Дванадцять років рабства

           Duringthedayheremainedsecreted,sometimesinthebranchesofatree,andatnightpressedforwardthroughtheswamps. Finally,onemorning,justatdawn,hereachedtheshoreofRedRiver. Whilestandingonthebank,consideringhowhecouldcrossit,awhitemanaccostedhim,anddemandedapass. Withoutone,andevidentlyarunaway,hewastakentoAlexandria,theshiretownoftheparishofRapides,andconfinedinprison. IthappenedseveraldaysafterthatJosephB.Roberts,uncleofMistressEpps,wasinAlexandria,andgoingintothejail,recognizedhim. Wileyhadworkedonhisplantation,whenEppsresidedatHuffPower. Payingthejailfee,andwritinghimapass,underneathwhichwasanotetoEpps,requestinghimnottowhiphimonhisreturn,WileywassentbacktoBayouBœuf. Itwasthehopethathunguponthisrequest,andwhichRobertsassuredhimwouldberespectedbyhismaster,thatsustainedhimasheapproachedthehouse. Therequest,however,asmaybereadilysupposed,wasentirelydisregarded. Afterbeingkeptinsuspensethreedays,Wileywasstripped,andcompelledtoendureoneofthoseinhumanfloggingstowhichthepoorslaveissooftensubjected. ItwasthefirstandlastattemptofWileytorunaway. Thelongscarsuponhisback,whichhewillcarrywithhimtothegrave,perpetuallyremindhimofthedangersofsuchastep. 

           TherewasnotadaythroughoutthetenyearsIbelongedtoEppsthatIdidnotconsultwithmyselfupontheprospectofescape.