Дванадцять років рабства

           ItwasimpossibleformetoexpelthesuspicionsIentertained,andallnightIlayawake,revolvinginmymindthesafestcoursetopursue. Iwaswillingtoriskagreatdealtoaccomplishmypurpose,butshouldtheletterbyanymeansfallintothehandsofEpps,itwouldbeadeath-blowtomyaspirations. Iwas"perplexedintheextreme." 

           Mysuspicionswerewell-founded,asthesequeldemonstrated. Thenextdaybutone,whilescrapingcottoninthefield,EppsseatedhimselfonthelinefencebetweenShaw’splantationandhisown,insuchapositionastooverlookthesceneofourlabors. PresentlyArmsbymadehisappearance,and,mountingthefence,tookaseatbesidehim. Theyremainedtwoorthreehours,allofwhichtimeIwasinanagonyofapprehension. 

           Thatnight,whilebroilingmybacon,Eppsenteredthecabinwithhisrawhideinhishand. 

           "Well,boy,"saidhe,"IunderstandI’vegotalarnednigger,thatwritesletters,andtriestogetwhitefellowstomail’em. Wonderifyouknowwhoheis?" 

           Myworstfearswererealized,andalthoughitmaynotbeconsideredentirelycreditable,evenunderthecircumstances,yetaresorttoduplicityanddownrightfalsehoodwastheonlyrefugethatpresenteditself. 

           "Don’tknownothingaboutit,MasterEpps,"Iansweredhim,assuminganairofignoranceandsurprise;"Don’tknownothingatallaboutit,sir." 

           "Wan’tyouovertoShaw’snightbeforelast?"heinquired. 

           "No,master,"wasthereply.