Знак четырех
XII. The Strange Story of Jonathan Small
“Iwas,asyoucanimagine,prettydownonmyluckatthistime,forIwasauselesscripplethoughnotyetinmytwentiethyear.However,mymisfortunesoonprovedtobeablessingindisguise.AmannamedAbelWhite,whohadcomeoutthereasanindigo-planter,wantedanoverseertolookafterhiscooliesandkeepthemuptotheirwork.Hehappenedtobeafriendofourcolonel’s,whohadtakenaninterestinmesincetheaccident.Tomakealongstoryshort,thecolonelrecommendedmestronglyforthepostand,astheworkwasmostlytobedoneonhorseback,mylegwasnogreatobstacle,forIhadenoughkneelefttokeepgoodgriponthesaddle.WhatIhadtodowastorideovertheplantation,tokeepaneyeonthemenastheyworked,andtoreporttheidlers.Thepaywasfair,Ihadcomfortablequarters,andaltogetherIwascontenttospendtheremainderofmylifeinindigo-planting.Mr.AbelWhitewasakindman,andhewouldoftendropintomylittleshantyandsmokeapipewithme,forwhitefolkouttherefeeltheirheartswarmtoeachotherastheyneverdohereathome.
“Well,Iwasneverinluck’swaylong.Suddenly,withoutanoteofwarning,thegreatmutinybrokeuponus.OnemonthIndialayasstillandpeaceful,toallappearance,asSurreyorKent;thenextthereweretwohundredthousandblackdevilsletloose,andthecountrywasaperfecthell.Ofcourseyouknowallaboutit,gentlemen,—adealmorethanIdo,verylike,sincereadingisnotinmyline.IonlyknowwhatIsawwithmyowneyes.OurplantationwasataplacecalledMuttra,neartheborderoftheNorthwestProvinces.
