Двенадцать лет рабства

           O’Nieldidnoteffectapurchase,however,thepartiesdifferingastoprice,andthemorningfollowinghisarrival,departedhomewards. Hehadbeengonebutashorttime,whenEppsmadehisappearanceinthefield. Nownothingwillmoreviolentlyenrageamaster,especiallyEpps,thantheintimationofoneofhisservantsthathewouldliketoleavehim. MistressEppshadrepeatedtohimmyexpressionstoAuntPhebetheeveningprevious,asIlearnedfromthelatterafterwards,themistresshavingmentionedtoherthatshehadoverheardus. Onenteringthefield,Eppswalkeddirectlytome. 

           "So,Platt,you’retiredofscrapingcotton,areyou? Youwouldliketochangeyourmaster,eh? You’refondofmovinground—traveler—ain’tye? Ah,yes—liketotravelforyourhealth,maybe? Feelabovecotton-scraping,I’spose. Soyou’regoingintothetanningbusiness? Goodbusiness—devilishfinebusiness. Enterprisingnigger! B’lieveI’llgointothatbusinessmyself. Downonyourknees,andstripthatragoffyourback! I’lltrymyhandattanning." 

           Ibeggedearnestly,andendeavoredtosoftenhimwithexcuses,butinvain. Therewasnootheralternative;sokneelingdown,Ipresentedmybarebackfortheapplicationofthelash. 

           "Howdoyouliketanning?"heexclaimed,astherawhidedescendeduponmyflesh. "Howdoyouliketanning?"herepeatedateveryblow. Inthismannerhegavemetwentyorthirtylashes,incessantlygivingutterancetotheword"tanning,"inoneformofexpressionoranother.