Двенадцать лет рабства

           Thereweresomanyofthem,Iknewtheywouldtearmetopieces,thattheywouldworryme,atonce,todeath. Igaspedforbreath—gaspedforthahalf-uttered,chokingprayertotheAlmightytosaveme—togivemestrengthtoreachsomewide,deepbayouwhereIcouldthrowthemoffthetrack,orsinkintoitswaters. PresentlyIreachedathickpalmettobottom. AsIfledthroughthemtheymadealoudrustlingnoise,notloudenough,however,todrownthevoicesofthedogs. 

           Continuingmycourseduesouth,asnearlyasIcanjudge,Icameatlengthtowaterjustovershoe. Thehoundsatthatmomentcouldnothavebeenfiverodsbehindme. Icouldhearthemcrashingandplungingthroughthepalmettoes,theirloud,eageryellsmakingthewholeswampclamorouswiththesound. HoperevivedalittleasIreachedthewater. Ifitwereonlydeeper,theymightlosethescent,andthusdisconcerted,affordmetheopportunityofevadingthem. Luckily,itgrewdeeperthefartherIproceeded—nowovermyankles—nowhalf-waytomyknees—nowsinkingamomenttomywaist,andthenemergingpresentlyintomoreshallowplaces. ThedogshadnotgaineduponmesinceIstruckthewater. Evidentlytheywereconfused. Nowtheirsavageintonationsgrewmoreandmoredistant,assuringmethatIwasleavingthem. FinallyIstoppedtolisten,butthelonghowlcameboomingontheairagain,tellingmeIwasnotyetsafe. Frombogtobog,whereIhadstepped,theycouldstillkeepuponthetrack,thoughimpededbythewater.