Загублений світ
Who could have Foreseen it?
Ishallalwaysrememberaswelookedbackhowfarbehindwecouldseetheheadsandnecksofourhorriblepursuersrisingandfallingamidthereeds.JaracacaSwampwenameditinthemapwhichweareconstructing.
Thecliffsuponthefarthersidehadlosttheirruddytint,beingchocolate-brownincolor;thevegetationwasmorescatteredalongthetopofthem,andtheyhadsunktothreeorfourhundredfeetinheight,butinnoplacedidwefindanypointwheretheycouldbeascended.Ifanything,theyweremoreimpossiblethanatthefirstpointwherewehadmetthem.TheirabsolutesteepnessisindicatedinthephotographwhichItookoverthestonydesert.
"Surely,"saidI,aswediscussedthesituation,"therainmustfinditswaydownsomehow.Thereareboundtobewater-channelsintherocks."
"Ouryoungfriendhasglimpsesoflucidity,"saidProfessorChallenger,pattingmeupontheshoulder.
"Therainmustgosomewhere,"Irepeated.
"Hekeepsafirmgripuponactuality.Theonlydrawbackisthatwehaveconclusivelyprovedbyoculardemonstrationthattherearenowaterchannelsdowntherocks."
"Where,then,doesitgo?"Ipersisted.
"Ithinkitmaybefairlyassumedthatifitdoesnotcomeoutwardsitmustruninwards."
"Thenthereisalakeinthecenter."
"SoIshouldsuppose."
"Itismorethanlikelythatthelakemaybeanoldcrater,"saidSummerlee."Thewholeformationis,ofcourse,highlyvolcanic.
