Затерянный мир
Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders
Myeyesstrainedeagerlyacrossthegreatplaininthehopeofseeingafaroffthehelpforwhichwehadprayed.Butthelongcactus-strewnlevelsstillstretchedaway,emptyandbare,tothedistantlineofthecane-brake.
"Theywillsooncomenow,MassaMalone.BeforeanotherweekpassIndiancomebackandbringropeandfetchyoudown."SuchwasthecheerycryofourexcellentZambo.
IhadonestrangeexperienceasIcamefromthissecondvisitwhichhadinvolvedmybeingawayforanightfrommycompanions.Iwasreturningalongthewell-rememberedroute,andhadreachedaspotwithinamileorsoofthemarshofthepterodactyls,whenIsawanextraordinaryobjectapproachingme.Itwasamanwhowalkedinsideaframeworkmadeofbentcanessothathewasenclosedonallsidesinabell-shapedcage.AsIdrewnearerIwasmoreamazedstilltoseethatitwasLordJohnRoxton.Whenhesawmeheslippedfromunderhiscuriousprotectionandcametowardsmelaughing,andyet,asIthought,withsomeconfusioninhismanner.
"Well,youngfellah,"saidhe,"whowouldhavethoughtofmeetin’youuphere?"
"Whatintheworldareyoudoing?"Iasked.
"Visitin’myfriends,thepterodactyls,"saidhe.
"Butwhy?"
"Interestin’beasts,don’tyouthink?Butunsociable!Nastyrudewayswithstrangers,asyoumayremember.SoIriggedthisframeworkwhichkeepsthemfrombein’toopressin’intheirattentions."
