CHAPTER IX.

by Solomon Northup

　　CHAPTER IX.THE HOT SUN TET BOUND THE COEDS SINK INTO MY FLESH CHA-PIn's UNEASINESS SPECULATION RACHEL, AND HER CUP OF WATERSUFFERING INCREASES THE HAPPINESS OF SLAVERY ARRIVAL OFFORD HE CUTS THE CORDS WHICH BIND ME, AND TAKES THE ROPE FROMMY NECK MISERY THE GATHERING OF THE SLAVES IN ELIZA'S CABINTHEIR KINDNESS RACHEL REPEATS THE OCCURRENCES OF THE DAY — ■LAWSON ENTERTAINS HIS COMPANIONS WITH AN ACCOUNT OF HIS RIDECHAPIN'S APPREHENSIONS OF TIBEATS HIRED TO PETER TANNER PETEREXPOUNDS THE SCRIPTURES DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCKS.As the sun approached the meridian that day it be-came insufferably warm. Its hot rays scorched theground. The earth almost blistered the foot that stoodupon it. I was without coat or hat, standing bare-headed, exposed to its burning blaze. Great dropsof perspiration rolled down my face, drenching thescanty apparel wherewith I was clothed. Over thefence, a very little way off, the peach trees cast theircool, delicious shadows on the grass. I would gladlyhave given a long year of service to have been ena-bled to exchange the heated oven, as it were, where-in I stood, for a seat beneath their branches. But Iwas yet bound, the rope still dangling from my neck,and standing in the same tracks where Tibeats andhis comrades left me. I could not move an inch, sofirmly had I been bound. To have been enabled to

　　CHAPESr's UNEASINESS. 119lean against the weaving house would have been aluxury indeed. But it was far beyond my reach,though distant less than twenty feet. I wanted to liedown, but knew I could not rise again. The groundwas so parched and boiling hot I was aware it wouldbut add to the discomfort of my situation. If I couldhave only moved my position, however slightly, itwould have been relief unspeakable. But the hotrays of a southern sun, beating all the long summerday on my bare head, produced not half the suffer-ing I experienced from my aching limbs. My wristsand ankles, and the cords of my legs and arms beganto swell, burying the rope that bound them into theswollen flesh.All day Chapin walked back and forth upon thestoop, but not once approached me. He appeared tobe in a state of great uneasiness, looking firsttowards me, and then up the road, as if expectingsome arrival every moment. He did not go to thefield, as was his custom. It was evident from his man-ner that he supposed Tib eats would return with moreand better armed assistance, perhaps, to renew thequarrel, and it was equally evident he had preparedhis mind to defend my life at whatever hazard.Why he did not relieve me — why he suffered me toremain in agony the whole weary day, I never knew.It was not for want of sympathy, I am certain. Per-haps he wished Ford to see the rope about my neck,and the brutal manner in which I had been bound ;perhaps his interference with another's property in

　　120 TWELVE TEAES A SLATE.which, he had no legal interest might have been atrespass, which would have subjected him to the pen-alty of the law. "Why Tibeats was all day absent wasanother mystery I never could divine. He knew wellenough that Chapin would not harm him unless hepersisted in his design against me. Lawson told meafterwards, that, as he passed the plantation of JohnDavid Cheney, he saw the three, and that they turnedand looked after him as he flew by. I think his sup-position was, that Lawson had been sent out by Over-seer Chapin to arouse the neighboring planters, andto call on them to come to his assistance. He, there-fore, undoubtedly, acted on the principle, that " discretion is the better part of valor," and kept away.But whatever motive may have governed the cow-ardly and malignant tyrant, it is of no importance.There I still stood in the noon-tide sun, groaning withpain. From long before daylight I had not eaten amorsel. I was growing faint from pain, and thirst,and hunger. Once only, in the very hottest portionof the day, Rachel, half fearful she was acting con-trary to the overseer's wishes, ventured to me, andheld a cup of water to my lips. The humble crea-ture never knew, nor could she comprehend if shehad heard them, the blessings I invoked upon her,for that balmy draught. She could only say, " Oh,Piatt, how I do pity you," and then hastened back toher labors in the kitchen.ISTever did the sun move so slowly through theheavens — never did it shower down such fervent and

　　ARRIVAL OF FORD. 121fiery rays, as it did that day. At least, so it app ear-ed to me. What my meditations were — the innume-rable thoughts that thronged through my distractedbrain — I will not attempt to give expression to,Suffice it to say, during the whole long day I camenot to the conclusion, even once, that the southernslave, fed, clothed, whipped and protected by hismaster, is happier than the free colored citizen of theKorth. To that conclusion I have never since arri-ved. There are many, however, even in the NorthernStates, benevolent and well-disposed men, who willpronounce my opinion erroneous, and gravely proceedto substantiate the assertion with an argument. Alas !they have never drank, as I have, from the bitter cupof slavery. Just at sunset my heart leaped with un-bounded joy, as Ford came riding into the yard, hishorse covered with foam. Chapin met him at thedoor, and after conversing a short time, he walkeddirectly to me." Poor Piatt, you are in a bad state," was the onlyexpression that escaped his lips." Thank God !" said I, « thank God, Master Ford,that you have come at last."Drawing a knife from his pocket, he indignantlycut the cord from my wrists, arms, and ankles, andslipped the noose from my neck. I attempted towalk, but staggered like a drunken man, and fell par-tially to the ground.Ford returned immediately to the house, leavingme alone again. As he reached the piazza, Tibeats

　　122 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE.and his two friends rode up. A long dialogue fol-lowed. I could hear the sound of their voices, themild tones of Ford mingling with the angry accentsof Tibeats, but was unable to distinguish what wassaid. Finally the three departed again, apparentlynot well pleased.I endeavored to raise the hammer, thinking to showFord how willing I was to work, by proceeding withmy labors on the weaving house, but it fell from mynerveless hand. At dark I crawled into the cabin,and laid down. I was in great misery — all sore andswollen — the slightest movement producing excruci-ating suffering. Soon the hands came in from thefield. Rachel, when she went after Lawson, had toldthem what had happened. Eliza and Mary broiledI me a piece of bacon, but my appetite was gone.Then they scorched some corn meal and made coffee.It was all that I could take. Eliza consoled me andwas very kind. It was not long before the cabin wasfull of-slaves. They gathered round me, asking manyquestions about the difficulty with Tibeats in themorning — and the particulars of all the occurrencesof the day. Then Rachel came in, and in her simplelanguage, repeated it over again — 'dwelling emphat-ically on the kick that sent Tibeats rolling over onthe ground — ■ whereupon there was a general titterthroughout the crowd. Then she described how Cha-pin walked out with his pistols and rescued me,and how Master Ford cut the ropes with his knife,just as if he was mad.

　　lawson's ride. 123By this time Lawson had returned. He had toregale them with an account of his trip to the Pine"Woods — how the brown mule bore him faster thana " streak o' lightnin" — how he astonished everybodyas he flew along — how Master Ford started rightaway — how he said Piatt was a good nigger, andthey shouldn't kill him, concluding with pretty strongintimations that there was not another human beingin the wide world, who could have created such auniversal sensation on the road, or performed such amarvelous John Gilpin feat, as he had done that dayon the brown mule.The kind creatures loaded me with the expressionof their sympathy — saying, Tibeats was a hard, cruelman, and hoping " Massa Ford" would get me backagain. In this manner they passed the time, discus-sing, chatting, talking over and over again the exci-ting affair, until suddenly Chapin presented himselfat the cabin door and called me." Piatt," said he, " you will sleep on the floor in thegreat house to-night ; bring your blanket with you."I arose as quickly as I was able, took my blanketin my hand, and followed him. On the way he in-formed me that he should not wonder if Tibeats wasback again before morning — that he intended to killme — and that he did not mean he should do it with-out witnesses. Had he stabbed me to the heart inthe presence of a hundred slaves, not one of them, bythe laws of Louisiana, could have given evidenceagainst him. I laid down on the floor in the " great

　　124 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE.house" — the first and the last time such a sumptu-ous resting place was granted me during my twelveyears of bondage — and tried to sleep. Near midnightthe dog began to bark. Chapin arose, looked fromthe window, but could discover nothing. At lengththe dog was quiet. As he returned to his room, he said," I believe, Piatt, that scoundrel is skulking aboutthe premises somewhere. If the dog barks again, andI am sleeping, wake me."I promised to do so. After the lapse of an hour ormore, the dog re-commenced his clamor, runningtowards the gate, then back again, all the while bark-ing furiously.Chapin was out of bed without waiting to be called.On this occasion, he stepped forth upon the piazza,and remained standing there a considerable length oftime. Nothing, however, was to be seen, and thedog returned to his kennel. We were not disturbedagain during the night. The excessive pain that Isuffered, and the dread of some impending danger,prevented any rest whatever. Whether or not Tibe-ats did actually return to the plantation that night,seeking an opportunity to wreak his vengeance uponme, is a secret known only to himself, perhaps. Ithought then, however, and have the strong impres-sion still, that he was there. At all events, he hadthe disposition of an assassin — cowering before abrave man's words, but ready to strike his helpless orunsuspecting victim in the back, as I had reason af-terwards to know.

　　chapin's appearance. 125At daylight in the morning, I arose, sore and wea-ry, having rested little. Nevertheless, after partakingbreakfast, which Mary and Eliza had prepared for mein the cabin, I proceeded to the weaving hon.se andcommenced the labors of another day. It was Cha-pin's practice, as it is the practice of overseers gen-erally, immediately on arising, to bestride his horse,always saddled and bridled and ready for him — ■the particular business of some slave — and ride intothe field. This morning, on the contrary, he came tothe weaving house, asking if I had seen anything ofTibeats yet. Replying in the negative, he remarkedthere was something not right about the fellow —there was bad blood in him' — that I must keep asharp watch of him, or he would do me wrong someday when I least expected it."While he was yet speaking, Tibeats rode in, hitchedhis horse, and entered the house. I had little fear ofhim while Ford and Chapin were at hand, but theycould not be near me always.Oh ! how heavily the weight of slavery pressedupon me then. I must toil day after day, endureabuse and taunts and scoffs, sleep on the hard ground,live on the coarsest fare, and not only this, but livethe slave of a blood-seeking wretch, of whom I muststand henceforth in continued fear and dread. "Whyhad I not died in my young years — before God hadgiven me children to love and live for ? What un-happiness and suffering and sorrow it would haveprevented. I sighed for liberty ; but the bondman's

　　126 TWELVE TEAES A SLAVE.clmin was round me, and could not be shaken off. Icould only gaze wistfully towards the North, andthink of the thousands of miles that stretched betweenme and the soil of freedom, over which a black free-man may not pass.Tibeats, in the course of half an hour, walked overto the weaving-house, looked at me sharply, then re-turned without saying anything. Most of the fore-noon he sat on the piazza, reading a newspaper andconversing with Ford. After dinner, the latter leftfor the Pine Woods, and it was indeed with regretthat I beheld him depart from the plantation.Once more during the day Tibeats came to me,gave me some order, and returned.During the week the weaving-house was completed— Tibeats in the meantime making no allusion what-ever to the difficulty — when I was informed he hadhired me to Peter Tanner, to work under another car-penter by the name of Myers. This announcementwas received with gratification, as any place was de-sirable that would relieve me of his hateful presence.Peter Tanner, as the reader has already been in-formed, lived on the opposite shore, and was the broth-er of Mistress Ford. He is one of the most- extensiveplanters on Bayou Bceuf, and owns a large numberof slaves.Over I went to Tanner's, joyfully enough. He hadheard of my late difficulties — in fact, I ascertainedthe flogging of Tibeats was soon blazoned far and wide.This affair, together with my rafting experiment, had

　　PETER EXPOUNDS THE SCRIPTURE. 127rendered me somewhat notorious. More than once Iheard it said that Piatt Ford, now Piatt Tibeats — aslave's name changes with his change of master — was" a devil of a nigger." But I was destined to make astill further noise, as will presently be seen, through-out the little world of Bayou Bceuf.Peter Tanner endeavored to impress upon me theidea that he was quite severe, though I could per-ceive there was a vein of good humor in the old fel-low, after all." You're the nigger," he said to me on my arrival• — " You're the nigger that flogged your master, eh?You're the nigger that kicks, and holds carpenterTibeats by the leg, and wallops him, are ye 2 I'd liketo see you hold me by the leg — I should. You're a'portant character — you're a great nigger — very re-markable nigger, ain't ye ? Pd lash you — Pd takethe tantrums out of ye. Jest take hold of my leg, ifyou please. None of your pranks here, my boy, re-member that. Now go to work, you hichi/n? rascal,"concluded Peter Tanner, unable to suppress a half-comical grin at his own wit and sarcasm.After listening to this salutation, I was taken chargeof by Myers, and labored under his direction for amo.fi.th, to his and my own satisfaction./ Like William Pord, his brother-in-law, Tanner was jirithe habit of reading the Bible to his slaves on theSabbath, but in a somewhat different spirit. He wasan impressive commentator on the New Testament.The first Sunday after my coming to the plantation,

　　128 TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE.he called them together, and began to read the twelfthchapter of Luke. When he came to the 47th verse,he looked deliberately around him, and continued —" And that servant which knew his lord's will" — 'herehe paused, looking around more deliberately than be-fore, and again proceeded — " which knew his lord'swill, and prepared not himself" — here was anotherpause — "prepared not himself, neither did accordingto his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.''' 1" D'ye hear that ? " demanded Peter, emphatically." Stripes" he repeated, slowly and distinctly, takingoff his spectacles, preparatory to making a few re-marks." That nigger that don't take care — that don't obeyhis lord — that's his master — d'ye see ? — that 'erenigger shall be beaten with many stripes. Now,'many' signifies a great many — forty, a hundred,a hundred and fifty lashes. That's Scripter ! " and soPeter continued to elucidate the subject for a greatlength of time, much to the edification of his sableaudience.At the conclusion of the exercises, calling up threeof his slaves, Warner, Will and Major, he cried outto me —" Here, Piatt, you held Tibeats by the legs ; now I'llsee if you can hold these rascals in the same way, tillI get back from meetm'."Thereupon he ordered them to the stocks — a com-mon thing on plantations in the Red River country.The stocks are formed of two planks, the lower one

　　DESCRIPTION OF THE STOCKS. 129made fast at the ends to two short posts, driven firmlyinto the ground. At regular distances half circlesare cut in the upper edge. The other plank is fas-tened to one of the posts by a hinge, so that it can beopened or shut down, in the same manner as the bladeof a pocket-knife is shut or opened. In the lower edgeof the upper plank corresponding half circles are alsocut. so that When they close, a row of holes is formedlarge enough to admit a negro's leg above the ankle,but not large enough to enable him to draw out hisfoot. The other end of the upper plank, opposite thehinge, is fastened to its post by lock and key. Theslave is made to sit upon the ground, when the upper-most plank is elevated, his legs, just above the ankles,placed in the sub-half circles, and shutting it downagain, and locking it, he is held secure and fast. Yeryoften the neck instead of the ankle is enclosed. Inthis manner they are held during the operation ofwhipping.Warner, "Will and Major, according to Tanner's ac-count of them, were melon-stealing, Sabbath-break-ing niggers, and not approving of such wickedness, hefelt it his duty to put them in the stocks. Handingme the key, himself, Myers, Mistress Tanner and thechildren entered the carriage and drove away tochurch at Cheney ville. When they were gone, theboys begged me to let them out. I felt sorry to seethem sitting on the hot ground, and remembered myown sufferings in the sun. Upon their promise to re-turn to the stocks at any moment they were requiredF* 9

　　130 TWELVE YEAKS A SLAVE.to do so, I consented to release them. Grateful forthe lenity shown them, and in order in some meas-ure to repay it, they could do no less, of course,than pilot me to the melon-patch. Shortly beforeTanner's return, they were in the stocks again.Finally he drove up, and looking at the boys, said, witha chuckle, —" Aha ! ye havn't been strolling about much to-day,any way. I'll teach you what's what, fll tire yeof eating water-melons on the Lord's day, ye Sabbath-breaking niggers."Ppitfir Tarmp.r prided himself upon his strict r eligiousobse rvances: he was a dp.;ip.rm in fhp rhm-ph"But I have now reached a point in the progress ofmy narrative, when it becomes necessary to turn awayfrom these light descriptions, to the more grave andweighty matter of the second battle with Master Tib-eats, and the flight through the great PacoudrieSwamp.