Затерянный мир
The Outlying Pickets of the New World
Sotherethematterstands.Arewereallyjustattheedgeoftheunknown,encounteringtheoutlyingpicketsofthislostworldofwhichourleaderspeaks?IgiveyoutheincidentasitoccurredandyouwillknowasmuchasIdo.Itstandsalone,forwesawnothingmorewhichcouldbecalledremarkable.
Andnow,myreaders,ifeverIhaveany,Ihavebroughtyouupthebroadriver,andthroughthescreenofrushes,anddownthegreentunnel,andupthelongslopeofpalmtrees,andthroughthebamboobrake,andacrosstheplainoftree-ferns.Atlastourdestinationlayinfullsightofus.Whenwehadcrossedthesecondridgewesawbeforeusanirregular,palm-studdedplain,andthenthelineofhighredcliffswhichIhaveseeninthepicture.Thereitlies,evenasIwrite,andtherecanbenoquestionthatitisthesame.Atthenearestpointitisaboutsevenmilesfromourpresentcamp,anditcurvesaway,stretchingasfarasIcansee.Challengerstrutsaboutlikeaprizepeacock,andSummerleeissilent,butstillsceptical.Anotherdayshouldbringsomeofourdoubtstoanend.Meanwhile,asJose,whosearmwaspiercedbyabrokenbamboo,insistsuponreturning,Isendthisletterbackinhischarge,andonlyhopethatitmayeventuallycometohand.Iwillwriteagainastheoccasionserves.Ihaveenclosedwiththisaroughchartofourjourney,whichmayhavetheeffectofmakingtheaccountrathereasiertounderstand.
