Затерянный мир
The Outlying Pickets of the New World
AlldayamidthatincessantandmysteriousmenaceourtwoProfessorswatchedeverybirduponthewing,andeveryshrubuponthebank,withmanyasharpwordycontention,whenthesnarlofSummerleecamequickuponthedeepgrowlofChallenger,butwithnomoresenseofdangerandnomorereferencetodrum-beatingIndiansthaniftheywereseatedtogetherinthesmoking-roomoftheRoyalSociety’sClubinSt.James’sStreet.Onceonlydidtheycondescendtodiscussthem.
"MiranhaorAmajuacacannibals,"saidChallenger,jerkinghisthumbtowardsthereverberatingwood.
"Nodoubt,sir,"Summerleeanswered."Likeallsuchtribes,Ishallexpecttofindthemofpoly-syntheticspeechandofMongoliantype."
"Polysyntheticcertainly,"saidChallenger,indulgently."Iamnotawarethatanyothertypeoflanguageexistsinthiscontinent,andIhavenotesofmorethanahundred.TheMongoliantheoryIregardwithdeepsuspicion."
"Ishouldhavethoughtthatevenalimitedknowledgeofcomparativeanatomywouldhavehelpedtoverifyit,"saidSummerlee,bitterly.
Challengerthrustouthisaggressivechinuntilhewasallbeardandhat-rim."Nodoubt,sir,alimitedknowledgewouldhavethateffect.Whenone’sknowledgeisexhaustive,onecomestootherconclusions."Theyglaredateachotherinmutualdefiance,whileallroundrosethedistantwhisper,"Wewillkillyou—wewillkillyouifwecan."
Thatnightwemooredourcanoeswithheavystonesforanchorsinthecenterofthestream,andmadeeverypreparationforapossibleattack.Nothingcame,however,andwiththedawnwepusheduponourway,thedrum-beatingdyingoutbehindus.
