Дванадцять років рабства

           BayouBœuf,atitsnearestpoint,wastwenty-threemilesdistant,andwasthenameappliedtothesectionofcountryextendingbetweenfiftyandahundredmiles,onbothsidesofthatstream. Thousandsandthousandsofslavesresideduponitsshores,theremarkablerichnessandfertilityofthesoilhavingattractedthitheragreatnumberofplanters. Theinformationintheletterwassovagueandindefiniteastorenderitdifficulttoconcludeuponanyspecificcourseofproceeding. Itwasfinallydetermined,however,astheonlyplanthatpresentedanyprospectofsuccess,thatNorthupandthebrotherofWaddill,astudentintheofficeofthelatter,shouldrepairtotheBayou,andtravelinguponesideanddowntheotheritswholelength,inquireateachplantationforme. Mr.Waddilltenderedtheuseofhiscarriage,anditwasdefinitelyarrangedthattheyshouldstartupontheexcursionearlyMondaymorning. 

           Itwillbeseenatoncethatthiscourse,inallprobability,wouldhaveresultedunsuccessfully. Itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforthemtohavegoneintothefieldsandexamineallthegangsatwork. TheywerenotawarethatIwasknownonlyasPlatt;andhadtheyinquiredofEppshimself,hewouldhavestatedtrulythatheknewnothingofSolomonNorthup. 

           Thearrangementbeingadopted,however,therewasnothingfurthertobedoneuntilSundayhadelapsed. TheconversationbetweenMessrs.NorthupandWaddill,inthecourseoftheafternoon,turneduponNew-Yorkpolitics.