Дванадцять років рабства

           Whenhewasgone,Chapincameout,visiblyexcited,tellingmenottostir,nottoattempttoleavetheplantationonanyaccountwhatever. Hethenwenttothekitchen,andcallingRachelout,conversedwithhersometime. Comingback,heagainchargedmewithgreatearnestnessnottorun,sayingmymasterwasarascal; thathehadleftonnogooderrand,andthattheremightbetroublebeforenight. Butatallevents,heinsisteduponit,Imustnotstir. 

           AsIstoodthere,feelingsofunutterableagonyoverwhelmedme. IwasconsciousthatIhadsubjectedmyselftounimaginablepunishment. Thereactionthatfollowedmyextremeebullitionofangerproducedthemostpainfulsensationsofregret. Anunfriended,helplessslave—whatcouldIdo,whatcouldIsay,tojustify,intheremotestmanner,theheinousactIhadcommitted,ofresentingawhiteman’scontumelyandabuse. Itriedtopray—ItriedtobeseechmyHeavenlyFathertosustainmeinmysoreextremity,butemotionchokedmyutterance,andIcouldonlybowmyheaduponmyhandsandweep. ForatleastanhourIremainedinthissituation,findingreliefonlyintears,when,lookingup,IbeheldTibeats,accompaniedbytwohorsemen,comingdownthebayou. Theyrodeintotheyard,jumpedfromtheirhorses,andapproachedmewithlargewhips,oneofthemalsocarryingacoilofrope. 

           "Crossyourhands,"commandedTibeats,withtheadditionofsuchashudderingexpressionofblasphemyasisnotdecoroustorepeat. 

           "Youneednotbindme,MasterTibeats,Iamreadytogowithyouanywhere,"saidI.