Загублений світ

To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown

           InourowncasetheexcellentenginesoftheEsmeraldacoulddisregardthesluggishflowofthestream,andwemadeasrapidprogressasifwewerenavigatingastagnantlake.Forthreedayswesteamednorth-westwardsupastreamwhichevenhere,athousandmilesfromitsmouth,wasstillsoenormousthatfromitscenterthetwobanksweremereshadowsuponthedistantskyline.OnthefourthdayafterleavingManaosweturnedintoatributarywhichatitsmouthwaslittlesmallerthanthemainstream.Itnarrowedrapidly,however,andaftertwomoredays’steamingwereachedanIndianvillage,wheretheProfessorinsistedthatweshouldland,andthattheEsmeraldashouldbesentbacktoManaos.Weshouldsooncomeuponrapids,heexplained,whichwouldmakeitsfurtheruseimpossible.Headdedprivatelythatwewerenowapproachingthedooroftheunknowncountry,andthatthefewerwhomwetookintoourconfidencethebetteritwouldbe.Tothisendalsohemadeeachofusgiveourwordofhonorthatwewouldpublishorsaynothingwhichwouldgiveanyexactclueastothewhereaboutsofourtravels,whiletheservantswereallsolemnlysworntothesameeffect.ItisforthisreasonthatIamcompelledtobevagueinmynarrative,andIwouldwarnmyreadersthatinanymapordiagramwhichImaygivetherelationofplacestoeachothermaybecorrect,butthepointsofthecompassarecarefullyconfused,sothatinnowaycanitbetakenasanactualguidetothecountry.ProfessorChallenger’sreasonsforsecrecymaybevalidornot,butwehadnochoicebuttoadoptthem,forhewaspreparedtoabandonthewholeexpeditionratherthanmodifytheconditionsuponwhichhewouldguideus.

           ItwasAugust2ndwhenwesnappedourlastlinkwiththeouterworldbybiddingfarewelltotheEsmeralda.

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