Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
Andyetitwasalloverinaflash,andtherewasnosequeltoit,saveinourownconvictions.
Whatoccurredwasthis.LordJohnhadshotanajouti—whichisasmall,pig-likeanimal—and,halfofithavingbeengiventotheIndians,wewerecookingtheotherhalfuponourfire.Thereisachillintheairafterdark,andwehadalldrawnclosetotheblaze.Thenightwasmoonless,butthereweresomestars,andonecouldseeforalittledistanceacrosstheplain.Well,suddenlyoutofthedarkness,outofthenight,thereswoopedsomethingwithaswishlikeanaeroplane.Thewholegroupofuswerecoveredforaninstantbyacanopyofleatherywings,andIhadamomentaryvisionofalong,snake-likeneck,afierce,red,greedyeye,andagreatsnappingbeak,filled,tomyamazement,withlittle,gleamingteeth.Thenextinstantitwasgone—andsowasourdinner.Ahugeblackshadow,twentyfeetacross,skimmedupintotheair;foraninstantthemonsterwingsblottedoutthestars,andthenitvanishedoverthebrowofthecliffaboveus.Weallsatinamazedsilenceroundthefire,liketheheroesofVirgilwhentheHarpiescamedownuponthem.ItwasSummerleewhowasthefirsttospeak.
"ProfessorChallenger,"saidhe,inasolemnvoice,whichquaveredwithemotion,"Ioweyouanapology.Sir,Iamverymuchinthewrong,andIbegthatyouwillforgetwhatispast."
Itwashandsomelysaid,andthetwomenforthefirsttimeshookhands.
