Дванадцять років рабства

           ThisgentlemanwasMr.TheophilusFreeman. Readingfromhispaper,hecalled,"Platt."Nooneanswered. Thenamewascalledagainandagain,butstilltherewasnoreply. ThenLethewascalled,thenEliza,thenHarry,untilthelistwasfinished,eachonesteppingforwardashisorhernamewascalled. 

           "Captain,where’sPlatt?"demandedTheophilusFreeman. 

           Thecaptainwasunabletoinformhim,noonebeingonboardansweringtothatname. 

           "Whoshippedthatnigger?"heagaininquiredofthecaptain,pointingtome. 

           "Burch,"repliedthecaptain. 

           "YournameisPlatt—youanswermydescription. Whydon’tyoucomeforward?"hedemandedofme,inanangrytone. 

           Iinformedhimthatwasnotmyname;thatIhadneverbeencalledbyit,butthatIhadnoobjectiontoitasIknewof. 

           "Well,Iwilllearnyouyourname,"saidhe;"andsoyouwon’tforgetiteither,by——,"headded. 

           Mr.TheophilusFreeman,bytheway,wasnotawhitbehindhispartner,Burch,inthematterofblasphemy. OnthevesselIhadgonebythenameof"Steward,"andthiswasthefirsttimeIhadeverbeendesignatedasPlatt—thenameforwardedbyBurchtohisconsignee. FromthevesselIobservedthechain-gangatworkonthelevee. WepassednearthemasweweredriventoFreeman’sslavepen. ThispenisverysimilartoGoodin’sinRichmond,excepttheyardwasenclosedbyplank,standingupright,withendssharpened,insteadofbrickwalls.