Затерянный мир
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.
