by the rail of the top front with the other. His face was close to
mine! his breath rushed hot upon my cheek! his eyes seemed to blaze and burn
me! His dark locks wildly flew in the wind of our rapid motion, and at intervals
he would toss them back from his brow, shake them as an enraged lion
shakes his mane, and showing his glittering teeth, would grind out the words,

`Demon! deceiver! I hate you!'

I was overcome with terror in spite of myself. Yet I retained all my self-possession,
and had we only been on the ground I could have mastered him.
But to struggle there was instant death. The horses took the same way back
to the city I had come. The night was a bright moonlight one, and the road
was distinctly visible. We met a few cart-men, and to these I shouted as we
came near, to arrest the flight of the horses. But they stood petrified! we dashed
by them like a whirlwind and the next instant we were out of their sight.—
At length the horses dashed upon the long bridge, and thundered along over it.
I knew that there was a gate on the opposite extremity on the city side, and
that there we should be brought up. The noise of our progress over the bridge
was like that of thunder. The white gate was visible before us— We approached
it nigher and nigher—The madman grasped me tighter and tighter, and just
as we came at full speed near towards it, he tried to spring with me from the
seat over the parapet. I saw his intention in time to wind my leg into the bar
that held the boot, and to grasp more firmly the railing upon the top of the carriage.
The impetus he had acquired caused him to go himself! and involutarily
releasing his hold upon me, he plunged over the railing and darted into dark
waters below! I heard the heavy plunge mingled with a wild laugh! At the
next instant the horses drew up suddenly of their own accord before the toll
gate, nearly burling me to the earth with the shock.

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I mechanically paid my toll; told the keeper that my horses had runaway,
and taking the reins drove rapidly up Cambridge street without looking behind
me. I was benumbed in my faculties with fear and horror! A horrid dread
of the insane man had seized upon me and I hoped he had perished! I gave
no alarm! I left him to his fate! I felt no compunctions. It seemed an act
of self-preservation; for I felt he would yet kill me if he lived! I felt he could
never forget my deceiving him! Yet it was not so much me as his friends!—
But I was to be the victim! From this moment and now I pledge myself never
to use deception towards an insane person! God forgive me, if in doing it in
this instance I have brought a sudden death upon myself!

I reached my stable pale, and exhausted. I said nothing to any one. I kept
the secret in my heart! I retired, but not to sleep! All night I was riding
upon the coach box in the iron grasp of a madman, his hot breath upon my
face, his blazing eyeballs searing my brain. I awoke this morning (for I write
this day's events the day after) and my first thoughts were that I was a murderer!
But these feelings have passed. I have written all that had transpired
yesterday, that in case anything should happen, this may be read.

Sept. 27. I write now just before going to bed. I am not able to sleep. I
have been wretched all day on account of suffering that man to drown, without
calling aid or trying to assist him! Yet I do not feel that I am to blame, when
I consider all that took place. Although I acquit myself, yet I do not feel altogether
right about it. I would rather he was alive, and run the risk of meeting
him again! I have been watching all the papers, and making every guarded
inquiry to see if I could learn of any body being found drowned. I hear nothing
of it. I was several times to-day tempted to go to the bridge and look about for
the body myself, but I had not the courage. Have felt dull and melancholy
all day. Even Betsy has discovered it. But I dare not speak of it. The secret
must forever remain between that mad-man's ghost and myself!

Sept. 28. Have got over my feelings about the insane gentleman's death
in some measure! I cannot think I am to blame; yet I have a heavy heart
about it. Have been across Cambridge bridge to take a gentleman and lady to
the colleges. I went with reluctance; and would rather have gone miles
around; but the lady wanted to make a call near the bridge. I just glanced
over the parapet as I drove by as rapidly as I could. But the dashing waters
as they lashed their piers told no tale. I felt dreadfully as I reflected what a
dark tale lay between those black waters and myself.

Sept. 29. Resolved to find out if any insane person had escaped from the
Asylum; for I could not believe he had been discharged as cured. I feared to
go out to the asylum to ask, as my questions might involve the fearful secret I
wished to keep! Yet I was positive he had eloped, and by some means had
eluded search for the several days previous to his leap from the parapet. Have
tried to think over what way I shall ascertain about this; but without coming
to any decision. Conclude, on the whole, to let events take their course. He
is dead! I certainly did not kill him! I only was silent—that he might perish!
Good God! When I think about it, I sometimes feel like a murderer!

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Sept. 30. How shall I write with any coherency what has happened to-day?

I am all excitement and a strange superstitious fear fills my soul! I cannot
realize all that has past. It seems to me like a fearful dream. I will try and
record it. At least I am now no murderer! Yet I am scarcely less unhappy!

I had driven a party to Fresh Pond and while they were swinging and amusing
themselves in the grove I sat in my carriage on the front seat reading a
newspaper. As I have had no good sleep the last three or four nights on account
of seeing that man in my sleep, I suppose I fell asleep. The first thing
I recollect was that I felt myself awaked by being whirl d rapidly along in the
carriage. I started, and seeing through the glass the trees and fences fly past,
I believed the horses had run away with the coach. The door, to my surprise,
was closed; for I had sat down to read my paper with it open. In alarm and
wonder I dropped the glass and thrust myself half out of the window to ascertain
my danger! If I had seen the jaws of hell yawning wide before me, I
could not have been more astonished i I was paralized with fear. Seated upon
my box, with the reins in one hand and the whip in the other was the insane
gentleman. He saw me and turning round gave me a leer compounded of
mingled exultation and devilish cunning that horrified me. I saw at once
that I was in his power! To have sprung from the coach would have been madness—
for he was driving the horses at twelve miles an hour. My sensations
are indescribable. My first thought was that it was his spirit; for I firmly believed
in his having perished. But the evidence of his living and bodily presence
was but too apparent for me to question his mortal identity. A feeling of
satisfaction at finding him alive not a little modified my horror at seeing
him again! Having then convinced my reason that it was the madman again
in mortal guise, I began to consult measures for my safety. How he had taken
possession of me in this way I was perplexed to account for; but probably wandering
in that spot he had seen me asleep in the coach and noiselessly shutting
me in, had mounted the box and put the horses to mad speed.

I saw by the country around that I was on the Harvard road, and at least two
miles from the point whence he had started. My personal safety was now my
first object. I thought of getting upon the top of the coach and leaping down
upon him, and possessing myself of the reins; but I rejected the plan when I
recollected my fearful ride with him upon the box, the night he had leaped from
it over the parapet! I could decide on nothing. If I leaped from my coach in
safety, I should lose my carriage and horses! I resolved to remain and trust
to Providence for the issue.

`Do not fear!' he said, without turning his head; `I am going to drive you to
hell! I will not deceive you! I am the coachman of Pluto! I know the
road! I wish I had the doctor in with you! I won't deceive you as you did
me! No! I am Pluto's chief curicle driver and he has sent me for you!' As
he ceased he lashed the horses to renewed speed. A carriage passed us and I
shouted for help, telling the inmates that a mad-man had the reins. But he

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shouted back, that I was a mad-man he was taking to the hospital! In truth I
felt I was likely to become one! I saw a heavy wagon in the road ahead! I
knew he could not pass it at this speed without upsetting, as it blockaded up the
way. I expected we should be dashed to atoms. To my surprise he drew up
just before coming to it. Within two rods of it he nearly stopped the horses,
while he impatiently commanded them to hurry out of the road and give him
passage. I took advantage of the slackened speed to open the door and spring
out. There were two stout waggoners with the team. I approached them and
was about to implore their aid to secure him when seeing me at liberty he called
out in a tone of remarkable authority,

`Men, secure that man! He is insane! I am taking him to Worcester mad-house!
Don't you see how wild he looks! Seize upon him and hold him fast
and help me to place him in the coach!'

It was in vain for me to remonstrate. In spite of all I could say, the stout
fellows with alacrity and zeal tied my hands behind me with a piece of cord one
of them cut from his wagon, and the two placed me back in my carriage, shutting
the door upon me; the insane gentleman being seated upon my box all the
while coolly surveying the proceedings and from time to time giving instructions.
At his suggestion they fastened both doors so that I could not open them except
with a knife: and mine they took from me and gave to the madman.

He then thanked them with great politeness and drove on; though at less
speed than before, for he did not now fear my escape. I found that my only
course was patience, and trust in Providence, hoping that by some means I
should speedily get relieved from my singular and dangerous situation.

After driving on a mile or more he suddenly turned into a narrow eart road
that opened through the hedge, and crossed a meadow in the direction of a
house which I saw above the trees. But he turned off before reaching it and
passed through an extensive wood, and out into a lane which crossed the high
road from Boston to Lexington. He crossed this and entered another wooded
lane, and finally came to a lake or pond surrounded with woods, save on the
opposite shore was a pretty country seat, half a mile distant. Close by the water
side he stopped the coach and getting down from the box, opened the door
and bowing very civilly inquired `if I had had a pleasant ride!'

I answered as civilly as I could under the circumstances that I had not.

He said he would then give me a sail on the water, and perhaps I would
like that better. As he spoke a boat came from an island and approached us.—
It contained a negro. So he bade me get in a boat that lay near; but assured
he now intended to drown me, I positively refused, although unknown to
him I had loosened the cord on my wrist so that I could slip it when I chose.—
He drew a pistol and cocking it, commanded me to obey him. As I knew I
was his equal with my hands free, in case he should attempt to drown me, I got
into the boat resolved to possess myself of his pistol the first opportunity. He
made me sit in the forward part, and the negro began to paddle across to an island
in the middle. We landed there, to my surprise, without his making an
effort to cast me into the water.

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`Now follow me,' he said commandingly. `This is my empire! Here I am
obeyed!'

I felt my life was not of a penny's value to me; yet I hoped to escape. The
determined manner of the insane gentleman made me positive I should not escape
without a struggle. Besides he was aided by a negro. This man was small
of stature, with a very black skin, and a countenance mild and agreeable. He
seemed to be devoted to his master; and he told me afterwards, that he had followed
him from Maryland to serve him at the Asylum, and that his master
while there had formed a plan of escaping, in which, he heartlly joined, and
which he aided him materially in effecting; for to Cush his master was not mad;
and he could not understand why he should be placed under keepers. So they
got away, and after wandering about had found this place of retreat; though
Cush said his master was away from it most of the time. All this I learned
from the communicative Cush, his master stalking on far ahead, beyond hearing.

I followed him to the middle of the island, where among some rocks was a
rude camp which Cush had constructed of boughs for his master. Here the
mad-man seated himself as if upon a throne and commanded Cush to lead me
before him. He then tried and condemned me, putting all the questions and
addressing himself to Cush, who answered him in my place, in the affirmative
to each charge. I was condemned to be shot! Horrible and incredible as it
may seem, to whoever reads this, he gravely and coldly condemned me to be
shot through the heart! The crime he charged me with was `deception!' He
said I had represented myself to him as the coachman of Phœbus, and that I
had promised to drive him to Elysuim; but instead, I had taken him to a Hospital
for mad-men! I deserved to die for assuming myself to be coachman to the
Gods, when I was nothing more than a villainous hack-driver! Now, Cush,
bind him to that rock, while I shoot him to the heart!'

The negro, although so mild in looks and talkative a little while before, obeyed
with such promptness that I saw I had no mercy to expect either from the
mad-man or his faithful slave, who had no will but his master's! I saw that
Cush would not hesitate to cut me into quarters and roast me, if his mad master
bade him. There was something both ludricious as well as fearful in my
situation.

`Cush laid his hand upon me! I released mine and struck him to the earth.
Instantly my throat was in the grasp of the maniac, and I was like a woman or a
child in his hands. He threw me upon the ground and stood upon me! He
then laughed with triumph! He stooped and pressed the pistol against my temples!
I closed my eyes and said, `God have mercy on my soul!'

The pistol exploded! I opened my eyes, as if I expected to look forth upon
the world of spirits. He stood above me with the pistol pointed upward. He
had discharged it into the air!

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