Загублений світ
It was Dreadful in the Forest
WhatwouldInothavegiventobeabletocrawluptothem,topeepin,andtotakebacksomewordtomycomradesastotheappearanceandcharacteroftheracewholivedinsostrangeaplace!Itwasoutofthequestionforthemoment,andyetsurelywecouldnotleavetheplateauuntilwehadsomedefiniteknowledgeuponthepoint.
LakeGladys—myownlake—laylikeasheetofquicksilverbeforeme,withareflectedmoonshiningbrightlyinthecenterofit.Itwasshallow,forinmanyplacesIsawlowsandbanksprotrudingabovethewater.EverywhereuponthestillsurfaceIcouldseesignsoflife,sometimesmereringsandripplesinthewater,sometimesthegleamofagreatsilver-sidedfishintheair,sometimesthearched,slate-coloredbackofsomepassingmonster.OnceuponayellowsandbankIsawacreaturelikeahugeswan,withaclumsybodyandahigh,flexibleneck,shufflingaboutuponthemargin.Presentlyitplungedin,andforsometimeIcouldseethearchedneckanddartingheadundulatingoverthewater.Thenitdived,andIsawitnomore.
Myattentionwassoondrawnawayfromthesedistantsightsandbroughtbacktowhatwasgoingonatmyveryfeet.Twocreatureslikelargearmadilloshadcomedowntothedrinking-place,andweresquattingattheedgeofthewater,theirlong,flexibletongueslikeredribbonsshootinginandoutastheylapped.
