Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 10
Therehavebeenhoursinmyunhappylife,manyofthem,whenthecontemplationofdeathastheendofearthlysorrow—ofthegraveasarestingplaceforthetiredandwornoutbody—hasbeenpleasanttodwellupon. Butsuchcontemplationsvanishinthehourofperil. Noman,inhisfullstrength,canstandundismayed,inthepresenceofthe"kingofterrors." Lifeisdeartoeverylivingthing;thewormthatcrawlsuponthegroundwillstruggleforit. Atthatmomentitwasdeartome,enslavedandtreatedasIwas.
Notabletounloosehishand,oncemoreIseizedhimbythethroat,andthistime,withavice-likegripethatsoonrelaxedhishold. Hebecamepliantandunstrung. Hisface,thathadbeenwhitewithpassion,wasnowblackfromsuffocation. Thosesmallserpenteyesthatspatsuchvenom,werenowfullofhorror—twogreatwhiteorbsstartingfromtheirsockets!
Therewas"alurkingdevil"inmyheartthatpromptedmetokillthehumanblood-houndonthespot—toretainthegriponhisaccursedthroattillthebreathoflifewasgone! Idarednotmurderhim,andIdarednotlethimlive. IfIkilledhim,mylifemustpaytheforfeit —ifhelived,mylifeonlywouldsatisfyhisvengeance. Avoicewithinwhisperedmetofly. Tobeawandereramongtheswamps,afugitiveandavagabondonthefaceoftheearth,waspreferabletothelifethatIwasleading.
Myresolutionwassoonformed,andswinginghimfromthework-benchtotheground,Ileapedafencenearby,andhurriedacrosstheplantation,passingtheslavesatworkinthecottonfield.
