Загублений світ
Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders
"Well,itismarkedasaforkedcave,andinthedarknesswepassedtheforkbeforethetorcheswerelit.Ontherightsideaswegooutweshouldfindthelongerarm."
ItwasasIhadsaid.Wehadnotgonethirtyyardsbeforeagreatblackopeningloomedinthewall.Weturnedintoittofindthatwewereinamuchlargerpassagethanbefore.Alongitwehurriedinbreathlessimpatienceformanyhundredsofyards.Then,suddenly,intheblackdarknessofthearchinfrontofuswesawagleamofdarkredlight.Westaredinamazement.Asheetofsteadyflameseemedtocrossthepassageandtobarourway.Wehastenedtowardsit.Nosound,noheat,nomovementcamefromit,butstillthegreatluminouscurtainglowedbeforeus,silveringallthecaveandturningthesandtopowderedjewels,untilaswedrewcloseritdiscoveredacircularedge.
"Themoon,byGeorge!"criedLordJohn."Wearethrough,boys!Wearethrough!"
Itwasindeedthefullmoonwhichshonestraightdowntheaperturewhichopeneduponthecliffs.Itwasasmallrift,notlargerthanawindow,butitwasenoughforallourpurposes.Aswecranedournecksthroughitwecouldseethatthedescentwasnotaverydifficultone,andthatthelevelgroundwasnoverygreatwaybelowus.Itwasnowonderthatfrombelowwehadnotobservedtheplace,asthecliffscurvedoverheadandanascentatthespotwouldhaveseemedsoimpossibleastodiscouragecloseinspection.
