Дванадцять років рабства

           Atlength,shortlyafterEppshadleftthefield,withtheconsolingassurancethathewouldsoonreturnandwarmus,aswasstatedintheconclusionoftheprecedingchapter,theycameinsightoftheplantation,anddiscoveredusatwork. Alightingfromthecarriage,anddirectingthedrivertoproceedtothegreathouse,withinstructionsnottomentiontoanyonetheobjectoftheirerranduntiltheymetagain,Northupandthesheriffturnedfromthehighway,andcametowardsusacrossthecottonfield. Weobservedthem,onlookingupatthecarriage—oneseveralrodsinadvanceoftheother. Itwasasingularandunusualthingtoseewhitemenapproachingusinthatmanner,andespeciallyatthatearlyhourinthemorning,andUncleAbramandPatseymadesomeremarks,expressiveoftheirastonishment. WalkinguptoBob,thesheriffinquired: 

           "Where’stheboytheycallPlatt?" 

           "Tharheis,massa,"answeredBob,pointingtome,andtwitchingoffhishat. 

           Iwonderedtomyselfwhatbusinesshecouldpossiblyhavewithme,andturninground,gazedathimuntilhehadapproachedwithinastep. Duringmylongresidenceonthebayou,Ihadbecomefamiliarwiththefaceofeveryplanterwithinmanymiles; butthismanwasanutterstranger—certainlyIhadneverseenhimbefore. 

           "YournameisPlatt,isit?"heasked. 

           "Yes,master,"Iresponded.