Двенадцать лет рабства

           Ifeltsorrytoseethemsittingonthehotground,andrememberedmyownsufferingsinthesun. Upontheirpromisetoreturntothestocksatanymomenttheywererequiredtodoso,Iconsentedtoreleasethem. Gratefulforthelenityshownthem,andinorderinsomemeasuretorepayit,theycoulddonoless,ofcourse,thanpilotmetothemelon-patch. ShortlybeforeTanner’sreturn,theywereinthestocksagain. Finallyhedroveup,andlookingattheboys,said,withachuckle,— 

           "Aha!yehavn’tbeenstrollingaboutmuchto-day,anyway. I’llteachyouwhat’swhat. I’lltireyeofeatingwater-melonsontheLord’sday,yeSabbath-breakingniggers." 

           PeterTannerpridedhimselfuponhisstrictreligiousobservances:hewasadeaconinthechurch. 

           ButIhavenowreachedapointintheprogressofmynarrative,whenitbecomesnecessarytoturnawayfromtheselightdescriptions,tothemoregraveandweightymatterofthesecondbattlewithMasterTibeats,andtheflightthroughthegreatPacoudrieSwamp.