[adapted]

by
Arthur Conan Doyle

Chapter 1.
Brave People around Us

Mr. Hungerton, Gladys’s father, was kind but very annoying. He talked too much about his own ideas. That evening, he spoke for a long time about money and debts. I listened without interest. He asked what would happen if all debts had to be paid at once. I said I would be ruined. He became angry and left the room.

At last, I was alone with Gladys. I had waited for this moment. I wanted to tell her I loved her, but I felt nervous. She sat calm and beautiful. We were good friends, but nothing more, and I wanted to change that.

Before I could speak, she smiled. “You are going to ask me to marry you, Ned,” she said. “Please don’t. Things are better as they are.”

I was surprised. She said women always know. She did not want to lose our friendship. I told her I wanted more than friendship. I spoke of love. She stood up at once.

“You have spoiled everything,” she said. “I have never felt that.”

I asked why she could not love me. She looked at me kindly.

“It is not your looks,” she said. “It is your character.” I asked what was wrong. She hesitated, then said: “I am in love with someone else.” I was shocked, but she explained it was only an ideal man.

I asked what he was like. She said he might look like me, but he would be stronger and more serious. Most of all, he would be brave. He would face danger and do great things. She admired famous men with bold lives. She wanted to love a man known for his deeds. I said such chances are rare.

“Chances are everywhere,” she said. “A real man makes them. There are brave acts waiting to be done.”

She spoke about a man who flew in a balloon during a storm and became famous. That was the kind of courage she admired. I said I would do something like that for her.

“You should do it because it is in you,” she said.

Then she asked about a mine accident I had written about. I told her I had gone into the mine myself. She was surprised and called it brave, though I said I did it for my work.

She took my hand. “I may be foolish,” she said, “but I want to marry a famous man.”

I felt full of energy. “Then I will become one,” I said.

She smiled and said I had everything I needed. Maybe one day we could speak again. She stopped me and reminded me I was late for work. I left with a strong purpose. I would find a great deed and prove myself. At that time, I did not know how strange that path would be.

Looking back, this moment changed everything. A man must believe that brave acts are possible. Only then will he leave his safe life.

That night, I went to the office of the Daily Gazette. I was only a small reporter, but I had a clear goal. I wanted to do something worthy of Gladys. I was young, in love, and ready to risk everything.

Chapter 2.
Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger

I liked Mr. McArdle, the news editor. He was old and strict, but fair. He spoke to me kindly and said my recent reports were good. I thanked him and asked for a favor. I wanted to go on a special assignment.

“What kind?” he asked.

“Something with danger and adventure,” I said. “The harder, the better.”

He looked surprised. “You want danger?” he said.

“I want to prove myself,” I answered.

He said such missions were rare now. Newspapers did not send young reporters on risky jobs. Only experienced men got those chances. The world was already explored, and there was less room for adventure. Then he paused and smiled. “Maybe I have something,” he said. “You could expose a man who lies. Show people the truth.”

“I will do anything,” I said.

He thought for a moment. “Try Professor Challenger,” he said. I knew the name. He was a famous scientist. I also knew he had once attacked a reporter. McArdle smiled. “You wanted adventure,” he said. I agreed. It was my job.

He gave me some notes about Challenger. The professor was a respected scientist, but also difficult and quick to anger. He had traveled alone to South America and returned with strange stories. He spoke about unknown animals, but people did not believe him. Some thought he lied. Others said his photos were false.

“He refuses to explain clearly,” said McArdle. “And he attacks anyone who questions him.” He told me to meet Challenger and learn the truth.

I left the office and went to my club. I stood outside for some time and thought. I knew it would be hard to speak to such a man. A reporter would not be welcome. Then I had an idea. Challenger cared deeply about science. I could reach him through that.

Inside the club, I met a man named Tarp Henry. He worked for a science journal. I asked him about Challenger.

“He told a strange story about animals in South America,” said Henry. “No one believed him. He became angry and rude. He insulted other scientists. Many people dislike him.”

Henry said Challenger was very intelligent but also difficult and dishonest. I asked about his ideas. Henry said Challenger argued about evolution and had caused trouble at a meeting in Vienna.

Henry took me to his office and showed me a long article about that meeting. I could not understand most of it, but I found one sentence that sounded important. “I will use this,” I said.

I decided to write a letter to Challenger. I would pretend to be a student of science. I would praise his work and ask him a question. Then I would request a meeting.

Henry warned me, but I wrote the letter anyway. In it, I showed respect and asked if I could visit him. My plan was simple. If I could enter his house, I would find a way to speak to him honestly. Henry laughed and said Challenger was dangerous. He thought I might regret this. But I was ready. I needed my chance, and this was the first step.

Chapter 3.
A Very Difficult Man

On Wednesday, I received a letter from Professor Challenger. The writing was sharp and difficult to read. I opened it and read:

“Sir,

I got your letter. You say you agree with me, but I do not need your support.
You used the word ‘speculation.’ That is wrong. Still, I think you do not understand, not that you are dishonest. You do not understand my ideas, but I will see you and explain them. I do not like visitors, but I will meet you at the time you asked.

Show this letter to my servant. He keeps journalists away.

G. E. Challenger.”

I read the letter to Tarp Henry. He joked that I might need a doctor after the meeting.

I took a taxi to Challenger’s house. It was large and showed that he was a rich man. A quiet servant named Austin opened the door. He checked my letter and let me in. Before I could go further, a small lady stopped me. She was kind and spoke quickly. She was Challenger’s wife.

“He is a very difficult man,” she said. “If he becomes angry, leave at once. Do not argue. Some people have been hurt.” She asked if I came to speak about South America. I said yes. “That is the worst subject,” she said. “Do not say you doubt him. Pretend to believe him. He truly believes his story.”

She told me to call her if there was trouble. Then I followed the servant to the study.

Challenger sat behind a table full of books and papers. When I entered, he turned and looked at me. He was a powerful man with a large head, a thick black beard, and sharp eyes. His voice was deep and loud.

“Well?” he said.

I gave him his letter. He looked at me with pride and anger. “So, you agree with my ideas?” he said.

“Yes, sir,” I answered.

He spoke badly about other scientists and said he did not need my support. Then he asked what I wanted to say about his work.

I tried to speak like a student, but it was difficult. He asked me questions about science. I did not understand them, but I pretended.

Suddenly, he became very angry. “You are a journalist!” he shouted. “You understand nothing!” He stood up and came toward me. He said he often threw reporters out of his house.

I moved back and told him not to touch me. But he rushed at me. We fell together and rolled through the hall and out into the street. A chair broke under us.