Затерянный мир
The most Wonderful Things have Happened
"Butwhatdoyoumakeofthis?"criedProfessorSummerlee,triumphantly,pointingtowhatlookedlikethehugeprintofafive-fingeredhumanhandappearingamongthethree-toedmarks.
"Wealden!"criedChallenger,inanecstasy."I’veseenthemintheWealdenclay.Itisacreaturewalkingerectuponthree-toedfeet,andoccasionallyputtingoneofitsfive-fingeredforepawsupontheground.Notabird,mydearRoxton—notabird."
"Abeast?"
"No;areptile—adinosaur.Nothingelsecouldhaveleftsuchatrack.TheypuzzledaworthySussexdoctorsomeninetyyearsago;butwhointheworldcouldhavehoped—hoped—tohaveseenasightlikethat?"
Hiswordsdiedawayintoawhisper,andweallstoodinmotionlessamazement.Followingthetracks,wehadleftthemorassandpassedthroughascreenofbrushwoodandtrees.Beyondwasanopenglade,andinthiswerefiveofthemostextraordinarycreaturesthatIhaveeverseen.Crouchingdownamongthebushes,weobservedthematourleisure.
Therewere,asIsay,fiveofthem,twobeingadultsandthreeyoungones.Insizetheywereenormous.Eventhebabieswereasbigaselephants,whilethetwolargeoneswerefarbeyondallcreaturesIhaveeverseen.Theyhadslate-coloredskin,whichwasscaledlikealizard’sandshimmeredwherethesunshoneuponit.
