Двенадцать лет рабства

           Istruckhimablowortwomore,thenpushedhimfrommewithsuchawell-directedkickthathewentrollingoverontheground. 

           Risingtohisfeet,andbrushingthedirtfromhishair,hestoodlookingatme,palewithrage. Wegazedateachotherinsilence. NotawordwasuttereduntilChapingallopeduptous. 

           "Whatisthematter?"hecriedout. 

           "MasterTibeatswantstowhipmeforusingthenailsyougaveme,"Ireplied. 

           "Whatisthematterwiththenails?"heinquired,turningtoTibeats. 

           Tibeatsansweredtotheeffectthattheyweretoolarge,payinglittleheed,however,toChapin’squestion,butstillkeepinghissnakisheyesfastenedmaliciouslyonme. 

           "Iamoverseerhere,"Chapinbegan. "ItoldPlatttotakethemandusethem,andiftheywerenotofthepropersizeIwouldgetothersonreturningfromthefield. Itisnothisfault. Besides,IshallfurnishsuchnailsasIplease. Ihopeyouwillunderstandthat,Mr.Tibeats." 

           Tibeatsmadenoreply,but,grindinghisteethandshakinghisfist,sworehewouldhavesatisfaction,andthatitwasnothalfoveryet. Thereuponhewalkedaway,followedbytheoverseer,andenteredthehouse,thelattertalkingtohimallthewhileinasuppressedtone,andwithearnestgestures. 

           IremainedwhereIwas,doubtingwhetheritwasbettertoflyorabidetheresult,whateveritmightbe. PresentlyTibeatscameoutofthehouse,and,saddlinghishorse,theonlypropertyhepossessedbesidesmyself,departedontheroadtoCheneyville.