Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
"WhenweareupImaybeabletoshowyouthattheresourcesofaninventivemindarenotyetexhausted."
Afterbreakfastweunpackedthebundleinwhichourleaderhadbroughthisclimbingaccessories.Fromithetookacoilofthestrongestandlightestrope,ahundredandfiftyfeetinlength,withclimbingirons,clamps,andotherdevices.LordJohnwasanexperiencedmountaineer,andSummerleehaddonesomeroughclimbingatvarioustimes,sothatIwasreallythenoviceatrock-workoftheparty;butmystrengthandactivitymayhavemadeupformywantofexperience.
Itwasnotinrealityaverystifftask,thoughthereweremomentswhichmademyhairbristleuponmyhead.Thefirsthalfwasperfectlyeasy,butfromthereupwardsitbecamecontinuallysteeperuntil,forthelastfiftyfeet,wewereliterallyclingingwithourfingersandtoestotinyledgesandcrevicesintherock.Icouldnothaveaccomplishedit,norcouldSummerlee,ifChallengerhadnotgainedthesummit(itwasextraordinarytoseesuchactivityinsounwieldyacreature)andtherefixedtheroperoundthetrunkoftheconsiderabletreewhichgrewthere.Withthisasoursupport,weweresoonabletoscrambleupthejaggedwalluntilwefoundourselvesuponthesmallgrassyplatform,sometwenty-fivefeeteachway,whichformedthesummit.
ThefirstimpressionwhichIreceivedwhenIhadrecoveredmybreathwasoftheextraordinaryviewoverthecountrywhichwehadtraversed.
