Дванадцять років рабства

           EppswasknownatMarksville,havingfrequentoccasiontovisitthatplaceduringthesessionofthecourts, andthefearentertainedbyMr.Northup’sadviserwas,thatintelligencewouldbeconveyedtohiminthenight,givinghimanopportunityofsecretingmebeforethearrivalofthesheriff. 

           Thisapprehensionhadtheeffectofexpeditingmattersconsiderably. Thesheriff,wholivedinonedirectionfromthevillage,wasrequestedtoholdhimselfinreadinessimmediatelyaftermidnight,whiletheJudgewasinformedhewouldbecalleduponatthesametime. Itisbutjusticetosay,thattheauthoritiesatMarksvillecheerfullyrenderedalltheassistanceintheirpower. 

           Assoonaftermidnightasbailcouldbeperfected,andtheJudge’ssignatureobtained,acarriage,containingMr.Northupandthesheriff,drivenbythelandlord’sson,rolledrapidlyoutofthevillageofMarksville,ontheroadtowardsBayouBœuf. 

           ItwassupposedthatEppswouldcontesttheissueinvolvingmyrighttoliberty,anditthereforesuggesteditselftoMr.Northup,thatthetestimonyofthesheriff,describingmyfirstmeetingwiththeformer,mightperhapsbecomematerialonthetrial. Itwasaccordinglyarrangedduringtheride,that,beforeIhadanopportunityofspeakingtoMr.Northup,thesheriffshouldpropoundtomecertainquestionsagreedupon,suchasthenumberandnamesofmychildren,thenameofmywifebeforemarriage,ofplacesIknewattheNorth,andsoforth. Ifmyanswerscorrespondedwiththestatementsgivenhim,theevidencemustnecessarilybeconsideredconclusive.