Дванадцять років рабства

           Weagreedtomeetthenextnightataspecifiedplaceamongthehighweedsonthebankofthebayou,somedistancefrommaster’sdwelling. Therehewastowritedownonpaperthenamesandaddressofseveralpersons,oldfriendsintheNorth,towhomhewoulddirectlettersduringhisnextvisittoMarksville. Itwasnotdeemedprudenttomeetinthenewhouse,inasmuchasthelightitwouldbenecessarytousemightpossiblybediscovered. InthecourseofthedayImanagedtoobtainafewmatchesandapieceofcandle,unperceived,fromthekitchen,duringatemporaryabsenceofAuntPhebe. Basshadpencilandpaperinhistoolchest. 

           Attheappointedhourwemetonthebayoubank,andcreepingamongthehighweeds,Ilightedthecandle,whilehedrewforthpencilandpaperandpreparedforbusiness. IgavehimthenamesofWilliamPerry,CephasParkerandJudgeMarvin,allofSaratogaSprings,Saratogacounty,New-York. IhadbeenemployedbythelatterintheUnitedStatesHotel,andhadtransactedbusinesswiththeformertoaconsiderableextent,andtrustedthatatleastoneofthemwouldbestilllivingatthatplace. Hecarefullywrotethenames,andthenremarked,thoughtfully— 

           "ItissomanyyearssinceyouleftSaratoga,allthesemenmaybedead,ormayhaveremoved. YousayyouobtainedpapersatthecustomhouseinNew-York. Probablythereisarecordofthemthere,andIthinkitwouldbewelltowriteandascertain."