Дванадцять років рабства
Chapter 10
Notbyhumandwellings—notincrowdedcitiesalone,arethesightsandsoundsoflife. Thewildestplacesoftheeartharefullofthem. Evenintheheartofthatdismalswamp,Godhadprovidedarefugeandadwellingplaceformillionsoflivingthings.
Themoonhadnowrisenabovethetrees,whenIresolveduponanewproject. ThusfarIhadendeavoredtotravelasnearlysouthaspossible. TurningaboutIproceededinanorth-westdirection,myobjectbeingtostrikethePineWoodsinthevicinityofMasterFord’s. Oncewithintheshadowofhisprotection,IfeltIwouldbecomparativelysafe.
Myclotheswereintatters,myhands,face,andbodycoveredwithscratches,receivedfromthesharpknotsoffallentrees,andinclimbingoverpilesofbrushandfloodwood. Mybarefootwasfullofthorns. Iwasbesmearedwithmuckandmud,andthegreenslimethathadcollectedonthesurfaceofthedeadwater,inwhichIhadbeenimmersedtotheneckmanytimesduringthedayandnight. Hourafterhour,andtiresomeindeedhadtheybecome,Icontinuedtoplodalongonmynorth-westcourse. Thewaterbegantogrowlessdeep,andthegroundmorefirmundermyfeet. AtlastIreachedthePacoudrie,thesamewidebayouIhadswamwhile"outwardbound." Iswamitagain,andshortlyafterthoughtIheardacockcrow,butthesoundwasfaint,anditmighthavebeenamockeryoftheear. Thewaterrecededfrommyadvancingfootsteps—nowIhadleftthebogsbehindme—nowIwasondrylandthatgraduallyascendedtotheplain,andIknewIwassomewhereinthe"GreatPineWoods."
