Пятнадцатилетний капитан

The Bad Roads of Angola

           Therehadbeensomepathsthere,formerly,butthosepathsweredead,accordingtothenativeexpressionthatis,bramblesandbrushwoodhadusurpedthem.Inthesepainfulconditionstheymightspendthreehoursinmakingonemile.Theblacksworkedwithoutrelaxation.Hercules,afterputtinglittleJackbackinNan’sarms,tookhispartofthework;andwhatapart!Hegavestout"heaves,"makinghisaxturnround,andaholewasmadebeforethem,asifhehadbeenadevouringfire.

           Fortunately,thisfatiguingworkwouldnotlast.Thisfirstmilecleared,theysawalargehole,openedthroughtheunderwood,whichendedobliquelyattherivuletandfolloweditsbank.Itwasapassagemadebyelephants,andthoseanimals,doubtlessbyhundreds,wereinthehabitoftraversingthispartoftheforest.Greatholes,madebythefeetoftheenormouspachyderms,riddledasoilsoftenedduringtherainyseason.Itsspongynaturealsoprepareditforthoselargeimprints.

           Itsoonappearedthatthispassagedidnotserveforthosegiganticanimalsalone.Humanbeingshadmorethanoncetakenthisroute,butasflocks,brutallyledtotheslaughter-house,wouldhavefollowedit.Hereandtherebonesofdeadbodiesstrewedtheground;remainsofskeletons,halfgnawedbyanimals,someofwhichstillboretheslave’sfetters.

           Thereare,inCentralAfrica,longroadsthusmarkedoutbyhumandébris.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 265 из 464