Затерянный мир
Who could have Foreseen it?
Whocouldhaveguessedthatitwasthepreludetooursupremedisaster?Letmesayinafewwordshowthecrushingblowfelluponus.
Wehadturnedawayfromtheedge,andhadpenetratedaboutfiftyyardsofclosebrushwood,whentherecameafrightfulrendingcrashfrombehindus.Withoneimpulsewerushedbackthewaythatwehadcome.Thebridgewasgone!
FardownatthebaseofthecliffIsaw,asIlookedover,atangledmassofbranchesandsplinteredtrunk.Itwasourbeechtree.Hadtheedgeoftheplatformcrumbledandletitthrough?Foramomentthisexplanationwasinallourminds.Thenext,fromthefarthersideoftherockypinnaclebeforeusaswarthyface,thefaceofGomezthehalf-breed,wasslowlyprotruded.Yes,itwasGomez,butnolongertheGomezofthedemuresmileandthemask-likeexpression.Herewasafacewithflashingeyesanddistortedfeatures,afaceconvulsedwithhatredandwiththemadjoyofgratifiedrevenge.
"LordRoxton!"heshouted."LordJohnRoxton!"
"Well,"saidourcompanion,"hereIam."
Ashriekoflaughtercameacrosstheabyss.
"Yes,thereyouare,youEnglishdog,andthereyouwillremain!Ihavewaitedandwaited,andnowhascomemychance.Youfoundithardtogetup;youwillfindithardertogetdown.Youcursedfools,youaretrapped,everyoneofyou!"
Weweretooastoundedtospeak.Wecouldonlystandtherestaringinamazement.Agreatbrokenboughuponthegrassshowedwhencehehadgainedhisleveragetotiltoverourbridge.
