Загублений світ
For once I was the Hero
"Theink-potsofcivilization,sir.Itisourtasktoputonrecordwhatwehaveseen,andtoleavethefurtherexplorationtoothers.YouallagreedasmuchbeforeMr.Malonegotusthechart."
"Well,"saidChallenger,"IadmitthatmymindwillbemoreateasewhenIamassuredthattheresultofourexpeditionhasbeenconveyedtoourfriends.HowwearetogetdownfromthisplaceIhavenotasyetanidea.Ihaveneveryetencounteredanyproblem,however,whichmyinventivebrainwasunabletosolve,andIpromiseyouthattomorrowIwillturnmyattentiontothequestionofourdescent."Andsothematterwasallowedtorest.
Butthatevening,bythelightofthefireandofasinglecandle,thefirstmapofthelostworldwaselaborated.EverydetailwhichIhadroughlynotedfrommywatch-towerwasdrawnoutinitsrelativeplace.Challenger’spencilhoveredoverthegreatblankwhichmarkedthelake.
"Whatshallwecallit?"heasked.
"Whyshouldyounottakethechanceofperpetuatingyourownname?"saidSummerlee,withhisusualtouchofacidity.
"Itrust,sir,thatmynamewillhaveotherandmorepersonalclaimsuponposterity,"saidChallenger,severely."Anyignoramuscanhanddownhisworthlessmemorybyimposingituponamountainorariver.Ineednosuchmonument."
Summerlee,withatwistedsmile,wasabouttomakesomefreshassaultwhenLordJohnhastenedtointervene.
"It’suptoyou,youngfellah,tonamethelake,"saidhe
