Затерянный мир
To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown
Sincethenfourdayshavepassed,duringwhichwehaveengagedtwolargecanoesfromtheIndians,madeofsolightamaterial(skinsoverabambooframework)thatweshouldbeabletocarrythemroundanyobstacle.Thesewehaveloadedwithalloureffects,andhaveengagedtwoadditionalIndianstohelpusinthenavigation.Iunderstandthattheyaretheverytwo—AtacaandIpetubyname—whoaccompaniedProfessorChallengeruponhispreviousjourney.Theyappearedtobeterrifiedattheprospectofrepeatingit,butthechiefhaspatriarchalpowersinthesecountries,andifthebargainisgoodinhiseyestheclansmanhaslittlechoiceinthematter.
Sotomorrowwedisappearintotheunknown.ThisaccountIamtransmittingdowntheriverbycanoe,anditmaybeourlastwordtothosewhoareinterestedinourfate.Ihave,accordingtoourarrangement,addressedittoyou,mydearMr.McArdle,andIleaveittoyourdiscretiontodelete,alter,ordowhatyoulikewithit.FromtheassuranceofProfessorChallenger’smanner—andinspiteofthecontinuedscepticismofProfessorSummerlee—Ihavenodoubtthatourleaderwillmakegoodhisstatement,andthatwearereallyontheeveofsomemostremarkableexperiences.
