exclaimed every one . ` Yes , ' said Eliza slowly , ' I did . God helped me , and I crossed on the ice . They were close behind me -- right behind , and there was no other way . ' ` Law , missis , ' said the old servant , ` the ice is all in broken up blocks , a-swinging up and down in the water . ' ' I know it is . I know it , ' said Eliza wildly . ` But I did it . I would ` nt have thought I could -- I did n't think I could get over , but I did n't care . I could but die if I did n't . And God helped me . ' ` Were you a slave ? ' said the gentleman . ` Yes , sir . ' ` Was your master unkind to you ? ' ` No , sir . ' ` Was your mistress unkind to you ? ' ` No , sir -- no . My mistress was always good to me . ' ` What could make you leave a good home , then , and run away , and go through such danger ? '
` They wanted to take my boy away from me -- XXXXX sell him -- to sell him down south , ma'am .
Eliza a-swinging behind if in missis nt on through to