The Land That Time Forgot · Part I · Chapter 1 9 (2/2)

At last I came to the great barrier-cliffs; and after three days of mad effort⁠—of maniacal effort⁠—I scaled them. I built crude ladders; I wedged sticks in narrow fissures; I chopped toeholds and finger-holds with my long knife; but at last I scaled them. Near the summit I came upon a huge cavern. It is the abode of some mighty winged creature of the Triassic⁠—or rather it was. Now it is mine. I slew the thing and took its abode. I reached the summit and looked out upon the broad gray terrible Pacific of the far-southern winter. It was cold up there. It is cold here today; yet here I sit watching, watching, watching for the thing I know will never come⁠—for a sail.