Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
Theremonstrancewastooreasonabletobedisregarded.Challengertossedhisheadandshruggedhisheavyshoulders.
"Well,sir,whatdoyoupropose?"
"ForallIknowtheremaybeatribeofcannibalswaitin’forlunch-timeamongthoseverybushes,"saidLordJohn,lookingacrossthebridge."It’sbettertolearnwisdombeforeyougetintoacookin’-pot;sowewillcontentourselveswithhopin’thatthereisnotroublewaitin’forus,andatthesametimewewillactasiftherewere.MaloneandIwillgodownagain,therefore,andwewillfetchupthefourrifles,togetherwithGomezandtheother.Onemancanthengoacrossandtherestwillcoverhimwithguns,untilheseesthatitissafeforthewholecrowdtocomealong."
Challengersatdownuponthecutstumpandgroanedhisimpatience;butSummerleeandIwereofonemindthatLordJohnwasourleaderwhensuchpracticaldetailswereinquestion.Theclimbwasamoresimplethingnowthattheropedangleddownthefaceoftheworstpartoftheascent.Withinanhourwehadbroughtuptheriflesandashot-gun.Thehalf-breedshadascendedalso,andunderLordJohn’sorderstheyhadcarriedupabaleofprovisionsincaseourfirstexplorationshouldbealongone.Wehadeachbandoliersofcartridges.
"Now,Challenger,ifyoureallyinsistuponbeingthefirstmanin,"saidLordJohn,wheneverypreparationwascomplete.
