Chapter 3
The slave pen
For several hours I tried to understand what had happened. I began to hear sounds from the street outside, and I realized it was daytime. Then I heard footsteps, and a key in the lock. The door opened and the room filled with light. A man came in. He was large and strong-looking with an ugly face and cruel eyes. A second man stood behind him. Holding a think piece of wood.
‘Well, boy,’ said the first man “How do you feel now?”
‘I’m sick’ I answered “Why am I here?’
‘I’ve bought you, boy,’ he said. ‘You now belong to James Burch, slave dealer. That’s me. I’m going to send you to the slave market in New Orieans, Where I can sell you for a very good price.’
‘Sir, I am a free man,’ I said angrily. ‘I live in Saratoga, New York state. And I have a wife and three children, who are also free. My name is Solomon Northup. When I am rescued. You will be in trouble. Take these ropes off me now. Sir’
‘Be quiet, boy,’ said Burch. ‘You are a slave, and I own you.’
I refused to be quiet, however, and Burch become very angry. He said I was lying and that I was a runaway from Washington
The second man now stepped forward and pushed me to the ground. He pulled the shirt off my back and handed the piece of wood to Burch, who began to hit me. He hit me again and again. I cried out in pain. When his arm was tired, he stopped for moment.
‘Are you a free man?’ He asked.
‘I am no man’s slave’ I shouted.
He started to hit me again, this time harder and faster until the piece of wood broke. Then he asked me the same question, but I refused to change my answer.
‘Fetch the whip. Redburn!’ he shouted to other man.
The whip was worse and each lash burnt my back.
Finally, after a long time, he stopped.
If you ever say you are a free man again, he said through closed teeth, ‘I will whip you to death’
The two man left the room and locked the door, leaving me in the dark.