'Poor Platt,' he said. 'I'm sorry to find you like this,' 'Thank God that you've come at last, Master Ford,' I said. He cut the rope from my hands and feet and pulled the rope over my head. I tried to walk but I fell like a drunk man. When it was dark I went to my cabin, where I lay down. Eliza made food and drink for me, while Rachel told the other slaves the whole story. The next morning I went back on the kitchen house. Tibeats rode up during the morning and began to work too. We completed the job, and Tibeats said nothing about what had happened.
***
Our next job was out of sight of the house. Again I worked alone with Tibeats. I worked in a state of fear, with one eye on my work and the other on my master. About three days later, I was nailing up a piece of timber. 'That's not straight,' Tibeats said. 'I think it's about right,' I said 'Don't lie to me,' he said. 'It's too high on the right.' Okay, Master,' I said, and moved it down on the right before nailing it into place. 'Now it's all wrong!' he shouted. He was very angry. I stood there without speaking. I didn't know what to do. He became crazy, and picked up a metal bar. 'I'm going to cut your head open!' he screamed, running towards me. It was a moment of life or death. I pulled the bar from his hand and threw it into the trees. I pushed him to the ground and put my hands around his throat. His face began to go black. Tibeats wanted to kill me, but I didn't want to kill him.