Chapter I. The Blurring Of Lines

           Itisimperativethatnowatonce,whilethesestupendouseventsarestillclearinmymind,Ishouldsetthemdownwiththatexactnessofdetailwhichtimemayblur.ButevenasIdoso,Iamoverwhelmedbythewonderofthefactthatitshouldbeourlittlegroupofthe"LostWorld"—ProfessorChallenger,ProfessorSummerlee,LordJohnRoxton,andmyself—whohavepassedthroughthisamazingexperience.

           When,someyearsago,IchronicledintheDailyGazetteourepoch-makingjourneyinSouthAmerica,Ilittlethoughtthatitshouldeverfalltomylottotellanevenstrangerpersonalexperience,onewhichisuniqueinallhumanannalsandmuststandoutintherecordsofhistoryasagreatpeakamongthehumblefoothillswhichsurroundit.Theeventitselfwillalwaysbemarvellous,butthecircumstancesthatwefourweretogetheratthetimeofthisextraordinaryepisodecameaboutinamostnaturaland,indeed,inevitablefashion.IwillexplaintheeventswhichleduptoitasshortlyandasclearlyasIcan,thoughIamwellawarethatthefullerthedetailuponsuchasubjectthemorewelcomeitwillbetothereader,forthepubliccuriosityhasbeenandstillisinsatiable.

           ItwasuponFriday,thetwenty-seventhofAugust—adateforevermemorableinthehistoryoftheworld—thatIwentdowntotheofficeofmypaperandaskedforthreedays’leaveofabsencefromMr.McArdle,whostillpresidedoverournewsdepartment.ThegoodoldScotchmanshookhishead,scratchedhisdwindlingfringeofruddyfluff,andfinallyputhisreluctanceintowords.

           "Iwasthinking,Mr.