Дванадцять років рабства

           Bobventuredtosaythathisfingersweresonumbwithcoldhecouldn’tpickfast. Eppscursedhimselffornothavingbroughthisrawhide,anddeclaredthatwhenhecameoutagainhewouldwarmuswell; yes,hewouldmakeusallhotterthanthatfieryrealminwhichIamsometimescompelledtobelievehewillhimselfeventuallyreside. 

           Withtheseferventexpressions,heleftus. Whenoutofhearing,wecommencedtalkingtoeachother,sayinghowharditwastobecompelledtokeepupourtaskswithnumbfingers;howunreasonablemasterwas,andspeakingofhimgenerallyinnoflatteringterms. Ourconversationwasinterruptedbyacarriagepassingrapidlytowardsthehouse. Lookingup,wesawtwomenapproachingusthroughthecotton-field. 

           *** 

           HavingnowbroughtdownthisnarrativetothelasthourIwastospendonBayouBœuf—havinggottenthroughmylastcottonpicking,andabouttobidMasterEppsfarewell—ImustbegthereadertogobackwithmetothemonthofAugust; tofollowBass’letteronitslongjourneytoSaratoga; tolearntheeffectitproduced —andthat,whileIwasrepininganddespairingintheslavehutofEdwinEpps,throughthefriendshipofBassandthegoodnessofProvidence,allthingswereworkingtogetherformydeliverance.