Двенадцать лет рабства

           Ishouldthathourstrugglethroughthefearfulagoniesofdeath! Nonewouldmournforme—nonerevengeme. Soonmyformwouldbemoulderinginthatdistantsoil,or,perhaps,becasttotheslimyreptilesthatfilledthestagnantwatersofthebayou! Tearsfloweddownmycheeks,buttheyonlyaffordedasubjectofinsultingcommentformyexecutioners. 

           Atlength,astheyweredraggingmetowardsthetree,Chapin,whohadmomentarilydisappearedfromthepiazza,cameoutofthehouseandwalkedtowardsus. Hehadapistolineachhand,andasnearasIcannowrecalltomind,spokeinafirm,determinedmanner,asfollows: 

           "Gentlemen,Ihaveafewwordstosay. Youhadbetterlistentothem. Whoevermovesthatslaveanotherfootfromwherehestandsisadeadman. Inthefirstplace,hedoesnotdeservethistreatment. Itisashametomurderhiminthismanner. IneverknewamorefaithfulboythanPlatt. You,Tibeats,areinthefaultyourself. Youareprettymuchofascoundrel,andIknowit,andyourichlydeservethefloggingyouhavereceived. Inthenextplace,Ihavebeenoverseeronthisplantationsevenyears,and,intheabsenceofWilliamFord,ammasterhere. Mydutyistoprotecthisinterests,andthatdutyIshallperform. Youarenotresponsible—youareaworthlessfellow. FordholdsamortgageonPlattoffourhundreddollars. Ifyouhanghimheloseshisdebt. Untilthatiscanceledyouhavenorighttotakehislife. Youhavenorighttotakeitanyway. Thereisalawfortheslaveaswellasforthewhiteman. Youarenobetterthanamurderer.