Двенадцать лет рабства
Chapter 7
Harry,Eliza,andmyselfwereyetweak,andthebottomsofourfeetwereverytenderfromtheeffectsofthesmall-pox. Weproceededslowly,Fordtellingustotakeourtimeandsitdownandrestwheneverwedesired—aprivilegethatwastakenadvantageofquitefrequently. AfterleavingLamourieandcrossingtwoplantations,onebelongingtoMr.Carnell,theothertoaMr.Flint,wereachedthePineWoods,awildernessthatstretchestotheSabineRiver.
ThewholecountryaboutRedRiverislowandmarshy. ThePineWoods,astheyarecalled,iscomparativelyupland,withfrequentsmallintervals,however,runningthroughthem. Thisuplandiscoveredwithnumeroustrees—thewhiteoak,thechincopin,resemblingchestnut,butprincipallytheyellowpine. Theyareofgreatsize,runningupsixtyfeet,andperfectlystraight. Thewoodswerefullofcattle,veryshyandwild,dashingawayinherds,withaloudsnuff,atourapproach. Someofthemweremarkedorbranded,therestappearedtobeintheirwildanduntamedstate. Theyaremuchsmallerthannorthernbreeds,andthepeculiarityaboutthemthatmostattractedmyattentionwastheirhorns.Theystandoutfromthesidesoftheheadpreciselystraight,liketwoironspikes.
Atnoonwereachedaclearedpieceofgroundcontainingthreeorfouracres. Uponitwasasmall,unpainted,woodenhouse,acorncrib,or,aswewouldsay,abarn,andalogkitchen,standingaboutarodfromthehouse. ItwasthesummerresidenceofMr.Martin.
