CHAPTER XVI.. Overseers--How They Are Armed and Accompanied--the Homicide--His

Overseers--How they are Armed and Accompanied--The Homicide--His Execution at Marksville--Slave Drivers--Appointed Driver on removing to Bayou Boeuf--Practice makes perfect--Epps's Attempt to Cut Platt's Throat--The Escape from him--Protected by the Mistress--Forbids Reading and Writing--Obtain a Sheet of Paper after Nine Years' Effort--The Letter--Armsby, the Mean White--Partially confide in him--His Treachery--Epps' Suspicions--How they were quieted--Burning the Letter--Armsby leaves the Bayou--Disappointment and Despair, 223