Загублений світ
Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders
Oneafteranothertheywentdown,andtherewerenothalf-a-dozensurvivingbythetimemycompanionandIcouldcometotheirhelp.Butouraidwasoflittleavailandonlyinvolvedusinthesameperil.Attherangeofacoupleofhundredyardsweemptiedourmagazines,firingbulletafterbulletintothebeasts,butwithnomoreeffectthanifwewerepeltingthemwithpelletsofpaper.Theirslowreptiliannaturescarednothingforwounds,andthespringsoftheirlives,withnospecialbraincenterbutscatteredthroughouttheirspinalcords,couldnotbetappedbyanymodernweapons.Themostthatwecoulddowastochecktheirprogressbydistractingtheirattentionwiththeflashandroarofourguns,andsotogiveboththenativesandourselvestimetoreachthestepswhichledtosafety.Butwheretheconicalexplosivebulletsofthetwentiethcenturywereofnoavail,thepoisonedarrowsofthenatives,dippedinthejuiceofstrophanthusandsteepedafterwardsindecayedcarrion,couldsucceed.Sucharrowswereoflittleavailtothehunterwhoattackedthebeast,becausetheiractioninthattorpidcirculationwasslow,andbeforeitspowersfaileditcouldcertainlyovertakeandslayitsassailant.Butnow,asthetwomonstershoundedustotheveryfootofthestairs,adriftofdartscamewhistlingfromeverychinkinthecliffabovethem.
