Дванадцять років рабства

           Iaminclinednowtotheopinionitwouldhaveresultedinmybenefit. Thiscoursewasoftenconsidered,butthroughfearofitsmiscarriage,neverputintoexecution,untileventuallymytransferandhispecuniaryembarrassmentsrendereditevidentlyunsafe. Afterwards,underothermasters,unlikeWilliamFord,IknewwellenoughtheslightestknowledgeofmyrealcharacterwouldconsignmeatoncetotheremoterdepthsofSlavery. Iwastoocostlyachatteltobelost,andwaswellawarethatIwouldbetakenfartheron,intosomeby-place,overtheTexanborder,perhaps,andsold; thatIwouldbedisposedofasthethiefdisposesofhisstolenhorse,ifmyrighttofreedomwasevenwhispered. SoIresolvedtolockthesecretcloselyinmyheart—nevertoutteronewordorsyllableastowhoorwhatIwas—trustinginProvidenceandmyownshrewdnessfordeliverance. 

           AtlengthweleftthesteamboatRodolphataplacecalledAlexandria,severalhundredmilesfromNew-Orleans. ItisasmalltownonthesouthernshoreofRedRiver. Havingremainedthereovernight,weenteredthemorningtrainofcars,andweresoonatBayouLamourie,astillsmallerplace,distanteighteenmilesfromAlexandria. Atthattimeitwastheterminationoftherailroad. Ford’splantationwassituatedontheTexasroad,twelvemilesfromLamourie,intheGreatPineWoods. Thisdistance,itwasannouncedtous,mustbetraveledonfoot,therebeingpublicconveyancesnofarther. AccordinglyweallsetoutinthecompanyofFord. Itwasanexcessivelyhotday.