Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 10
Sometimes,however,Iwouldcomedirectlyuponamonsterbeforeobservingit. Insuchcases,Iwouldstartback,runashortwayround,andinthatmannershunthem. Straightforward,theywillrunashortdistancerapidly,butdonotpossessthepowerofturning. Inacrookedrace,thereisnodifficultyinevadingthem.
Abouttwoo’clockintheafternoon,Iheardthelastofthehounds. Probablytheydidnotcrossthebayou. Wetandweary,butrelievedfromthesenseofinstantperil,Icontinuedon,morecautiousandafraid,however,ofthesnakesandalligatorsthanIhadbeenintheearlierportionofmyflight. Now,beforesteppingintoamuddypool,Iwouldstrikethewaterwithastick. Ifthewatersmoved,Iwouldgoaroundit,ifnot,wouldventurethrough.
Atlengththesunwentdown,andgraduallynight’strailingmantleshroudedthegreatswampindarkness. StillIstaggeredon,fearingeveryinstantIshouldfeelthedreadfulstingofthemoccasin,orbecrushedwithinthejawsofsomedisturbedalligator. Thedreadofthemnowalmostequaledthefearofthepursuinghounds. Themoonaroseafteratime,itsmildlightcreepingthroughtheoverspreadingbranches,loadedwithlong,pendentmoss. Ikepttravelingforwardsuntilaftermidnight,hopingallthewhilethatIwouldsoonemergeintosomelessdesolateanddangerousregion. Butthewatergrewdeeperandthewalkingmoredifficultthanever.
