As they ride, Haley thinks of Tom’s monetary value and his own “humanity.” Tom thinks of a passage from an old book, promising the Kingdom of Heaven to the meek and poor. Haley reads a flier for the sale of five black people; he wants to check it out, so he tells Tom he will put him in jail while the auction commences.

At the auction, the elderly Hagar begs to be sold with her only remaining son, Albert. Haley inspects the group. Haley doubts Hagar can work on a plantation at her age. The other men at the auction are scornful of the idea of buying Hagar with her son. Haley wants the boy but refuses to even consider buying the mother.

Albert fears being separated as the auction begins. Haley wins two of the “poor victims of the sale, who had been brought up in one place together for years” (197). He buys Albert as well and refuses to buy Hagar. The mother is despondent upon being separated from her last child.

Haley and his slaves board a boat. The slaves are stowed as cargo. The “cargo” discusses the loved ones that they have been torn from. The passengers discuss the evils and virtues of slavery for the slaves.