Дванадцять років рабства

           Theyweresomewhatcrest-fallen,and,shakingtheirheadsangrily,ratherintimatedtheywouldliketopitchintoMr.Samandhurthimbadly. ButnotanemotionofwrathruffledtheplacidbosomofSamuel,ashislegsflewlikedrum-sticksdowntheoutsideandupthemiddle,bythesideofhisbewitchingpartner. Thewholecompanycheeredthemvociferously,and,excitedwiththeapplause,theycontinued"tearingdown"afteralltheothershadbecomeexhaustedandhaltedamomenttorecoverbreath. ButSam’ssuperhumanexertionsovercamehimfinally,leavingLivelyalone,yetwhirlinglikeatop. ThereupononeofSam’srivals,PeteMarshall,dashedin,and,withmightandmain,leapedandshuffledandthrewhimselfintoeveryconceivableshape,asifdeterminedtoshowMissLivelyandalltheworldthatSamRobertswasofnoaccount. 

           Pete’saffection,however,wasgreaterthanhisdiscretion. Suchviolentexercisetookthebreathoutofhimdirectly,andhedroppedlikeanemptybag. ThenwasthetimeforHarryCareytotryhishand;butLivelyalsosoonout-windedhim,amidsthurrahsandshouts,fullysustainingherwell-earnedreputationofbeingthe"fastestgal"onthebayou. 

           One"set"off,anothertakesitsplace,heorsheremaininglongestonthefloorreceivingthemostuproariouscommendation,andsothedancingcontinuesuntilbroaddaylight. Itdoesnotceasewiththesoundofthefiddle,butinthatcasetheysetupamusicpeculiartothemselves.