the lost continent(消失的大陆)-第10节
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Gone！ All gone！ Only silence and desolation reigned where once
the commerce of the world had centered。
I could not help but compare this once great water…way with the waters
about our New York； or Rio； or San Diego； or Valparaiso。 They had
become what they are today during the two centuries of the profound
peace which we of the navy have been prone to deplore。 And what；
during this same period； had shorn the waters of the Thames of their
pristine grandeur？
Militarist that I am； I could find but a single word of explanationwar！
I bowed my head and turned my eyes downward from the lonely and
depressing sight； and in a silence which none of us seemed willing to
break； we proceeded up the deserted river。
We had reached a point which； from my map； I imagined must have
been about the former site of Erith； when I discovered a small band of
antelope a short distance inland。 As we were now entirely out of meat
once more； and as I had given up all expectations of finding a city upon
the site of ancient London； I determined to land and bag a couple of the
animals。
Assured that they would be timid and easily frightened； I decided to
stalk them alone； telling the men to wait at the boat until I called to them
to come and carry the carcasses back to the shore。
Crawling carefully through the vegetation； making use of such trees
and bushes as afforded shelter； I came at last almost within easy range of
my quarry； when the antlered head of the buck went suddenly into the air；
and then； as though in accordance with a prearranged signal； the whole
band moved slowly off； farther inland。
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As their pace was leisurely； I determined to follow them until I came
again within range； as I was sure that they would stop and feed in a short
time。
They must have led me a mile or more at least before they again halted
and commenced to browse upon the rank； luxuriant grasses。 All the time
that I had followed them I had kept both eyes and ears alert for sign or
sound that would indicate the presence of Felis tigris； but so far not the
slightest indication of the beast had been apparent。
As I crept closer to the antelope； sure this time of a good shot at a large
buck； I suddenly saw something that caused me to forget all about my prey
in wonderment。
It was the figure of an immense grey…black creature； rearing its
colossal shoulders twelve or fourteen feet above the ground。 Never in
my life had I seen such a beast； nor did I at first recognize it； so different
in appearance is the live reality from the stuffed； unnatural specimens
preserved to us in our museums。
But presently I guessed the identity of the mighty creature as Elephas
africanus； or； as the ancients commonly described it； African elephant。
The antelope； although in plain view of the huge beast； paid not the
slightest attention to it； and I was so wrapped up in watching the mighty
pachyderm that I quite forgot to shoot at the buck and presently； and in
quite a startling manner； it became impossible to do so。
The elephant was browsing upon the young and tender shoots of some
low bushes； waving his great ears and switching his short tail。 The
antelope； scarce twenty paces from him； continued their feeding； when
suddenly； from close beside the latter； there came a most terrifying roar；
and I saw a great； tawny body shoot； from the concealing verdure beyond
the antelope； full upon the back of a small buck。
Instantly the scene changed from one of quiet and peace to
indescribable chaos。 The startled and terrified buck uttered cries of
agony。 His fellows broke and leaped off in all directions。 The elephant
raised his trunk； and； trumpeting loudly； lumbered off through the wood；
crushing down small trees and trampling bushes in his mad flight。
Growling horribly； a huge lion stood across the body of his preysuch
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a creature as no Pan…American of the twenty… second century had ever
beheld until my eyes rested upon this lordly specimen of 〃the king of
beasts。〃 But what a different creature was this fierce…eyed demon；
palpitating with life and vigor； glossy of coat； alert； growling； magnificent；
from the dingy； moth…eaten replicas beneath their glass cases in the stuffy
halls of our public museums。
I had never hoped or expected to see a living lion； tiger； or elephant
using the common terms that were familiar to the ancients； since they
seem to me less unwieldy than those now in general use among usand so
it was with sentiments not unmixed with awe that I stood gazing at this
regal beast as； above the carcass of his kill； he roared out his challenge to
the world。
So enthralled was I by the spectacle that I quite forgot myself； and the
better to view him； the great lion； I had risen to my feet and stood； not fifty
paces from him； in full view。
For a moment he did not see me； his attention being directed toward
the retreating elephant； and I had ample time to feast my eyes upon his
splendid proportions； his great head； and his thick black mane。
Ah； what thoughts passed through my mind in those brief moments as
I stood there in rapt fascination！ I had come to find a wondrous
civilization； and instead I found a wild… beast monarch of the realm where
English kings had ruled。 A lion reigned； undisturbed； within a few miles
of the seat of one of the greatest governments the world has ever known；
his domain a howling wilderness； where yesterday fell the shadows of the
largest city in the world。
It was appalling； but my reflections upon this depressing subject were
doomed to sudden extinction。 The lion had discovered me。
For an instant he stood silent and motionless as one of the mangy
effigies at home； but only for an instant。 Then； with a most ferocious
roar； and without the slightest hesitancy or warning； he charged upon me。
He forsook the prey already dead beneath him for the pleasures of the
delectable tidbit； man。 From the remorselessness with which the great
Carnivora of modern England hunted man； I am constrained to believe that；
whatever their appetites in times past； they have cultivated a gruesome
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taste for human flesh。
As I threw my rifle to my shoulder； I thanked God； the ancient God of
my ancestors； that I had replaced the hard… jacketed bullets in my weapon
with soft…nosed projectiles； for though this was my first experience with
Felis leo； I knew the moment that I faced that charge that even my
wonderfully perfected firearm would be as futile as a peashooter unless I
chanced to place my first bullet in a vital spot。
Unless you had seen it you could not believe credible the speed of a
charging lion。 Apparently the animal is not built for speed； nor can he
maintain it for long。 But for a matter of forty or fifty yards there is； I
believe； no animal on earth that can overtake him。
Like a bolt he bore down upon me； but； fortunately for me； I did not
lose my head。 I guessed that no bullet would kill him instantly。 I
doubted that I could pierce his skull。 There was hope； though； in finding
his heart through his exposed chest； or； better yet； of breaking his shoulder
or foreleg； and bringing him up long enough to pump more bullets into
him and finish him。
I covered his left shoulder and pulled the trigger as he was almost
upon me。 It stopped him。 With a terrific howl of pain and rage； the
brute rolled over and over upon the ground almost to my feet。 As he
came I pumped two more bullets into him； and as he struggled to rise；
