Дванадцять років рабства

           WewenttotheCapitol,andwalkedalongtimeaboutthegrounds. Intheafternoon,theystrolledtowardsthePresident’sHouse,allthetimekeepingmeneartothem,andpointingoutvariousplacesofinterest. Asyet,Ihadseennothingofthecircus. Infact,Ihadthoughtofitbutlittle,ifatall,amidsttheexcitementoftheday. 

           Myfriends,severaltimesduringtheafternoon,entereddrinkingsaloons,andcalledforliquor. Theywerebynomeansinthehabit,however,sofarasIknewthem,ofindulgingtoexcess. Ontheseoccasions,afterservingthemselves,theywouldpouroutaglassandhandittome. Ididnotbecomeintoxicated,asmaybeinferredfromwhatsubsequentlyoccurred. Towardsevening,andsoonafterpartakingofoneofthesepotations,Ibegantoexperiencemostunpleasantsensations. Ifeltextremelyill. Myheadcommencedaching—adull,heavypain,inexpressiblydisagreeable. Atthesuppertable,Iwaswithoutappetite;thesightandflavoroffoodwasnauseous. AboutdarkthesameservantconductedmetotheroomIhadoccupiedthepreviousnight. BrownandHamiltonadvisedmetoretire,commiseratingmekindly,andexpressinghopesthatIwouldbebetterinthemorning. Divestingmyselfofcoatandbootsmerely,Ithrewmyselfuponthebed. Itwasimpossibletosleep. Thepaininmyheadcontinuedtoincrease,untilitbecamealmostunbearable. InashorttimeIbecamethirsty. Mylipswereparched. Icouldthinkofnothingbutwater—oflakesandflowingrivers,ofbrookswhereIhadstoopedtodrink,andofthedrippingbucket,risingwithitscoolandoverflowingnectar,fromthebottomofthewell. Towardsmidnight,asnearasIcouldjudge,Iarose,unablelongertobearsuchintensityofthirst. Iwasastrangerinthehouse,andknewnothingofitsapartments.