Двенадцать лет рабства

           Beforeseparating,hedrewamapofthebayouonastripofpaperwithapieceofredchalk,showingthelocalityofEpps’plantation,andtheroadleadingmostdirectlytoit. 

           NorthupandhisyoungcompanionreturnedtoMarksville,whereitwasdeterminedtocommencelegalproceedingstotestthequestionofmyrighttofreedom. Iwasmadeplaintiff,Mr.Northupactingasmyguardian,andEdwinEppsdefendant. Theprocesstobeissuedwasinthenatureofreplevin,directedtothesheriffoftheparish,commandinghimtotakemeintocustody,anddetainmeuntilthedecisionofthecourt. Bythetimethepapersweredulydrawnup,itwastwelveo’clockatnight—toolatetoobtainthenecessarysignatureoftheJudge,whoresidedsomedistanceoutoftown. FurtherbusinesswasthereforesuspendeduntilMondaymorning. 

           Everything,apparently,wasmovingalongswimmingly,untilSundayafternoon,whenWaddillcalledatNorthup’sroomtoexpresshisapprehensionofdifficultiestheyhadnotexpectedtoencounter. Basshadbecomealarmed,andhadplacedhisaffairsinthehandsofapersonatthelanding,communicatingtohimhisintentionofleavingtheState. Thispersonhadbetrayedtheconfidencereposedinhimtoacertainextent,andarumorbegantofloataboutthetown,thatthestrangeratthehotel,whohadbeenobservedinthecompanyoflawyerWaddill,wasafteroneofoldEpps’slaves,overonthebayou.