Затерянный мир
For once I was the Hero
Then,asquickasaflash,cameanexpressionofoverpoweringfear.Therewasacrashofbrokenboughsasitdivedwildlydownintothetangleofgreen.Icaughtaglimpseofahairybodylikethatofareddishpig,andthenitwasgoneamidaswirlofleavesandbranches.
"What’sthematter?"shoutedRoxtonfrombelow."Anythingwrongwithyou?"
"Didyouseeit?"Icried,withmyarmsroundthebranchandallmynervestingling.
"Weheardarow,asifyourfoothadslipped.Whatwasit?"
Iwassoshockedatthesuddenandstrangeappearanceofthisape-manthatIhesitatedwhetherIshouldnotclimbdownagainandtellmyexperiencetomycompanions.ButIwasalreadysofarupthegreattreethatitseemedahumiliationtoreturnwithouthavingcarriedoutmymission.
Afteralongpause,therefore,torecovermybreathandmycourage,Icontinuedmyascent.OnceIputmyweightuponarottenbranchandswungforafewsecondsbymyhands,butinthemainitwasalleasyclimbing.Graduallytheleavesthinnedaroundme,andIwasaware,fromthewinduponmyface,thatIhadtoppedallthetreesoftheforest.Iwasdetermined,however,nottolookaboutmebeforeIhadreachedtheveryhighestpoint,soIscrambledonuntilIhadgotsofarthatthetopmostbranchwasbendingbeneathmyweight.ThereIsettledintoaconvenientfork,and,balancingmyselfsecurely,Ifoundmyselflookingdownatamostwonderfulpanoramaofthisstrangecountryinwhichwefoundourselves.
