Двенадцать лет рабства

           ThedogsusedonBayouBœufforhuntingslavesareakindofblood-hound,butafarmoresavagebreedthanisfoundintheNorthernStates. Theywillattackanegro,attheirmaster’sbidding,andclingtohimasthecommonbull-dogwillclingtoafourfootedanimal. Frequentlytheirloudbayisheardintheswamps,andthenthereisspeculationastowhatpointtherunawaywillbeoverhauled —thesameasaNew-Yorkhunterstopstolistentothehoundscoursingalongthehillsides,andsuggeststohiscompanionthatthefoxwillbetakenatsuchaplace. IneverknewaslaveescapingwithhislifefromBayouBœuf. Onereasonis,theyarenotallowedtolearntheartofswimming,andareincapableofcrossingthemostinconsiderablestream. Intheirflighttheycangoinnodirectionbutalittlewaywithoutcomingtoabayou,whentheinevitablealternativeispresented,ofbeingdrownedorovertakenbythedogs. InyouthIhadpractisedintheclearstreamsthatflowthroughmynativedistrict,untilIhadbecomeanexpertswimmer,andfeltathomeinthewateryelement. 

           Istooduponthefenceuntilthedogshadreachedthecottonpress. Inaninstantmore,theirlong,savageyellsannouncedtheywereonmytrack. Leapingdownfrommyposition,Irantowardstheswamp. Feargavemestrength,andIexertedittotheutmost. EveryfewmomentsIcouldheartheyelpingsofthedogs. Theyweregaininguponme. Everyhowlwasnearerandnearer. EachmomentIexpectedtheywouldspringuponmyback—expectedtofeeltheirlongteethsinkingintomyflesh.