Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
ThewholeBrazilianplainseemedtoliebeneathus,extendingawayandawayuntilitendedindimbluemistsuponthefarthestsky-line.Intheforegroundwasthelongslope,strewnwithrocksanddottedwithtree-ferns;fartheroffinthemiddledistance,lookingoverthesaddle-backhill,Icouldjustseetheyellowandgreenmassofbamboosthroughwhichwehadpassed;andthen,gradually,thevegetationincreaseduntilitformedthehugeforestwhichextendedasfarastheeyescouldreach,andforagoodtwothousandmilesbeyond.
IwasstilldrinkinginthiswonderfulpanoramawhentheheavyhandoftheProfessorfelluponmyshoulder.
"Thisway,myyoungfriend,"saidhe;"vestigianullaretrorsum.Neverlookrearwards,butalwaystoourgloriousgoal."
Theleveloftheplateau,whenIturned,wasexactlythatonwhichwestood,andthegreenbankofbushes,withoccasionaltrees,wassonearthatitwasdifficulttorealizehowinaccessibleitremained.Ataroughguessthegulfwasfortyfeetacross,but,sofarasIcouldsee,itmightaswellhavebeenfortymiles.Iplacedonearmroundthetrunkofthetreeandleanedovertheabyss.Fardownwerethesmalldarkfiguresofourservants,lookingupatus.Thewallwasabsolutelyprecipitous,aswasthatwhichfacedme.
"Thisisindeedcurious,"saidthecreakingvoiceofProfessorSummerlee.
Iturned,andfoundthathewasexaminingwithgreatinterestthetreetowhichIclung.
