Загублений світ
Who could have Foreseen it?
WithafewblowsfromthemachetesofourIndiansweclearedthespotandwereabletostudythedetailsofthisoldtragedy.Onlyafewshredsofclothescouldstillbedistinguished,butthereweretheremainsofbootsuponthebonyfeet,anditwasveryclearthatthedeadmanwasaEuropean.AgoldwatchbyHudson,ofNewYork,andachainwhichheldastylographicpen,layamongthebones.Therewasalsoasilvercigarette-case,with"J.C.,fromA.E.S.,"uponthelid.Thestateofthemetalseemedtoshowthatthecatastrophehadoccurrednogreattimebefore.
"Whocanhebe?"askedLordJohn."Poordevil!everyboneinhisbodyseemstobebroken."
"Andthebamboogrowsthroughhissmashedribs,"saidSummerlee."Itisafast-growingplant,butitissurelyinconceivablethatthisbodycouldhavebeenherewhilethecanesgrewtobetwentyfeetinlength."
"Astotheman’sidentity,"saidProfessorChallenger,"Ihavenodoubtwhateveruponthatpoint.AsImademywayuptheriverbeforeIreachedyouatthefazendaIinstitutedveryparticularinquiriesaboutMapleWhite.AtParatheyknewnothing.Fortunately,Ihadadefiniteclew,fortherewasaparticularpictureinhissketch-bookwhichshowedhimtakinglunchwithacertainecclesiasticatRosario.
