Загублений світ
A Sight which I shall Never Forget
‘Withtheirriflesgraspedintheirstiffenedhands,midaringofthedeadanddyin’,’assomefatheadsings.Canyouhearthemnow?"
"Veryfaraway."
"Thatlittlelotwilldonogood,butIexpecttheirsearchpartiesarealloverthewood.Well,Iwastellingyoumytaleofwoe.Theygotussoontothistownoftheirs—aboutathousandhutsofbranchesandleavesinagreatgroveoftreesneartheedgeofthecliff.It’sthreeorfourmilesfromhere.Thefilthybeastsfingeredmeallover,andIfeelasifIshouldneverbecleanagain.Theytiedusup—thefellowwhohandledmecouldtielikeabosun—andtherewelaywithourtoesup,beneathatree,whileagreatbrutestoodguardoveruswithaclubinhishand.WhenIsay‘we’ImeanSummerleeandmyself.OldChallengerwasupatree,eatin’pinesandhavin’thetimeofhislife.I’mboundtosaythathemanagedtogetsomefruittous,andwithhisownhandsheloosenedourbonds.Ifyou’dseenhimsittingupinthattreehob-nobbin’withhistwinbrother—andsingin’inthatrollin’bassofhis,‘Ringout,wildbells,’causemusicofanykindseemedtoput’eminagoodhumor,you’dhavesmiled;butweweren’tinmuchmoodforlaughin’,asyoucanguess.Theywereinclined,withinlimits,tolethimdowhatheliked,buttheydrewthelineprettysharplyatus.Itwasamightyconsolationtousalltoknowthatyouwererunnin’looseandhadthearchivesinyourkeepin’.
