Отруєний пояс
Chapter III. Submerged
"Thereisahouseonfire,"saidChallengeratlast,pointingtoacolumnofsmokewhichroseabovethetrees."Therewill,Iexpect,bemanysuch—possiblywholecitiesinflames—whenweconsiderhowmanyfolkmayhavedroppedwithlightsintheirhands.Thefactofcombustionisinitselfenoughtoshowthattheproportionofoxygenintheatmosphereisnormalandthatitistheetherwhichisatfault.Ah,thereyouseeanotherblazeonthetopofCrowboroughHill.Itisthegolfclubhouse,orIammistaken.Thereisthechurchclockchimingthehour.Itwouldinterestourphilosopherstoknowthatman-mademechanismshavesurvivedtheracewhomadeit."
"ByGeorge!"criedLordJohn,risingexcitedlyfromhischair."What’sthatpuffofsmoke?It’satrain."
Weheardtheroarofit,andpresentlyitcameflyingintosight,goingatwhatseemedtometobeaprodigiousspeed.Whenceithadcome,orhowfar,wehadnomeansofknowing.Onlybysomemiracleofluckcouldithavegoneanydistance.Butnowweweretoseetheterrificendofitscareer.Atrainofcoaltrucksstoodmotionlessupontheline.Weheldourbreathastheexpressroaredalongthesametrack.Thecrashwashorrible.Engineandcarriagespiledthemselvesintoahillofsplinteredwoodandtwistediron.Redspurtsofflameflickeredupfromthewreckageuntilitwasallablaze.Forhalfanhourwesatwithhardlyaword,stunnedbythestupendoussight.
"Poor,poorpeople!"criedMrs.Challengeratlast,clingingwithawhimpertoherhusband’sarm.
