Загублений світ
Who could have Foreseen it?
"Verygood,sarr!Ipromisetheywaittilltomorrow,"saidthenegro."ButwhatIdoforyounow?"
Therewasplentyforhimtodo,andadmirablythefaithfulfellowdidit.Firstofall,underourdirections,heundidtheropefromthetree-stumpandthrewoneendofitacrosstous.Itwasnotthickerthanaclothes-line,butitwasofgreatstrength,andthoughwecouldnotmakeabridgeofit,wemightwellfinditinvaluableifwehadanyclimbingtodo.Hethenfastenedhisendoftheropetothepackageofsupplieswhichhadbeencarriedup,andwewereabletodragitacross.Thisgaveusthemeansoflifeforatleastaweek,evenifwefoundnothingelse.Finallyhedescendedandcarrieduptwootherpacketsofmixedgoods—aboxofammunitionandanumberofotherthings,allofwhichwegotacrossbythrowingourropetohimandhaulingitback.Itwaseveningwhenheatlastclimbeddown,withafinalassurancethathewouldkeeptheIndianstillnextmorning.
AndsoitisthatIhavespentnearlythewholeofthisourfirstnightupontheplateauwritingupourexperiencesbythelightofasinglecandle-lantern.
Wesuppedandcampedattheveryedgeofthecliff,quenchingourthirstwithtwobottlesofApollinariswhichwereinoneofthecases.Itisvitaltoustofindwater,butIthinkevenLordJohnhimselfhadhadadventuresenoughforoneday,andnoneofusfeltinclinedtomakethefirstpushintotheunknown.Weforboretolightafireortomakeanyunnecessarysound
