Двенадцать лет рабства

           Iwasabouttosaysomethingfurtherinjustification,butwithconcentratedvengeance,hespranguponme,seizingmebythethroatwithonehand,raisingthewhipwiththeother,intheactofstriking. Beforetheblowdescended,however,Ihadcaughthimbythecollarofthecoat,anddrawnhimcloselytome. Reachingdown,Iseizedhimbytheankle,andpushinghimbackwiththeotherhand,hefelloverontheground. Puttingonearmaroundhisleg,andholdingittomybreast,sothathisheadandshouldersonlytouchedtheground,Iplacedmyfootuponhisneck. Hewascompletelyinmypower. Mybloodwasup. Itseemedtocoursethroughmyveinslikefire. InthefrenzyofmymadnessIsnatchedthewhipfromhishand. Hestruggledwithallhispower;sworethatIshouldnotlivetoseeanotherday;andthathewouldtearoutmyheart. Buthisstrugglesandhisthreatswerealikeinvain. IcannottellhowmanytimesIstruckhim. Blowafterblowfellfastandheavyuponhiswrigglingform. Atlengthhescreamed—criedmurder—andatlasttheblasphemoustyrantcalledonGodformercy. Buthewhohadnevershownmercydidnotreceiveit. Thestiffstockofthewhipwarpedroundhiscringingbodyuntilmyrightarmached. 

           UntilthistimeIhadbeentoobusytolookaboutme. Desistingforamoment,IsawMrs.Chapinlookingfromthewindow,andRachelstandinginthekitchendoor. Theirattitudesexpressedtheutmostexcitementandalarm. Hisscreamshadbeenheardinthefield. Chapinwascomingasfastashecouldride.