Загублений світ
It was Dreadful in the Forest
HowdidIknowthathewasnotlurkinginthenearestclumpofbushes,waitingformyreappearance?Itookheart,however,asIrecalledaconversationbetweenChallengerandSummerleeuponthehabitsofthegreatsaurians.Bothwereagreedthatthemonsterswerepracticallybrainless,thattherewasnoroomforreasonintheirtinycranialcavities,andthatiftheyhavedisappearedfromtherestoftheworlditwasassuredlyonaccountoftheirownstupidity,whichmadeitimpossibleforthemtoadaptthemselvestochangingconditions.
Tolieinwaitformenowwouldmeanthatthecreaturehadappreciatedwhathadhappenedtome,andthisinturnwouldarguesomepowerconnectingcauseandeffect.Surelyitwasmorelikelythatabrainlesscreature,actingsolelybyvaguepredatoryinstinct,wouldgiveupthechasewhenIdisappeared,and,afterapauseofastonishment,wouldwanderawayinsearchofsomeotherprey?Iclamberedtotheedgeofthepitandlookedover.Thestarswerefading,theskywaswhitening,andthecoldwindofmorningblewpleasantlyuponmyface.Icouldseeorhearnothingofmyenemy.SlowlyIclimbedoutandsatforawhileupontheground,readytospringbackintomyrefugeifanydangershouldappear.Then,reassuredbytheabsolutestillnessandbythegrowinglight,ItookmycourageinbothhandsandstolebackalongthepathwhichIhadcome.SomedistancedownitIpickedupmygun,andshortlyafterwardsstruckthebrookwhichwasmyguide.
