Двенадцать лет рабства

           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."