[00:00.57] Chapter two.
[00:03.23] The Expedition Begins.
[00:05.98] The weeks of getting ready for our South American adventure made me mad with impatience.
[00:13.76] Would we find the professor's lost world with its amazing prehistoric creatures?
[00:21.57] Could his story really be true?
[00:27.01] Mr. McArdle didn't think so.
[00:31.86] Young man, he said, shaking his head.
[00:38.40] I hope you're not risking your life for nothing.
[00:44.99] At last, the great day arrived.
[00:49.24] Myself, Lord Roxton, and Professor Summerly were about to board the ship that would take us to South America.
[01:01.12] Suddenly, we heard a familiar roaring voice.
[01:08.23] Hey, you there, Wait!
[01:12.78] A figure came lumbering up like a bad tempered bear.
[01:19.27] It was Professor Challenger.
[01:23.45] He thrust a letter into Summerly's hands.
[01:28.86] There's a town on the Amazon called Manaus, he told us in his usual rude, abrupt way.
[01:39.63] When you get there, you will open this envelope.
[01:44.63] In it are my directions for finding the plateau.
[01:50.30] The three of us stood by the gangplank.
[01:54.70] Would Professor Challenger shake our hands or wish us good luck, or even thank us for going to test the truth of his story?
[02:06.36] There was no chance of that.
[02:12.46] Instead, he roared out more orders.
[02:19.94] Mind you open that envelope at Manaus, but not before the date and time written on the outside.
[02:30.72] That man is insufferable, muttered Professor Summerly.
[02:39.58] I won't bore you with our journey to Manaus.
[02:44.51] It took many weeks across the Atlantic Ocean, and then by riverboat up the Amazon.
[02:54.38] At least I had plenty of time to get to know my companions.
[03:01.31] Professor Summerly was a tall, stringy fellow.
[03:07.92] He had a stern, sarcastic manner.
[03:13.36] He was a dry old stick, but surprisingly tough.
[03:19.79] He never once complained or seemed to get tired.
[03:27.64] Like Mr. McArdle, he thought we were on a wild goose chase.
[03:33.49] He didn't believe for a second that the lost world existed.
[03:41.54] I shall take great satisfaction, he told us with his bitter smile, in proving Professor Challenger a cheat and a liar.
[03:54.15] Lord John Roxton didn't agree.
[03:58.70] He'd already traveled a great deal around the Amazon.
[04:05.98] When he talked of it, his quiet manner changed.
[04:11.60] His cold blue eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.
[04:17.70] I love the place, he told us.
[04:22.94] It's a dangerous, unknown wilderness, but full of wonders.
[04:33.16] I wouldn't be surprised if we did find a lost world.
[04:40.19] He was a man of action, an adventurer.
[04:47.54] If there was going to be trouble, I couldn't think of a better person to stand beside me.
[04:58.65] We arrived in Manaus just before the time to open Professor Challenger's envelope.
[05:09.94] Open on 15th July at 12:00, said Professor Summerly, reading the instructions.
[05:20.78] Well, it's 15th July.
[05:27.49] He checked his watch.
[05:31.43] And now it's 12:00 exactly.
[05:41.14] He opened the envelope and took out a piece of paper.
[05:46.99] He unfolded it and looked on both sides.
[05:52.93] Then he gave a great burst of laughter.
[05:58.97] What is it?
[06:00.97] I asked, startled.
[06:04.78] What does it say?
[06:09.72] See for yourselves, said Professor Summerly.
[06:16.54] He shook the paper at us.
[06:21.42] Why, it's nothing but a blank sheet, said Lord Roxton.
[06:30.04] There were no directions to the plateau.
[06:34.55] Nothing written on the paper at all.
[06:40.79] It proves what I've said all along, said Summerly.
[06:49.08] That Challenger is nothing but a shameless fraud.
[06:55.80] His entire story is an invention.
[07:03.91] At that very moment, a dark shadow fell across the doorway.
[07:11.63] An arrogant voice boomed.
[07:16.62] May I come in?
[07:23.42] Professor Challenger, I gasped.
[07:29.63] He came swaggering in, his hands in his pockets, as if he'd just strolled up the street.
[07:40.67] For once, his great bull head had lost its fierce expression.
[07:47.86] He beamed at us.
[07:51.58] He seemed very pleased with himself.
[07:57.46] What are you doing here? demanded Professor Summerly, in his sternest voice.
[08:05.75] You were supposed to stay in England.
[08:12.70] I've come to take charge of the expedition, of course.
[08:19.55] I shall lead you to the plateau myself.
[08:25.15] We start at dawn tomorrow.
[08:31.43] I told you the man was insufferable, muttered Professor Summerly under his breath.