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Chapter 9. A Lost Continent

           Frombetweentheirstonykneestreessprang,likeajetunderheavypressure,andupheldotherswhichupheldthem.Naturaltowers,largescarps,cutperpendicularly,likea"curtain,"inclinedatananglewhichthelawsofgravitationcouldneverhavetoleratedinterrestrialregions.

           TwohoursafterquittingtheNautiluswehadcrossedthelineoftrees,andahundredfeetaboveourheadsrosethetopofthemountain,whichcastashadowonthebrilliantirradiationoftheoppositeslope.Somepetrifiedshrubsranfantasticallyhereandthere.Fishesgotupunderourfeetlikebirdsinthelonggrass.Themassiverockswererentwithimpenetrablefractures,deepgrottos,andunfathomableholes,atthebottomofwhichformidablecreaturesmightbeheardmoving.MybloodcurdledwhenIsawenormousantennaeblockingmyroad,orsomefrightfulclawclosingwithanoiseintheshadowofsomecavity.Millionsofluminousspotsshonebrightlyinthemidstofthedarkness.Theyweretheeyesofgiantcrustaceacrouchedintheirholes;giantlobsterssettingthemselvesuplikehalberdiers,andmovingtheirclawswiththeclickingsoundofpincers;titaniccrabs,pointedlikeagunonitscarriage;andfrightful-lookingpoulps,interweavingtheirtentacleslikealivingnestofserpents.

           Wehadnowarrivedonthefirstplatform,whereothersurprisesawaitedme.Beforeuslaysomepicturesqueruins,whichbetrayedthehandofmanandnotthatoftheCreator.Therewerevastheapsofstone,amongstwhichmightbetracedthevagueandshadowyformsofcastlesandtemples,clothedwithaworldofblossomingzoophytes,andoverwhich,insteadofivy,sea-weedandfucusthrewathickvegetablemantle.Butwhatwasthisportionoftheglobewhichhadbeenswallowedbycataclysms?

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