Похищенный
Chapter 5
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“InHeaven’sname,”criedI,“canyoufindnoreputablelifeonshore?”
“O,no,”sayshe,winkingandlookingverysly,“theywouldputmetoatrade.Iknowatrickworthtwoofthat,Ido!”
Iaskedhimwhattradecouldbesodreadfulastheonehefollowed,whereheranthecontinualperilofhislife,notalonefromwindandsea,butbythehorridcrueltyofthosewhowerehismasters.Hesaiditwasverytrue;andthenbegantopraisethelife,andtellwhatapleasureitwastogetonshorewithmoneyinhispocket,andspenditlikeaman,andbuyapples,andswagger,andsurprisewhathecalledstick-in-the-mudboys.“Andthenit’snotallasbadasthat,”sayshe;“there’sworseoffthanme:there’sthetwenty-pounders.O,laws!youshouldseethemtakingon.Why,I’veseenamanasoldasyou,Idessay”—(tohimIseemedold)—“ah,andhehadabeard,too—well,andassoonasweclearedoutoftheriver,andhehadthedrugoutofhishead—my!howhecriedandcarriedon!Imadeafinefoolofhim,Itellyou!Andthenthere’slittleuns,too:oh,littlebyme!Itellyou,Ikeeptheminorder.Whenwecarrylittleuns,Ihavearope’sendofmyowntowollop’em.”Andsoheranon,untilitcameinonmewhathemeantbytwenty-pounderswerethoseunhappycriminalswhoweresentover-seastoslaveryinNorthAmerica,orthestillmoreunhappyinnocentswhowerekidnappedortrepanned(asthewordwent)forprivateinterestorvengeance.
