Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Jungle Toll
Inanotherhalfhourhewasprogressingrapidly,and,butforanexceptionalwordnowandagain,hefounditveryplainsailing.
Hereiswhatheread:
WESTCOASTOFAFRICA,
ABOUT10DEGREESSOUTHLATITUDE.(SoMr.ClaytonSays.)
February3(?),1909.
DEARESTHAZEL:
Itseemsfoolishtowriteyoualetterthatyoumayneversee,butIsimplymusttellsomebodyofourawfulexperiencessincewesailedfromEuropeontheill-fatedArrow.
Ifweneverreturntocivilization,asnowseemsonlytoolikely,thiswillatleastproveabriefrecordoftheeventswhichleduptoourfinalfate,whateveritmaybe.
Asyouknow,weweresupposedtohavesetoutuponascientificexpeditiontotheCongo.Papawaspresumedtoentertainsomewondroustheoryofanunthinkablyancientcivilization,theremainsofwhichlayburiedsomewhereintheCongovalley.Butafterwewerewellundersailthetruthcameout.
ItseemsthatanoldbookwormwhohasabookandcurioshopinBaltimorediscoveredbetweentheleavesofaveryoldSpanishmanuscriptaletterwrittenin1550detailingtheadventuresofacrewofmutineersofaSpanishgalleonboundfromSpaintoSouthAmericawithavasttreasureof"doubloons"and"piecesofeight,"Isuppose,fortheycertainlysoundweirdandpiraty.