Затерянный мир
The Outlying Pickets of the New World
Itwasindeedawonderfulplace.Havingreachedthespotmarkedbyalineoflight-greenrushes,wepoledouttwocanoesthroughthemforsomehundredsofyards,andeventuallyemergedintoaplacidandshallowstream,runningclearandtransparentoverasandybottom.Itmayhavebeentwentyyardsacross,andwasbankedinoneachsidebymostluxuriantvegetation.Noonewhohadnotobservedthatforashortdistancereedshadtakentheplaceofshrubs,couldpossiblyhaveguessedtheexistenceofsuchastreamordreamedofthefairylandbeyond.
Forafairylanditwas—themostwonderfulthattheimaginationofmancouldconceive.Thethickvegetationmetoverhead,interlacingintoanaturalpergola,andthroughthistunnelofverdureinagoldentwilightflowedthegreen,pellucidriver,beautifulinitself,butmarvelousfromthestrangetintsthrownbythevividlightfromabovefilteredandtemperedinitsfall.Clearascrystal,motionlessasasheetofglass,greenastheedgeofaniceberg,itstretchedinfrontofusunderitsleafyarchway,everystrokeofourpaddlessendingathousandripplesacrossitsshiningsurface.Itwasafittingavenuetoalandofwonders.AllsignoftheIndianshadpassedaway,butanimallifewasmorefrequent,andthetamenessofthecreaturesshowedthattheyknewnothingofthehunter.Fuzzylittleblack-velvetmonkeys,withsnow-whiteteethandgleaming,mockingeyes,chatteredatusaswepassed.Withadull,heavysplashanoccasionalcaymanplungedinfromthebank.Onceadark,clumsytapirstaredatusfromagapinthebushes,andthenlumberedawaythroughtheforest;once,too,theyellow,sinuousformofagreatpumawhiskedamidthebrushwood,anditsgreen,balefuleyesglaredhatredatusoveritstawnyshoulder.Birdlifewasabundant,especiallythewadingbirds,stork,heron,andibisgatheringinlittlegroups,blue,scarlet,andwhite,uponeverylogwhichjuttedfromthebank,whilebeneathusthecrystalwaterwasalivewithfishofeveryshapeandcolor.
