Затерянный мир
For once I was the Hero
LordJohnneverhesitated,but,runningtowardsitwithaquick,lightstep,hedashedtheflamingwoodintothebrute’sface.ForonemomentIhadavisionofahorriblemasklikeagianttoad’s,ofawarty,leprousskin,andofaloosemouthallbeslobberedwithfreshblood.Thenext,therewasacrashintheunderwoodandourdreadfulvisitorwasgone.
"Ithoughthewouldn’tfacethefire,"saidLordJohn,laughing,ashecamebackandthrewhisbranchamongthefaggots.
"Youshouldnothavetakensucharisk!"weallcried.
"Therewasnothin’elsetobedone.Ifhehadgotamongusweshouldhaveshoteachotherintryin’todownhim.Ontheotherhand,ifwehadfiredthroughthehedgeandwoundedhimhewouldsoonhavebeenonthetopofus—tosaynothin’ofgivingourselvesaway.Onthewhole,Ithinkthatwearejollywelloutofit.Whatwashe,then?"
Ourlearnedmenlookedateachotherwithsomehesitation.
"Personally,Iamunabletoclassifythecreaturewithanycertainty,"saidSummerlee,lightinghispipefromthefire.
"Inrefusingtocommityourselfyouarebutshowingaproperscientificreserve,"saidChallenger,withmassivecondescension."Iamnotmyselfpreparedtogofartherthantosayingeneraltermsthatwehavealmostcertainlybeenincontactto-nightwithsomeformofcarnivorousdinosaur.Ihavealreadyexpressedmyanticipationthatsomethingofthesortmightexistuponthisplateau."
