Двенадцать лет рабства

           "Yes,master,andsoIdid;andoverseersaidhewouldgetanothersizeforyou,ifyouwantedthem,whenhecamebackfromthefield." 

           Tibeatswalkedtothekeg,lookedamomentatthecontents,thenkickeditviolently. Comingtowardsmeinagreatpassion,heexclaimed, 

           "G—dd—nyou!Ithoughtyouknowedsomething." 

           Imadeanswer: "Itriedtodoasyoutoldme,master. Ididn’tmeananythingwrong. Overseersaid—" ButheinterruptedmewithsuchafloodofcursesthatIwasunabletofinishthesentence. Atlengthherantowardsthehouse,andgoingtothepiazza,tookdownoneoftheoverseer’swhips. Thewhiphadashortwoodenstock,braidedoverwithleather,andwasloadedatthebutt. Thelashwasthreefeetlong,orthereabouts,andmadeofraw-hidestrands. 

           AtfirstIwassomewhatfrightened,andmyimpulsewastorun. TherewasnooneaboutexceptRachel,thecook,andChapin’swife,andneitherofthemweretobeseen. Therestwereinthefield. Iknewheintendedtowhipme,anditwasthefirsttimeanyonehadattempteditsincemyarrivalatAvoyelles. Ifelt,moreover,thatIhadbeenfaithful—thatIwasguiltyofnowrongwhatever,anddeservedcommendationratherthanpunishment. Myfearchangedtoanger,andbeforehereachedmeIhadmadeupmymindfullynottobewhipped,lettheresultbelifeordeath. 

           Windingthelasharoundhishand,andtakingholdofthesmallendofthestock,hewalkeduptome,andwithamalignantlook,orderedmetostrip. 

           "MasterTibeats"saidI,lookinghimboldlyintheface,"Iwillnot."