Затерянный мир
It was Dreadful in the Forest
Oureffectswerescatteredinwildconfusionovertheground;mycomradeshaddisappeared,andclosetothesmoulderingashesofourfirethegrasswasstainedcrimsonwithahideouspoolofblood.
IwassostunnedbythissuddenshockthatforatimeImusthavenearlylostmyreason.Ihaveavaguerecollection,asoneremembersabaddream,ofrushingaboutthroughthewoodsallroundtheemptycamp,callingwildlyformycompanions.Noanswercamebackfromthesilentshadows.ThehorriblethoughtthatImightneverseethemagain,thatImightfindmyselfabandonedallaloneinthatdreadfulplace,withnopossiblewayofdescendingintotheworldbelow,thatImightliveanddieinthatnightmarecountry,drovemetodesperation.Icouldhavetornmyhairandbeatenmyheadinmydespair.OnlynowdidIrealizehowIhadlearnedtoleanuponmycompanions,uponthesereneself-confidenceofChallenger,anduponthemasterful,humorouscoolnessofLordJohnRoxton.WithoutthemIwaslikeachildinthedark,helplessandpowerless.IdidnotknowwhichwaytoturnorwhatIshoulddofirst.
Afteraperiod,duringwhichIsatinbewilderment,Isetmyselftotryanddiscoverwhatsuddenmisfortunecouldhavebefallenmycompanions.Thewholedisorderedappearanceofthecampshowedthattherehadbeensomesortofattack,andtherifle-shotnodoubtmarkedthetimewhenithadoccurred.Thatthereshouldhavebeenonlyoneshotshowedthatithadbeenalloverinaninstant.
