I took refuge in a house by the roadside, and had the satisfaction of seeing them go by at full speed, supposing me to be still ahead of them.
As soon as they had passed, I left the house and took to the woods, where I remained hid in some bushes until night, when I came out and took the road to Providence.
Early the next morning I was stopped on the way by a man on horseback, who knew me to be an escaped convict by the clothes I wore, not having had an opportunity of changing them.
As soon as I saw him, I made for the woods by the side of the road. He dismounted and followed me, and, being a good runner, had nearly overtaken me, when I turned and stood at bay.
We had a long and terrible struggle in the mud and water of the swamp, he all the time shouting at the top of his voice for assistance, which brought the neighbors to his aid before I could effect my determination to kill him, which I had fully made up my mind to do rather than allow myself to be taken.
I was, of course, overpowered by numbers, and after being safely bound, was reconducted back to Norwich, where I was punished and kept in close solitary confinement for more than a year.
During this confinement, it seemed as if every wicked quality of my mind was brought out in full activity. I used to sit and plan all sorts of desperate schemes, and a feeling of the most unquenchable vengeance took possession of me. For I fancied myself persecuted, wronged and ill-treated; I imagined the world had declared war against me, and I determined, as soon as my term of imprisonment should expire, to war in turn upon the world.
At last the long wished for end of my imprisonment came, and I was discharged. Swearing vengeance against the whole human race, I left the jail and went back to my father’s house, where I remained for a short time and then went to Lower Gloucester, where I went to work in a shoe manufactory, having learned that trade during my confinement in the Norwich jail.
But this hum-drum sort of life was little suited to me, and besides, I felt so incensed against mankind that I found it impossible to restrain my thirst for vengeance on society for the fancied wrongs it had done me, so I resolved to go again out into the world; and going to Providence, an old shipping master, by the name of Chittel, shipped me on board the whaleship Philip Tabb, bound to the northwest coast of America. The ship belonged to Warren, R. I., where I joined her in the course of a few days.
I no sooner got on board than I began to make mischief among the crew, among whom I got up a series of rows and fights. I gratified my wicked and evil propensities with a total disregard of consequences either to them or myself. I had no fear, nor did I care for anybody or anything.