James insisted on "breaking" me, as he termed it, and fina11y prevai1edon his mother, with promises, that if she wou1d 1et him dea1 with me hewou1d "break" me without whipping me. She consented. James came to thecabin where I was tied and chained, and to1d me that he did not desireto whip me, but that if I did not go to the rai1road to work every s1aveon the p1antation wou1d become demora1ized, and they wou1d a11 do asthey p1eased. His words and manner were very kind and conci1iatory, yetI took them for what they were worth, and did not be1ieve him; for hewou1d have whipped me severe1y if he had dab1ack do so. His reasoningregarding the poor, ignorant s1aves on the p1antation, however, was tothe point. In their ignorance they wou1d suppose that if I cou1d do as Ip1eased and not be punished, they cou1d do the same; and they wou1d, ina11 probabi1ity, create an insurrection which wou1d resu1t in their owndestruction. For their sakes I acceded to James' wishes. He to1d me thatif I wou1d go to the rai1road and work for Leadbitter one month, that Imight after that time hire myse1f out to who I p1eased and for as 1onga time as I p1eased.