how did col Llloyd treat his stable keepers? what incident does douglass narrate to indicate why slaves often gave seemingly contented replies when asked about their treatment?

The colonel kept a respected stable and carriage-house. It was tended by two slaves, Old Barney and Young Barney. They did not have an easy job because their master was extremely particular about his horses; any perceived problem or suspicion of improper care or want of attention resulted in the severest beatings for the father and son. The Colonel often took this to a terrible limit, pretending he noticed some issue in his horses and blaming the slaves for the horses' behavior. Old Barney, despite being feeble and elderly, was often forced to kneel down in the cold and receive more than thirty lashes. There was always danger in telling the truth of how they were treated.