П’ятнадцятирічний капітан

The Bad Roads of Angola

           Therehadbeensomepathsthere,formerly,butthosepathsweredead,accordingtothenativeexpressionthatis,bramblesandbrushwoodhadusurpedthem.Inthesepainfulconditionstheymightspendthreehoursinmakingonemile.Theblacksworkedwithoutrelaxation.Hercules,afterputtinglittleJackbackinNan’sarms,tookhispartofthework;andwhatapart!Hegavestout"heaves,"makinghisaxturnround,andaholewasmadebeforethem,asifhehadbeenadevouringfire.

           Fortunately,thisfatiguingworkwouldnotlast.Thisfirstmilecleared,theysawalargehole,openedthroughtheunderwood,whichendedobliquelyattherivuletandfolloweditsbank.Itwasapassagemadebyelephants,andthoseanimals,doubtlessbyhundreds,wereinthehabitoftraversingthispartoftheforest.Greatholes,madebythefeetoftheenormouspachyderms,riddledasoilsoftenedduringtherainyseason.Itsspongynaturealsoprepareditforthoselargeimprints.

           Itsoonappearedthatthispassagedidnotserveforthosegiganticanimalsalone.Humanbeingshadmorethanoncetakenthisroute,butasflocks,brutallyledtotheslaughter-house,wouldhavefollowedit.Hereandtherebonesofdeadbodiesstrewedtheground;remainsofskeletons,halfgnawedbyanimals,someofwhichstillboretheslave’sfetters.

           Thereare,inCentralAfrica,longroadsthusmarkedoutbyhumandébris.

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Roboto Lora
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