Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
Thatsmoothbarkandthosesmall,ribbedleavesseemedfamiliartomyeyes."Why,"Icried,"it’sabeech!"
"Exactly,"saidSummerlee."Afellow-countrymaninafarland."
"Notonlyafellow-countryman,mygoodsir,"saidChallenger,"butalso,ifImaybeallowedtoenlargeyoursimile,anallyofthefirstvalue.Thisbeechtreewillbeoursaviour."
"ByGeorge!"criedLordJohn,"abridge!"
"Exactly,myfriends,abridge!ItisnotfornothingthatIexpendedanhourlastnightinfocusingmyminduponthesituation.IhavesomerecollectionofonceremarkingtoouryoungfriendherethatG.E.C.isathisbestwhenhisbackistothewall.Lastnightyouwilladmitthatallourbacksweretothewall.Butwherewill-powerandintellectgotogether,thereisalwaysawayout.Adrawbridgehadtobefoundwhichcouldbedroppedacrosstheabyss.Beholdit!"
Itwascertainlyabrilliantidea.Thetreewasagoodsixtyfeetinheight,andifitonlyfelltherightwayitwouldeasilycrossthechasm.Challengerhadslungthecampaxeoverhisshoulderwhenheascended.Nowhehandedittome.
"Ouryoungfriendhasthethewsandsinews,"saidhe."Ithinkhewillbethemostusefulatthistask.Imustbeg,however,thatyouwillkindlyrefrainfromthinkingforyourself,andthatyouwilldoexactlywhatyouaretold."
UnderhisdirectionIcutsuchgashesinthesidesofthetreesaswouldensurethatitshouldfallaswedesired.
