Двенадцать лет рабства

           "WheredoyourniggersholdChristmas?"Bassinquired. 

           "PlattisgoingtoTannersto-day. Hisfiddleisingreatdemand. TheywanthimatMarshall’sMonday,andMissMaryMcCoy,ontheoldNorwoodplantation,writesmeanotethatshewantshimtoplayforherniggersTuesday." 

           "Heisratherasmartboy,ain’the?"saidBass. "Comehere,Platt,"headded,lookingatmeasIwalkeduptothem,asifhehadneverthoughtbeforetotakeanyspecialnoticeofme. 

           "Yes,"repliedEpps,takingholdofmyarmandfeelingit,"thereisn’tabadjointinhim. Thereain’taboyonthebayouworthmorethanheis—perfectlysound,andnobadtricks. D—nhim,heisn’tlikeotherniggers;doesn’tlooklike’em—don’tactlike’em. Iwasofferedseventeenhundreddollarsforhimlastweek." 

           "Anddidn’ttakeit?"Bassinquired,withanairofsurprise. 

           "Takeit—no;devilishclearofit. Why,he’sareg’largenius;canmakeaploughbeam,wagontongue—anything,aswellasyoucan. Marshallwantedtoputuponeofhisniggersaginhimandraffleforthem,butItoldhimIwouldseethedevilhavehimfirst." 

           "Idon’tseeanythingremarkableabouthim,"Bassobserved. 

           "Why,justfeelofhim,now,"Eppsrejoined. "Youdon’tseeaboyveryoftenputtogetheranycloserthanheis. He’sathin-skin’dcuss,andwon’tbearasmuchwhippingassome;buthe’sgotthemuscleinhim,andnomistake." 

           Bassfeltofme,turnedmeround,andmadeathoroughexamination,Eppsallthewhiledwellingonmygoodpoints.