Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 4
Withasmallpocketknifethathadnotbeentakenfromme,Ibegancuttingtheinitialsofmynameuponthetincup. Theothersimmediatelyflockedroundme,requestingmetomarktheirsinasimilarmanner. Intime,Igratifiedthemall,ofwhichtheydidnotappeartobeforgetful.
Wewereallstowedawayintheholdatnight,andthehatchbarreddown. Welaidonboxes,orwhere-evertherewasroomenoughtostretchourblanketsonthefloor.
BurchaccompaniedusnofartherthanRichmond,returningfromthatpointtothecapitalwithClem. Notuntilthelapseofalmosttwelveyears,towit,inJanuarylast,intheWashingtonpoliceoffice,didIsetmyeyesuponhisfaceagain.
JamesH.Burchwasaslave-trader—buyingmen,womenandchildrenatlowprices,andsellingthematanadvance. Hewasaspeculatorinhumanflesh—adisreputablecalling—andsoconsideredattheSouth. Forthepresenthedisappearsfromthescenesrecordedinthisnarrative,buthewillappearagainbeforeitsclose,notinthecharacterofaman-whippingtyrant,butasanarrested,cringingcriminalinacourtoflaw,thatfailedtodohimjustice.
