,stoppedsuddenlyandpointedexcitedlytotheright.Ashedidsowesaw,atthedistanceofamileorso,somethingwhichappearedtobeahugegraybirdflapslowlyupfromthegroundandskimsmoothlyoff,flyingverylowandstraight,untilitwaslostamongthetree-ferns.
"Didyouseeit?"criedChallenger,inexultation."Summerlee,didyouseeit?"
Hiscolleaguewasstaringatthespotwherethecreaturehaddisappeared.
"Whatdoyouclaimthatitwas?"heasked.
"Tothebestofmybelief,apterodactyl."
Summerleeburstintoderisivelaughter"Apter-fiddlestick!"saidhe."Itwasastork,ifeverIsawone."
Challengerwastoofurioustospeak.Hesimplyswunghispackuponhisbackandcontinueduponhismarch.LordJohncameabreastofme,however,andhisfacewasmoregravethanwashiswont.HehadhisZeissglassesinhishand.
"Ifocuseditbeforeitgotoverthetrees,"saidhe."Iwon'tundertaketosaywhatitwas,butI'llriskmyreputationasasportsmanthatitwasn'tanybirdthateverIclappedeyesoninmylife."
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.