Двенадцать лет рабства

           IaroseasquicklyasIwasable,tookmyblanketinmyhand,andfollowedhim. OnthewayheinformedmethatheshouldnotwonderifTibeatswasbackagainbeforemorning—thatheintendedtokillme—andthathedidnotmeanheshoulddoitwithoutwitnesses. Hadhestabbedmetotheheartinthepresenceofahundredslaves,notoneofthem,bythelawsofLouisiana,couldhavegivenevidenceagainsthim. Ilaiddownonthefloorinthe"greathouse"—thefirstandthelasttimesuchasumptuousrestingplacewasgrantedmeduringmytwelveyearsofbondage—andtriedtosleep. Nearmidnightthedogbegantobark. Chapinarose,lookedfromthewindow,butcoulddiscovernothing. Atlengththedogwasquiet. Ashereturnedtohisroom,hesaid, 

           "Ibelieve,Platt,thatscoundrelisskulkingaboutthepremisessomewhere. Ifthedogbarksagain,andIamsleeping,wakeme." 

           Ipromisedtodoso. Afterthelapseofanhourormore,thedogre-commencedhisclamor,runningtowardsthegate,thenbackagain,allthewhilebarkingfuriously. 

           Chapinwasoutofbedwithoutwaitingtobecalled. Onthisoccasion,hesteppedforthuponthepiazza,andremainedstandingthereaconsiderablelengthoftime. Nothing,however,wastobeseen,andthedogreturnedtohiskennel. Wewerenotdisturbedagainduringthenight. TheexcessivepainthatIsuffered,andthedreadofsomeimpendingdanger,preventedanyrestwhatever.