Дванадцять років рабства

           EppshadcalledtoBobtobringuphissaddlehorse. Theotherslaves,also,overcomingtheirfearofthepenalty,hadlefttheirworkandcometotheyard. Theywerestandingbehindthecabins,outofsightofEpps. Theybeckonedmetocometothem,andwithalltheeagernessofcuriosity,excitedtothehighestpitch,conversedwithandquestionedme. IfIcouldrepeattheexactwordstheyuttered,withthesameemphasis—ifIcouldpainttheirseveralattitudes,andtheexpressionoftheircountenances—itwouldbeindeedaninterestingpicture. Intheirestimation,Ihadsuddenlyarisentoanimmeasurableheight—hadbecomeabeingofimmenseimportance. 

           Thelegalpapershavingbeenserved,andarrangementsmadewithEppstomeetthemthenextdayatMarksville,Northupandthesheriffenteredthecarriagetoreturntothelatterplace. AsIwasaboutmountingtothedriver’sseat,thesheriffsaidIoughttobidMr.andMrs.Eppsgoodbye. Iranbacktothepiazzawheretheywerestanding,andtakingoffmyhat,said, 

           "Good-bye,missis." 

           "Good-bye,Platt,"saidMrs.Epps,kindly. 

           "Good-bye,master." 

           "Ah!youd—dnigger,"mutteredEpps,inasurly,malicioustoneofvoice,"youneedn’tfeelsocussedtickled—youain’tgoneyet—I’llseeaboutthisbusinessatMarksvilleto-morrow." 

           Iwasonlya"nigger"andknewmyplace,butfeltasstronglyasifIhadbeenawhiteman,thatitwouldhavebeenaninwardcomfort,hadIdaredtohavegivenhimapartingkick. Onmywaybacktothecarriage,Patseyranfrombehindacabinandthrewherarmsaboutmyneck.