Загублений світ
Those Were the Real Conquests
Onegreatregretwehad,andthatwastoleaveouroldcampbehindus,notonlyforthesakeofthestoreswhichremainedthere,butevenmorebecausewewerelosingtouchwithZambo,ourlinkwiththeoutsideworld.However,wehadafairsupplyofcartridgesandallourguns,so,foratimeatleast,wecouldlookafterourselves,andwehopedsoontohaveachanceofreturningandrestoringourcommunicationswithournegro.Hehadfaithfullypromisedtostaywherehewas,andwehadnotadoubtthathewouldbeasgoodashisword.
Itwasintheearlyafternoonthatwestarteduponourjourney.Theyoungchiefwalkedatourheadasourguide,butrefusedindignantlytocarryanyburden.BehindhimcamethetwosurvivingIndianswithourscantypossessionsupontheirbacks.Wefourwhitemenwalkedintherearwithriflesloadedandready.Aswestartedtherebrokefromthethicksilentwoodsbehindusasuddengreatululationoftheape-men,whichmayhavebeenacheeroftriumphatourdepartureorajeerofcontemptatourflight.Lookingbackwesawonlythedensescreenoftrees,butthatlong-drawnyelltoldushowmanyofourenemieslurkedamongthem.Wesawnosignofpursuit,however,andsoonwehadgotintomoreopencountryandbeyondtheirpower.
AsItrampedalong,therearmostofthefour,Icouldnothelpsmilingattheappearanceofmythreecompanionsinfront.
