Двенадцать лет рабства

           AwhitemanworkinginthefieldisarareandunusualspectacleonBayouBœuf. Iimprovedeveryopportunityofcultivatinghisacquaintanceprivately,desiringtoobtainhisconfidencesofarastobewillingtointrustthelettertohiskeeping. HevisitedMarksvillerepeatedly,heinformedme,atownsometwentymilesdistant,andthere,Iproposedtomyself,thelettershouldbemailed. 

           Carefullydeliberatingonthemostpropermannerofapproachinghimonthesubject,IconcludedfinallytoaskhimsimplyifhewoulddepositaletterformeintheMarksvillepost-officethenexttimehevisitedthatplace,withoutdisclosingtohimthattheletterwaswritten,oranyoftheparticularsitcontained; forIhadfearsthathemightbetrayme,andknewthatsomeinducementmustbeheldouttohimofapecuniarynature,beforeitwouldbesafetoconfideinhim. Aslateasoneo’clockonenightIstolenoiselesslyfrommycabin,and,crossingthefieldtoShaw’s,foundhimsleepingonthepiazza. Ihadbutafewpicayunes—theproceedsofmyfiddlingperformances,butallIhadintheworldIpromisedhimifhewoulddomethefavorrequired. Ibeggedhimnottoexposemeifhecouldnotgranttherequest. Heassuredme,uponhishonor,hewoulddeposititintheMarksvillepost-office,andthathewouldkeepitaninviolablesecretforever. Thoughtheletterwasinmypocketatthetime,Idarednotthendeliverittohim,butstatingIwouldhaveitwritteninadayortwo,badehimgoodnight,andreturnedtomycabin.