Загублений світ
Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders
AswehadnodesiretodrawtheattentionoftheIndianstoourproceedings,westumbledalonginthedarkuntilwehadgoneroundseveralcurvesandpenetratedaconsiderabledistanceintothecavern.Then,atlast,welitourtorches.Itwasabeautifuldrytunnelwithsmoothgraywallscoveredwithnativesymbols,acurvedroofwhicharchedoverourheads,andwhiteglisteningsandbeneathourfeet.Wehurriedeagerlyalongituntil,withadeepgroanofbitterdisappointment,wewerebroughttoahalt.Asheerwallofrockhadappearedbeforeus,withnochinkthroughwhichamousecouldhaveslipped.Therewasnoescapeforusthere.
Westoodwithbitterheartsstaringatthisunexpectedobstacle.Itwasnottheresultofanyconvulsion,asinthecaseoftheascendingtunnel.Theendwallwasexactlylikethesideones.Itwas,andhadalwaysbeen,acul-desac.
"Nevermind,myfriends,"saidtheindomitableChallenger."Youhavestillmyfirmpromiseofaballoon."
Summerleegroaned.
"Canwebeinthewrongcave?"Isuggested.
"Nouse,youngfellah,"saidLordJohn,withhisfingeronthechart."Seventeenfromtherightandsecondfromtheleft.Thisisthecavesureenough."
Ilookedatthemarktowhichhisfingerpointed,andIgaveasuddencryofjoy.
"IbelieveIhaveit!Followme!Followme!"
Ihurriedbackalongthewaywehadcome,mytorchinmyhand."Here,"saidI,pointingtosomematchesupontheground,"iswherewelitup."
"Exactly."
