Uncle Tom's cabin / Хижина дяди Тома. Книга для чтения на английском языке

”

“They’ll charge too much,” said Tom.

“I’ll manage that ar; they’s young in the business, and must spect to work cheap,” said Marks, as he continued to read. “Ther’s three on ’em easy cases, ’cause all you’ve got to do is to shoot ’em, or swear they is shot; they could n’t, of course, charge much for that. Them other cases,” he said, folding the paper, “will bear puttin’ off a spell. So now let’s come to the particulars. Now, Mr. Haley, you saw this yer gal when she landed?”

“To be sure, – plain as I see you.

“And a man helpin’ on her up the bank?” said Loker.

“To be sure, I did.”

“Most likely,” said Marks, “she’s took in somewhere; but where, ’s a question. Tom, what do you say?”

“We must cross the river to-night, no mistake,” said Tom.

“But there’s no boat about,” said Marks. “The ice is running awfully, Tom; an’t it dangerous?”

“Don’no nothing ’bout that, – only it’s got to be done,” said Tom, decidedly.

“Dear me,” said Marks, fidgeting, “it’ll be – I say,” he said, walking to the window, “it’s dark as a wolf’s mouth, and, Tom – ”

“The long and short is, you’re scared, Marks; but I can’t help that, – you’ve got to go. Suppose you want to lie by a day or two, till the gal’s been carried on the underground line up to Sandusky[34 - Sandusky – Сандаски (город на озере Эри, южный берег которого принадлежит США, а северный – Канаде)] or so, before you start.

“O, no; I an’t a grain afraid,” said Marks, “only – ” “Only what?” said Tom.

“Well, about the boat. Yer see there an’t any boat.”

“I heard the woman say there was one coming along this evening, and that a man was going to cross over in it. Neck or nothing[35 - neck or nothing – во что бы то ни стало], we must go with him,” said Tom.

“I s’pose you’ve got good dogs,” said Haley.

“First rate,” said Marks. “But what’s the use? you han’t got nothin’ o’ hers to smell on.”

“Yes, I have,” said Haley, triumphantly. “Here’s her shawl she left on the bed in her hurry; she left her bonnet, too.”

“That ar ’s lucky,” said Loker; “fork over.”

“Though the dogs might damage the gal, if they come on her unawars,” said Haley.