Двенадцать лет рабства

           Ifoneofushadbeenbackwardoridlethroughtheday,wewereapttobetoldallaboutitonreturningtothequarters,andasitwasamatterofprinciplewithhimtoreproveeveryoffenceofthatkindthatcamewithinhisknowledge,theoffendernotonlywascertainofreceivingacastigationforhistardiness,butIlikewisewaspunishedforpermittingit. 

           If,ontheotherhand,hehadseenmeusethelashfreely,themanwassatisfied. "Practicemakesperfect,"truly;andduringmyeightyears’experienceasadriver,Ilearnedtohandlethewhipwithmarvelousdexterityandprecision,throwingthelashwithinahair’sbreadthoftheback,theear,thenose,without,however,touchingeitherofthem. IfEppswasobservedatadistance,orwehadreasontoapprehendhewassneakingsomewhereinthevicinity,Iwouldcommenceplyingthelashvigorously,when,accordingtoarrangement,theywouldsquirmandscreechasifinagony,althoughnotoneofthemhadinfactbeenevengrazed. Patseywouldtakeoccasion,ifhemadehisappearancepresently,tomumbleinhishearingsomecomplaintsthatPlattwaslashingthemthewholetime,andUncleAbram,withanappearanceofhonestypeculiartohimself,woulddeclareroundlyIhadjustwhippedthemworsethanGeneralJacksonwhippedtheenemyatNew-Orleans. IfEppswasnotdrunk,andinoneofhisbeastlyhumors,thiswas,ingeneral,satisfactory. Ifhewas,someoneormoreofusmustsuffer,asamatterofcourse. Sometimeshisviolenceassumedadangerousform,placingthelivesofhishumanstockinjeopardy. Ononeoccasionthedrunkenmadmanthoughttoamusehimselfbycuttingmythroat.