Двенадцать лет рабства

           Hewouldchasemeuntiloutofbreath,thenstopuntilitwasrecovered,swear,andrenewthechaseagain. Nowhewouldcommandmetocometohim,nowendeavortocoaxme,butIwascarefultokeepatarespectfuldistance. Inthismannerwemadethecircuitofthefieldseveraltimes,hemakingdesperateplunges,andIalwaysdodgingthem,moreamusedthanfrightened,wellknowingthatwhenhissobersensesreturned,hewouldlaughathisowndrunkenfolly. AtlengthIobservedthemistressstandingbytheyardfence,watchingourhalf-serious,half-comicalmanœuvres. Shootingpasthim,Irandirectlytoher. Epps,ondiscoveringher,didnotfollow. Heremainedaboutthefieldanhourormore,duringwhichtimeIstoodbythemistress,havingrelatedtheparticularsofwhathadtakenplace. Now,shewasarousedagain,denouncingherhusbandandPatseyaboutequally. Finally,Eppscametowardsthehouse,bythistimenearlysober,walkingdemurely,withhishandsbehindhisback,andattemptingtolookasinnocentasachild. 

           Asheapproached,nevertheless,MistressEppsbegantoberatehimroundly,heapinguponhimmanyratherdisrespectfulepithets,anddemandingforwhatreasonhehadattemptedtocutmythroat. Eppsmadewondrousstrangeofitall,andtomysurprise,sworebyallthesaintsinthecalendarhehadnotspokentomethatday. 

           "Platt,youlyingnigger,haveI?"washisbrazenappealtome. 

           Itisnotsafetocontradictamaster,evenbytheassertionofatruth. SoIwassilent,andwhenheenteredthehouseIreturnedtothefield,andtheaffairwasneverafteralludedto.