Загублений світ
The most Wonderful Things have Happened
Afterafewhundredyardsofthickforest,containingmanytreeswhichwerequiteunknowntome,butwhichSummerlee,whowasthebotanistoftheparty,recognizedasformsofconiferaandofcycadaceousplantswhichhavelongpassedawayintheworldbelow,weenteredaregionwherethestreamwidenedoutandformedaconsiderablebog.Highreedsofapeculiartypegrewthicklybeforeus,whichwerepronouncedtobeequisetacea,ormare’s-tails,withtree-fernsscatteredamongstthem,allofthemswayinginabriskwind.SuddenlyLordJohn,whowaswalkingfirst,haltedwithupliftedhand.
"Lookatthis!"saidhe."ByGeorge,thismustbethetrailofthefatherofallbirds!"
Anenormousthree-toedtrackwasimprintedinthesoftmudbeforeus.Thecreature,whateveritwas,hadcrossedtheswampandhadpassedonintotheforest.Weallstoppedtoexaminethatmonstrousspoor.Ifitwereindeedabird—andwhatanimalcouldleavesuchamark?—itsfootwassomuchlargerthananostrich’sthatitsheightuponthesamescalemustbeenormous.LordJohnlookedeagerlyroundhimandslippedtwocartridgesintohiselephant-gun.
"I’llstakemygoodnameasashikarree,"saidhe,"thatthetrackisafreshone.Thecreaturehasnotpassedtenminutes.Lookhowthewaterisstilloozingintothatdeeperprint!ByJove!See,hereisthemarkofalittleone!"
Sureenough,smallertracksofthesamegeneralformwererunningparalleltothelargeones.
