Дванадцять років рабства

           BurchandGoodin,afterseparatingfromus,walkedupthestepsatthebackpartofthemainbuilding,andsatdownuponthedoorsill. Theyenteredintoconversation,butthesubjectofitIcouldnothear. PresentlyBurchcamedownintotheyard,unfetteredme,andledmeintooneofthesmallhouses. 

           "YoutoldthatmanyoucamefromNew-York,"saidhe. 

           Ireplied, "ItoldhimIhadbeenupasfarasNew-York,tobesure,butdidnottellhimIbelongedthere,northatIwasafreeman. Imeantnoharmatall,MasterBurch. IwouldnothavesaidithadIthought." 

           Helookedatmeamomentasifhewasreadytodevourme,thenturningroundwentout. Inafewminuteshereturned. "IfeverIhearyousayawordaboutNew-York,oraboutyourfreedom,Iwillbethedeathofyou—Iwillkillyou;youmayrelyonthat,"heejaculatedfiercely. 

           IdoubtnotheunderstoodthenbetterthanIdid,thedangerandthepenaltyofsellingafreemanintoslavery. Hefeltthenecessityofclosingmymouthagainstthecrimeheknewhewascommitting. Ofcourse,mylifewouldnothaveweighedafeather,inanyemergencyrequiringsuchasacrifice. Undoubtedly,hemeantpreciselywhathesaid. 

           Undertheshedononesideoftheyard,therewasconstructedaroughtable,whileoverheadweresleepinglofts—thesameasinthepenatWashington. Afterpartakingatthistableofoursupperofporkandbread,Iwashand-cuffedtoalargeyellowman,quitestoutandfleshy,withacountenanceexpressiveoftheutmostmelancholy. Hewasamanofintelligenceandinformation. Chainedtogether,itwasnotlongbeforewebecameacquaintedwitheachother’shistory.