Острів доктора Моро
The Sayers of the Law.
Inoneplacethreestrange,pink,hoppinganimals,aboutthesizeofcats,boltedbeforemyfootsteps.Thispathwayranuphill,acrossanotheropenspacecoveredwithwhiteincrustation,andplungedintoacanebrakeagain.Thensuddenlyitturnedparallelwiththeedgeofasteep-walledgap,whichcamewithoutwarning,liketheha-haofanEnglishpark,—turnedwithanunexpectedabruptness.Iwasstillrunningwithallmymight,andIneversawthisdropuntilIwasflyingheadlongthroughtheair.
Ifellonmyforearmsandhead,amongthorns,androsewithatornearandbleedingface.Ihadfallenintoaprecipitousravine,rockyandthorny,fullofahazymistwhichdriftedaboutmeinwisps,andwithanarrowstreamletfromwhichthismistcamemeanderingdownthecentre.Iwasastonishedatthisthinfoginthefullblazeofdaylight;butIhadnotimetostandwonderingthen.Iturnedtomyright,down-stream,hopingtocometotheseainthatdirection,andsohavemywayopentodrownmyself.ItwasonlylaterIfoundthatIhaddroppedmynailedstickinmyfall.
Presentlytheravinegrewnarrowerforaspace,andcarelesslyIsteppedintothestream.Ijumpedoutagainprettyquickly,forthewaterwasalmostboiling.Inoticedtootherewasathinsulphurousscumdriftinguponitscoilingwater.Almostimmediatelycameaturnintheravine,andtheindistinctbluehorizon.Thenearerseawasflashingthesunfromamyriadfacets
