Part 15 (1/2)
It was certainly a brilliant idea The tree was a good sixty feet in height, and if it only fell the right way it would easily cross the chas the camp axe over his shoulder when he ascended Now he handed it tofriend has the thews and sinews,” said he ”I think he will be the , however, that you will kindly refrain fro for yourself, and that you will do exactly what you are told”
Under his direction I cut such gashes in the sides of the trees as would ensure that it should fall as we desired It had already a strong, natural tilt in the direction of the plateau, so that the matter was not difficult Finally I set to work in earnest upon the trunk, taking turn and turn with Lord John In a little over an hour there was a loud crack, the tree swayed forward, and then crashed over, burying its branches a the bushes on the farther side The severed trunk rolled to the very edge of our platforht it was over It balanced itself, however, a few inches froe to the unknown
All of us, without a word, shook hands with Professor Challenger, who raised his straw hat and bowed deeply to each in turn
”I claim the honor,” said he, ”to be the first to cross to the unknown land--a fitting subject, no doubt, for so”
He had approached the bridge when Lord John laid his hand upon his coat
”My dear chap,” said he, ”I really cannot allow it”
”Cannot allow it, sir!” The head went back and the beard forward
”When it is a matter of science, don't you know, I follow your lead because you are by way of bein' a man of science But it's up to you to follohen you come into my department”
”Your department, sir?”
”We all have our professions, and soldierin' is mine We are, accordin' to my ideas, invadin' a new country, which e blindly into it for want of a little coearded Challenger tossed his head and shrugged his heavy shoulders
”Well, sir, what do you propose?”
”For all I know therethose very bushes,” said Lord John, looking across the bridge ”It's better to learn wisdoet into a cookin'-pot; so ill content ourselves with hopin' that there is no trouble waitin' for us, and at the sao down again, therefore, and ill fetch up the four rifles, together with Goo across and the rest will cover hiuns, until he sees that it is safe for the whole crowd to coroaned his impatience; but Summerlee and I were of one mind that Lord John was our leader when such practical details were in question The cliled down the face of the worst part of the ascent Within an hour we had brought up the rifles and a shot-gun
The half-breeds had ascended also, and under Lord John's orders they had carried up a bale of provisions in case our first exploration should be a long one We had each bandoliers of cartridges
”Now, Challenger, if you really insist upon being the first man in,”
said Lord John, when every preparation was coracious perry Professor; for never was a ood enough to allow it, I shall most certainly take it uponhi the abyss on each side, and his hatchet slung upon his back, Challenger hopped his way across the trunk and was soon at the other side He clambered up and waved his arazed anxiously at hiue expectation that soreen behind hie, many-colored bird flew up fro the trees
Suy is wonderful in so frail a fra upon his back, so that both Professors were armed when he had made his transit I caulf over which I was passing Summerlee held out the butt-end of his rifle, and an instant later I was able to grasp his hand As to Lord John, he walked across--actually walked without support! He must have nerves of iron
And there ere, the four of us, upon the dreamland, the lost world, of Maple White To all of us it seeuessed that it was the prelude to our supre blow fell upon us
We had turned away froe, and had penetrated about fifty yards of close brushwood, when there ca crash from behind us With one impulse we rushed back the way that we had coone!
Far down at the base of the cliff I saw, as I looked over, a tangled mass of branches and splintered trunk It was our beech tree Had the edge of the platforh? For a moment this explanation was in all our minds The next, from the farther side of the rocky pinnacle before us a swarthy face, the face of Gomez the half-breed, was slowly protruded Yes, it was Goer the Gomez of the demure smile and theeyes and distorted features, a face convulsed with hatred and with the e
”Lord Roxton!” he shouted ”Lord John Roxton!”
”Well,” said our cohter calish dog, and there you will remain! I have waited and waited, and now has coet up; you will find it harder to get down You cursed fools, you are trapped, every one of you!”