Загублений світ
A Sight which I shall Never Forget
InfronttherestoodasmallgroupofIndians—little,clean-limbed,redfellows,whoseskinsglowedlikepolishedbronzeinthestrongsunlight.Atall,thinwhitemanwasstandingbesidethem,hisheadbowed,hisarmsfolded,hiswholeattitudeexpressiveofhishorroranddejection.TherewasnomistakingtheangularformofProfessorSummerlee.
Infrontofandaroundthisdejectedgroupofprisonerswereseveralape-men,whowatchedthemcloselyandmadeallescapeimpossible.Then,rightoutfromalltheothersandclosetotheedgeofthecliff,weretwofigures,sostrange,andunderothercircumstancessoludicrous,thattheyabsorbedmyattention.Theonewasourcomrade,ProfessorChallenger.Theremainsofhiscoatstillhunginstripsfromhisshoulders,buthisshirthadbeenalltornout,andhisgreatbeardmergeditselfintheblacktanglewhichcoveredhismightychest.Hehadlosthishat,andhishair,whichhadgrownlonginourwanderings,wasflyinginwilddisorder.AsingledayseemedtohavechangedhimfromthehighestproductofmoderncivilizationtothemostdesperatesavageinSouthAmerica.Besidehimstoodhismaster,thekingoftheape-men.Inallthingshewas,asLordJohnhadsaid,theveryimageofourProfessor,savethathiscoloringwasredinsteadofblack.Thesameshort,broadfigure,thesameheavyshoulders,thesameforwardhangofthearms,thesamebristlingbeardmergingitselfinthehairychest.
