Затерянный мир
Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders
Iwas,Iwilladmit,somewhatbaffledbythedifficultyofdiscoveringanenvelopetocontainthegas,butthecontemplationoftheimmenseentrailsofthesereptilessuppliedmewithasolutiontotheproblem.Beholdtheresult!"
Heputonehandinthefrontofhisraggedjacketandpointedproudlywiththeother.
Bythistimethegas-baghadswollentoagoodlyrotundityandwasjerkingstronglyuponitslashings.
"Midsummermadness!"snortedSummerlee.
LordJohnwasdelightedwiththewholeidea."Cleverolddear,ain’the?"hewhisperedtome,andthenloudertoChallenger."Whataboutacar?"
"Thecarwillbemynextcare.Ihavealreadyplannedhowitistobemadeandattached.MeanwhileIwillsimplyshowyouhowcapablemyapparatusisofsupportingtheweightofeachofus."
"Allofus,surely?"
"No,itispartofmyplanthateachinturnshalldescendasinaparachute,andtheballoonbedrawnbackbymeanswhichIshallhavenodifficultyinperfecting.Ifitwillsupporttheweightofoneandlethimgentlydown,itwillhavedoneallthatisrequiredofit.Iwillnowshowyouitscapacityinthatdirection."
Hebroughtoutalumpofbasaltofaconsiderablesize,constructedinthemiddlesothatacordcouldbeeasilyattachedtoit.Thiscordwastheonewhichwehadbroughtwithusontotheplateauafterwehaduseditforclimbingthepinnacle.Itwasoverahundredfeetlong,andthoughitwasthinitwasverystrong.
