Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
Ithadalreadyastrong,naturaltiltinthedirectionoftheplateau,sothatthematterwasnotdifficult.FinallyIsettoworkinearnestuponthetrunk,takingturnandturnwithLordJohn.Inalittleoveranhourtherewasaloudcrack,thetreeswayedforward,andthencrashedover,buryingitsbranchesamongthebushesonthefartherside.Theseveredtrunkrolledtotheveryedgeofourplatform,andforoneterriblesecondweallthoughtitwasover.Itbalanceditself,however,afewinchesfromtheedge,andtherewasourbridgetotheunknown.
Allofus,withoutaword,shookhandswithProfessorChallenger,whoraisedhisstrawhatandboweddeeplytoeachinturn.
"Iclaimthehonor,"saidhe,"tobethefirsttocrosstotheunknownland—afittingsubject,nodoubt,forsomefuturehistoricalpainting."
HehadapproachedthebridgewhenLordJohnlaidhishanduponhiscoat.
"Mydearchap,"saidhe,"Ireallycannotallowit."
"Cannotallowit,sir!"Theheadwentbackandthebeardforward.
"Whenitisamatterofscience,don’tyouknow,Ifollowyourleadbecauseyouarebywayofbein’amanofscience.Butit’suptoyoutofollowmewhenyoucomeintomydepartment."
"Yourdepartment,sir?"
"Weallhaveourprofessions,andsoldierin’ismine.Weare,accordin’tomyideas,invadin’anewcountry,whichmayormaynotbechock-fullofenemiesofsorts.Tobargeblindlyintoitforwantofalittlecommonsenseandpatienceisn’tmynotionofmanagement."
