Двенадцать лет рабства

           InhisIcouldseemurder. IfeltasifIhadaserpentbytheneck,watchingtheslightestrelaxationofmygripe,tocoilitselfroundmybody,crushingandstingingittodeath. Ithoughttoscreamaloud,trustingthatsomeearmightcatchthesound—butChapinwasaway;thehandswereinthefield;therewasnolivingsoulinsightorhearing. 

           Thegoodgenius,whichthusfarthroughlifehassavedmefromthehandsofviolence,atthatmomentsuggestedaluckythought. Withavigorousandsuddenkick,thatbroughthimononeknee,withagroan,Ireleasedmyholduponhisthroat,snatchedthehatchet,andcastitbeyondreach. 

           Franticwithrage,maddenedbeyondcontrol,heseizedawhiteoakstick,fivefeetlong,perhaps,andaslargeincircumferenceashishandcouldgrasp,whichwaslyingontheground. Againherushedtowardsme,andagainImethim,seizedhimaboutthewaist,andbeingthestrongerofthetwo,borehimtotheearth. WhileinthatpositionIobtainedpossessionofthestick,andrising,castitfromme,also. 

           Helikewisearoseandranforthebroad-axe,onthework-bench. Fortunately,therewasaheavyplanklyinguponitsbroadblade,insuchamannerthathecouldnotextricateit,beforeIhadsprunguponhisback. Pressinghimdowncloselyandheavilyontheplank,sothattheaxewasheldmorefirmlytoitsplace,Iendeavored,butinvain,tobreakhisgraspuponthehandle. Inthatpositionweremainedsomeminutes.