[00:00.74]Chapter 3.
[00:03.41]Into the Unknown.
[00:08.07]The next day we left Manaus.
[00:12.49]First we travelled along the Amazon by steamship.
[00:18.71]Then we hired a canoe from a village.
[00:24.68]We packed it with all our stores.
[00:30.72]Then we set off again with two men from the village paddling.
[00:38.12]Now, I thought, we are really setting out into the unknown.
[00:49.08]We turned off the wide river onto a smaller stream.
[00:55.90]It was hard going.
[01:00.20]Every time we met rapids, we had to carry the canoe through the forest to calmer water.
[01:11.08]Great trees met high over our heads, almost shutting out the sun.
[01:19.38]Plants writhed and twisted upwards, trying to catch its rays.
[01:28.54]From the dark bushes on the banks, we heard scuttlings, rustlings.
[01:39.20]Once, I saw the flash of golden eyes.
[01:46.91]It was the creepiest place, but the two professors didn't seem to notice.
[01:57.11]They were too busy squabbling like children.
[02:02.93]They couldn't agree about anything.
[02:10.75]In the distance, we heard a throbbing beat.
[02:19.25]War drums, says Lord John carelessly.
[02:24.65]I've heard them before.
[02:31.97]The sound made my skin crawl.
[02:36.86]We will kill you if we can, they seemed to be saying, we will kill you if we can.
[02:51.24]Our two paddlers listened and shook with fear.
[02:58.88]But were the professors scared by that sinister sound?
[03:06.69]Not a bit of it.
[03:09.54]They only quarreled harder.
[03:17.86]Those are the drums of the Marana people, snarled Summerly.
[03:25.88]I disagree, sir, said Challenger pompously.
[03:32.99]Any fool knows that is the Amowaka tribe.
[03:41.75]On the third day, the stream narrowed to a trickle.
[03:48.89]Our canoe couldn't go any further.
[03:54.05]We left it behind, and carrying our stores on our backs, the six of us began trekking into the wilderness.
[04:06.66]We are about nine days walk from the plateau, declared Challenger.
[04:14.74]Summerly never missed the chance to get in a jibe.
[04:22.77]If it exists, he said with his bitter smile.
[04:32.27]We struggled on, sometimes sinking in boggy swamps.
[04:39.93]Sometimes hacking our way through jungle.
[04:45.95]All the way, we were plagued by clouds of biting, stinging insects.
[04:55.87]I saw the two village men muttering together.
[05:01.38]They had had enough, it seemed, of wading through bogs with two feuding boffins.
[05:12.22]I thought, are they planning to run away?
[05:18.80]If they did, who could blame them?
[05:25.66]But they stayed, perhaps out of fear of that great bellowing bully, Challenger.
[05:39.21]On the ninth day, snakes came writhing towards us from a stinking swamp, hundreds of them, their necks swaying above the reeds.
[05:53.28]Run!" cried Lord John.
[05:59.54]We ran until we sank down, gasping for breath.
[06:06.67]Finally, I lifted my head and saw that Challenger's great bull head was already lifted.
[06:20.15]He was staring at something.
[06:24.91]About a mile away was a long line of high red cliffs.
[06:33.50]There it is, bellowed Challenger.
[06:38.76]We have reached the plateau.
[06:44.95]He threw a look of triumph at Summerly.
[06:49.53]I told you.
[06:55.10]We camped that night under those plateau walls.
[07:00.89]Lord John had shot a rabbit for dinner, and it was roasting on our fire.
[07:11.39]The cliffs rose sheer and tall above us.
[07:17.55]They were impossible to climb.
[07:22.74]We could see trees on top, but no signs of life at all.
[07:32.32]So where are the prehistoric creatures?" jeered Summerly.
[07:41.19]Even though we'd reached the plateau, he was as stubborn as ever.
[07:49.26]He still refused to believe the professor's story.
[07:55.54]Challenger pointed out a tall pyramid of rock, like a church spire.
[08:05.10]It was as high as the cliffs, but stood on its own, 10 meters away from the plateau.
[08:16.17]On its top was a great spreading tree.
[08:23.35]That was where I photographed the terradactyl, he said.
[08:31.55]It was perched on that very tree.
[08:37.56]Fiddlesticks!" murmured Professor Summerly.
[08:47.25]Suddenly, something swooped out of the starry sky.
[08:55.21]We heard the swish of leathery wings.
[09:00.87]Look out!" cried Lord John as he ducked down.
[09:11.98]I glimpsed a long snake-like neck, fierce red eyes, and a great snapping beak.
[09:22.40]Then it was gone.
[09:26.40]And so was our dinner.
[09:31.50]A huge flapping shadow rose into the air with the rabbit.
[09:39.37]For a moment, its monster wings blotted out the moon.
[09:47.25]Then it vanished over the cliff top above us.
[09:54.88]It was all over in a flash.
[10:01.23]We sat there in stunned silence.
[10:09.72]Then came Lord John's voice, as cool and quiet as ever.
[10:17.83]I knew we would see wonders, he said.
[10:25.84]But did you see its teeth?" I spluttered.
[10:31.79]The beak had teeth in it, rows of them, razor sharp.
[10:40.89]That was a terradactyl, I'd bet on it.
[10:52.84]At last, Professor Summerly spoke.
[10:58.43]His voice wasn't sneering this time.
[11:04.33]It trembled with emotion.
[11:07.52]Professor Challenger, he said.
[11:15.96]I must apologize to you.
[11:22.55]All this time, I have doubted your word.
[11:30.74]I was a fool to do so, for I see now that you were telling the truth.
[11:42.07]Well said," murmured Lord John.
[11:50.69]But would Professor Challenger think the same?
[11:58.06]For once, the great man didn't behave badly.
[12:04.94]He didn't crow or brag, or bellow.
[12:15.08]With great dignity, he told Professor Summerly, I accept your apologies, sir.
[12:29.34]And then, for the first time in their lives, the two old enemies shook hands.