Загублений світ
Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders
Ineveryotherwaytheywereourfriends—onemightalmostsayourdevotedslaves—butwhenitwassuggestedthattheyshouldhelpustomakeandcarryaplankwhichwouldbridgethechasm,orwhenwewishedtogetfromthemthongsofleatherorlianatoweaveropeswhichmighthelpus,weweremetbyagood-humored,butaninvincible,refusal.Theywouldsmile,twinkletheireyes,shaketheirheads,andtherewastheendofit.Eventheoldchiefmetuswiththesameobstinatedenial,anditwasonlyMaretas,theyoungsterwhomwehadsaved,wholookedwistfullyatusandtoldusbyhisgesturesthathewasgrievedforourthwartedwishes.Eversincetheircrowningtriumphwiththeape-mentheylookeduponusassupermen,whoborevictoryinthetubesofstrangeweapons,andtheybelievedthatsolongasweremainedwiththemgoodfortunewouldbetheirs.Alittlered-skinnedwifeandacaveofourownwerefreelyofferedtoeachofusifwewouldbutforgetourownpeopleanddwellforeverupontheplateau.Sofarallhadbeenkindly,howeverfarapartourdesiresmightbe;butwefeltwellassuredthatouractualplansofadescentmustbekeptsecret,forwehadreasontofearthatatthelasttheymighttrytoholdusbyforce.
Inspiteofthedangerfromdinosaurs(whichisnotgreatsaveatnight,for,asImayhavesaidbefore,theyaremostlynocturnalintheirhabits)Ihavetwiceinthelastthreeweeksbeenovertoouroldcampinordertoseeournegrowhostillkeptwatchandwardbelowthecliff.
