Загублений світ
Those Were the Real Conquests
ItmayseemtoyourashthatevenforsoshortadistanceIshouldquittheshelterofourfriendlythicket,butyouwillrememberthatweweremanymilesfromApe-town,thatsofarasweknewthecreatureshadnotdiscoveredourretreat,andthatinanycasewitharifleinmyhandsIhadnofearofthem.Ihadnotyetlearnedtheircunningortheirstrength.
Icouldhearthemurmurofourbrooksomewhereaheadofme,buttherewasatangleoftreesandbrushwoodbetweenmeandit.Iwasmakingmywaythroughthisatapointwhichwasjustoutofsightofmycompanions,when,underoneofthetrees,Inoticedsomethingredhuddledamongthebushes.AsIapproachedit,IwasshockedtoseethatitwasthedeadbodyofthemissingIndian.Helayuponhisside,hislimbsdrawnup,andhisheadscrewedroundatamostunnaturalangle,sothatheseemedtobelookingstraightoverhisownshoulder.Igaveacrytowarnmyfriendsthatsomethingwasamiss,andrunningforwardsIstoopedoverthebody.Surelymyguardianangelwasverynearmethen,forsomeinstinctoffear,oritmayhavebeensomefaintrustleofleaves,mademeglanceupwards.Outofthethickgreenfoliagewhichhunglowovermyhead,twolongmusculararmscoveredwithreddishhairwereslowlydescending.Anotherinstantandthegreatstealthyhandswouldhavebeenroundmythroat.Isprangbackwards,butquickasIwas,thosehandswerequickerstill.
