Дванадцять років рабства

           IalsogaveBobaviolentshake,andaskedhimifheintendedtosleeptillnoon,sayingmasterwouldbeupbeforethemuleswerefed. Heknewrightwelltheconsequencethatwouldfollowsuchanevent,and,jumpingtohisfeet,wasatthehorse-pastureinatwinkling. 

           Presently,whenbothweregone,Bassslippedintothecabin. 

           "Noletteryet,Platt,"saidhe. Theannouncementfelluponmyheartlikelead. 

           "Oh,dowriteagain,MasterBass,"Icried; "IwillgiveyouthenamesofagreatmanyIknow. Surelytheyarenotalldead. Surelysomeonewillpityme." 

           "Nouse,"Bassreplied,"nouse. Ihavemadeupmymindtothat. IfeartheMarksvillepost-masterwillmistrustsomething,Ihaveinquiredsooftenathisoffice. Toouncertain—toodangerous." 

           "Thenitisallover,"Iexclaimed. "Oh,myGod,howcanIendmydayshere!" 

           "You’renotgoingtoendthemhere,"hesaid,"unlessyoudieverysoon. I’vethoughtthismatterallover,andhavecometoadetermination. Therearemorewaysthanonetomanagethisbusiness,andabetterandsurerwaythanwritingletters. IhaveajobortwoonhandwhichcanbecompletedbyMarchorApril. BythattimeIshallhaveaconsiderablesumofmoney,andthen,Platt,IamgoingtoSaratogamyself." 

           Icouldscarcelycreditmyownsensesasthewordsfellfromhislips. Butheassuredme,inamannerthatleftnodoubtofthesincerityofhisintention,thatifhislifewasspareduntilspring,heshouldcertainlyundertakethejourney.