Дванадцять років рабства

           Thedelinquent,whoseweighthadfallenshort,wastakenout,stripped,madetolieupontheground,facedownwards,whenhereceivedapunishmentproportionedtohisoffence. Itistheliteral,unvarnishedtruth,thatthecrackofthelash,andtheshriekingoftheslaves,canbeheardfromdarktillbedtime,onEpps’plantation,anydayalmostduringtheentireperiodofthecotton-pickingseason. 

           Thenumberoflashesisgraduatedaccordingtothenatureofthecase. Twenty-fivearedeemedamerebrush,inflicted,forinstance,whenadryleaforpieceofbollisfoundinthecotton,orwhenabranchisbrokeninthefield; fiftyistheordinarypenaltyfollowingalldelinquenciesofthenexthighergrade; onehundrediscalledsevere: itisthepunishmentinflictedfortheseriousoffenceofstandingidleinthefield; fromonehundredandfiftytotwohundredisbestoweduponhimwhoquarrelswithhiscabin-mates,andfivehundred,welllaidon,besidesthemanglingofthedogs,perhaps,iscertaintoconsignthepoor,unpitiedrunawaytoweeksofpainandagony. 

           DuringthetwoyearsEppsremainedontheplantationatBayouHuffPower,hewasinthehabit,asoftenasonceinafortnightatleast,ofcominghomeintoxicatedfromHolmesville. Theshooting-matchesalmostinvariablyconcludedwithadebauch. Atsuchtimeshewasboisterousandhalf-crazy. Oftenhewouldbreakthedishes,chairs,andwhateverfurniturehecouldlayhishandson. Whensatisfiedwithhisamusementinthehouse,hewouldseizethewhipandwalkforthintotheyard.