Затерянный мир
It’s Just the very Biggest Thing in the World
"SofarasIamajudgethishumanboneistheanalogueoftheonewhichyouholdinyourhand.Thatwillgiveyousomeideaofthesizeofthecreature.Youwillobservefromthecartilagethatthisisnofossilspecimen,butrecent.Whatdoyousaytothat?"
"Surelyinanelephant——"
Hewincedasifinpain.
"Don’t!Don’ttalkofelephantsinSouthAmerica.EveninthesedaysofBoardschools——"
"Well,"Iinterrupted,"anylargeSouthAmericananimal—atapir,forexample."
"Youmaytakeit,youngman,thatIamversedintheelementsofmybusiness.Thisisnotaconceivableboneeitherofatapirorofanyothercreatureknowntozoology.Itbelongstoaverylarge,averystrong,and,byallanalogy,averyfierceanimalwhichexistsuponthefaceoftheearth,buthasnotyetcomeunderthenoticeofscience.Youarestillunconvinced?"
"Iamatleastdeeplyinterested."
"Thenyourcaseisnothopeless.Ifeelthatthereisreasonlurkinginyousomewhere,sowewillpatientlygroperoundforit.WewillnowleavethedeadAmericanandproceedwithmynarrative.YoucanimaginethatIcouldhardlycomeawayfromtheAmazonwithoutprobingdeeperintothematter.
