Загублений світ
Who could have Foreseen it?
Infivemileswesawnoriftorbreak.Andthensuddenlyweperceivedsomethingwhichfilleduswithnewhope.Inahollowoftherock,protectedfromrain,therewasdrawnarougharrowinchalk,pointingstilltothewestwards.
"MapleWhiteagain,"saidProfessorChallenger."Hehadsomepresentimentthatworthyfootstepswouldfollowclosebehindhim."
"Hehadchalk,then?"
"AboxofcoloredchalkswasamongtheeffectsIfoundinhisknapsack.Irememberthatthewhiteonewasworntoastump."
"Thatiscertainlygoodevidence,"saidSummerlee."Wecanonlyaccepthisguidanceandfollowontothewestward."
Wehadproceededsomefivemoremileswhenagainwesawawhitearrowupontherocks.Itwasatapointwherethefaceofthecliffwasforthefirsttimesplitintoanarrowcleft.Insidethecleftwasasecondguidancemark,whichpointedrightupitwiththetipsomewhatelevated,asifthespotindicatedwereabovetheleveloftheground.
Itwasasolemnplace,forthewallsweresogiganticandtheslitofblueskysonarrowandsoobscuredbyadoublefringeofverdure,thatonlyadimandshadowylightpenetratedtothebottom.Wehadhadnofoodformanyhours,andwereverywearywiththestonyandirregularjourney,butournervesweretoostrungtoallowustohalt.Weorderedthecamptobepitched,however,and,leavingtheIndianstoarrangeit,wefour,withthetwohalf-breeds,proceededupthenarrowgorge.
