Brown writes of the ingenuity of slaves escaping to free states, how they disguise themselves and concoct stories to deceive passersby. He writes that Mr. Cooper, the man who had purchased Clotel from the Frenches in Vicksburg, “treated her with respectful gentleness” (141) and bought her expensive presents in the hopes of “win[ning] her favour” (141). Clotel fears her situation can change at any time. She avoids Mr. Cooper’s attentions by telling him she remains loyal to her husband in Virginia.

William, another slave in Mr. Cooper’s home, lets himself out from Mr. Cooper and has saved enough money to someday buy his freedom. However, sympathizing with Clotel’s story, he gives her his money so she can escape. Clotel tells him she will only escape if he escapes with her.

With her hair still relatively short, and her fair complexion, Clotel disguises herself as a white man, taking the name Mr. Johnson; William pretends to be her servant. The two board a steamboat. Clotel wears a handkerchief across her face, professing to be ill, and she stays in her room to avoid speaking with people. William puts on a convincing act with the other servants on board. The two grow nervous when they spend seven days in a hotel in Louisville in which John C.