Дванадцять років рабства

           "Oh!Platt,"shecried,tearsstreamingdownherface,"you’regoin’tobefree—you’regoin’wayoffyonderwherewe’llneberseeyeanymore. You’vesavedmeagoodmanywhippins,Platt;I’mgladyou’regoin’tobefree—butoh!deLord,deLord! what’llbecomeofme?" 

           Idisengagedmyselffromher,andenteredthecarriage. Thedrivercrackedhiswhipandawaywerolled. IlookedbackandsawPatsey,withdroopinghead,halfrecliningontheground;Mrs.Eppswasonthepiazza;UncleAbram,andBob,andWiley,andAuntPhebestoodbythegate,gazingafterme. Iwavedmyhand,butthecarriageturnedabendofthebayou,hidingthemfrommyeyesforever. 

           WestoppedamomentatCarey’ssugarhouse,whereagreatnumberofslaveswereatwork,suchanestablishmentbeingacuriositytoaNorthernman. Eppsdashedbyusonhorsebackatfullspeed—ontheway,aswelearnednextday,tothe"PineWoods,"toseeWilliamFord,whohadbroughtmeintothecountry. 

           Tuesday,thefourthofJanuary,Eppsandhiscounsel,theHon.H.Taylor,Northup,Waddill,theJudgeandsheriffofAvoyelles,andmyself,metinaroominthevillageofMarksville. Mr.Northupstatedthefactsinregardtome,andpresentedhiscommission,andtheaffidavitsaccompanyingit. Thesheriffdescribedthesceneinthecottonfield. Iwasalsointerrogatedatgreatlength. Finally,Mr.Taylorassuredhisclientthathewassatisfied,andthatlitigationwouldnotonlybeexpensive,bututterlyuseless.