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Chapter 5
ThisgentlemanwasMr.TheophilusFreeman. Readingfromhispaper,hecalled,"Platt."Nooneanswered. Thenamewascalledagainandagain,butstilltherewasnoreply. ThenLethewascalled,thenEliza,thenHarry,untilthelistwasfinished,eachonesteppingforwardashisorhernamewascalled.
"Captain,where’sPlatt?"demandedTheophilusFreeman.
Thecaptainwasunabletoinformhim,noonebeingonboardansweringtothatname.
"Whoshippedthatnigger?"heagaininquiredofthecaptain,pointingtome.
"Burch,"repliedthecaptain.
"YournameisPlatt—youanswermydescription. Whydon’tyoucomeforward?"hedemandedofme,inanangrytone.
Iinformedhimthatwasnotmyname;thatIhadneverbeencalledbyit,butthatIhadnoobjectiontoitasIknewof.
"Well,Iwilllearnyouyourname,"saidhe;"andsoyouwon’tforgetiteither,by——,"headded.
Mr.TheophilusFreeman,bytheway,wasnotawhitbehindhispartner,Burch,inthematterofblasphemy. OnthevesselIhadgonebythenameof"Steward,"andthiswasthefirsttimeIhadeverbeendesignatedasPlatt—thenameforwardedbyBurchtohisconsignee. FromthevesselIobservedthechain-gangatworkonthelevee. WepassednearthemasweweredriventoFreeman’sslavepen. ThispenisverysimilartoGoodin’sinRichmond,excepttheyardwasenclosedbyplank,standingupright,withendssharpened,insteadofbrickwalls.