Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 19
Itwasnotmyplacetospeaktoawhitemanexceptwhenspokento,butIomittednoopportunityofthrowingmyselfinhisway,andendeavoredconstantlyineverypossiblemannertoattracthisattention. IntheearlypartofAugustheandmyselfwereatworkaloneinthehouse,theothercarpentershavingleft,andEppsbeingabsentinthefield. Nowwasthetime,ifever,tobroachthesubject,andIresolvedtodoit,andsubmittowhateverconsequencesmightensue. Wewerebusilyatworkintheafternoon,whenIstoppedsuddenlyandsaid—
"MasterBass,Iwanttoaskyouwhatpartofthecountryyoucamefrom?"
"Why,Platt,whatputthatintoyourhead?"heanswered. "Youwouldn’tknowifIshouldtellyou." Afteramomentortwoheadded—"IwasborninCanada;nowguesswherethatis."
"Oh,IknowwhereCanadais,"saidI,"Ihavebeentheremyself."
"Yes,Iexpectyouarewellacquaintedallthroughthatcountry,"heremarked,laughingincredulously.
"AssureasIlive,MasterBass,"Ireplied,"Ihavebeenthere. IhavebeeninMontrealandKingston,andQueenston,andagreatmanyplacesinCanada,andIhavebeeninYorkState,too—inBuffalo,andRochester,andAlbany,andcantellyouthenamesofthevillagesontheEriecanalandtheChamplaincanal."
Bassturnedroundandgazedatmealongtimewithoututteringasyllable.
"Howcameyouhere?"heinquired,atlength. "MasterBass,"Ianswered,"ifjusticehadbeendone,Ineverwouldhavebeenhere."
