Затерянный мир
The most Wonderful Things have Happened
Itistruethatthesemonstrouscreatureswhichwehadseenwerelumbering,inoffensivebruteswhichwereunlikelytohurtanyone,butinthisworldofwonderswhatothersurvivalsmighttherenotbe—whatfierce,activehorrorsreadytopounceuponusfromtheirlairamongtherocksorbrushwood?Iknewlittleofprehistoriclife,butIhadaclearremembranceofonebookwhichIhadreadinwhichitspokeofcreatureswhowouldliveuponourlionsandtigersasacatlivesuponmice.WhatifthesealsoweretobefoundinthewoodsofMapleWhiteLand!
Itwasdestinedthatonthisverymorning—ourfirstinthenewcountry—weweretofindoutwhatstrangehazardslayaroundus.Itwasaloathsomeadventure,andoneofwhichIhatetothink.If,asLordJohnsaid,thegladeoftheiguanodonswillremainwithusasadream,thensurelytheswampofthepterodactylswillforeverbeournightmare.Letmesetdownexactlywhatoccurred.
Wepassedveryslowlythroughthewoods,partlybecauseLordRoxtonactedasscoutbeforehewouldletusadvance,andpartlybecauseateverysecondsteponeorotherofourprofessorswouldfall,withacryofwonder,beforesomeflowerorinsectwhichpresentedhimwithanewtype.Wemayhavetraveledtwoorthreemilesinall,keepingtotherightofthelineofthestream,whenwecameuponaconsiderableopeninginthetrees.Abeltofbrushwoodleduptoatangleofrocks—thewholeplateauwasstrewnwithboulders.
