THE WAR IN THE AIR

第4章

Sotheyplanned，anditseemedasmallandunimportantthingtothemthatastheyclatteredthegovernmentsofhalftheworldandmoreweredriftingintowar。Aboutmiddaytheybecameawareofthefirstoftheevening—paperplacardsshoutingtothemacrossthestreet:——

THEWAR—CLOUDDARKENS

Nothingelsebutthat。

"Alwaysrottin’aboutwarnow，"saidBert。

"They’llgetitintheneckinrealearnestoneofthesedays，iftheyain’tpreciouscareful。"

SoyouwillunderstandthesuddenapparitionthatsurprisedratherthandelightedthequietinformalityofDymchurchsands。

DymchurchwasoneofthelastplacesonthecoastofEnglandtobereachedbythemono—rail，andsoitsspacioussandswerestill，atthetimeofthisstory，thesecretanddelightofquitealimitednumberofpeople。Theywenttheretofleevulgarityandextravagances，andtobatheandsitandtalkandplaywiththeirchildreninpeace，andtheDesertDervishesdidnotpleasethematall。

ThetwowhitefiguresonscarletwheelscameuponthemoutoftheinfinitealongthesandsfromLittlestone，grewnearerandlargerandmoreaudible，honk—honkingandemittingweirdcries，andgenerallythreateninglivelinessofthemostaggressivetype。

"Goodheavens！"saidDymchurch，"what’sthis？"

Thenouryoungmen，accordingtoapreconcertedplan，wheeledroundfromfiletoline，dismountedandstooditattention。

"Ladiesandgentlemen，"theysaid，"webegtopresentourselves——

theDesertDervishes。"Theybowedprofoundly。

Thefewscatteredgroupsuponthebeachregardedthemwithhorrorforthemostpart，butsomeofthechildrenandyoungpeoplewereinterestedanddrewnearer。"Thereain’tabobonthebeach，"

saidGrubbinanundertone，andtheDesertDervishespliedtheirbicycleswithcomic"business，"thatgotalaughfromoneveryunsophisticatedlittleboy。Thentheytookadeepbreathandstruckintothecheerfulstrainof"WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"

Grubbsangthesong，Bertdidhisbesttomakethechorusarousingone，andittheendofeachversetheydancedcertainsteps，skirtsinhand，thattheyhadcarefullyrehearsed。

"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—tang……

WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"

SotheychantedanddancedtheirstepsinthesunshineonDymchurchbeach，andthechildrendrewnearthesefoolishyoungmen，marvellingthattheyshouldbehaveinthisway，andtheolderpeoplelookedcoldandunfriendly。

AllroundthecoastsofEuropethatmorningbanjoswereringing，voiceswerebawlingandsinging，childrenwereplayinginthesun，pleasure—boatswenttoandfro;thecommonabundantlifeofthetime，unsuspiciousofalldangersthatgathereddarklyagainstit，flowedonitscheerfulaimlessway。Inthecitiesmenfussedabouttheirbusinessesandengagements。Thenewspaperplacardsthathadcried"wolf！"sooften，cried"wolf！"nowinvain。

NowasBertandGrubbbawledtheirchorusforthethirdtime，theybecameawareofaverybig，golden—brownballoonlowintheskytothenorth—west，andcomingrapidlytowardsthem。

"Jestaswe’regettin’holdof’em，"mutteredGrubb，"upcomesacounter—attraction。Goit，Bert！"

"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—tangWhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"

Theballoonroseandfell，wentoutofsight——"landed，thankgoodness，"saidGrubb——re—appearedwithaleap。"’ENG！"saidGrubb。"Stepit，Bert，orthey’llseeit！"

Theyfinishedtheirdance，andthenstoodfranklystaring。

"There’ssomethingwrongwiththatballoon，"saidBert。

Everybodynowwaslookingattheballoon，drawingrapidlynearerbeforeabrisknorth—westerlybreeze。Thesonganddancewerea"deadfrost。"Nobodythoughtanymoreaboutit。EvenBertandGrubbforgotit，andignoredthenextitemontheprogrammealtogether。Theballoonwasbumpingasthoughitsoccupantsweretryingtoland;itwouldapproach，sinkingslowly，touchtheground，andinstantlyjumpfiftyfeetorsointheairandimmediatelybegintofallagain。Itscartouchedaclumpoftrees，andtheblackfigurethathadbeenstrugglingintheropesfellback，orjumpedback，intothecar。Inanothermomentitwasquiteclose。Itseemedahugeaffair，asbigasahouse，anditfloateddownswiftlytowardsthesands;alongropetrailedbehindit，andenormousshoutscamefromthemaninthecar。Heseemedtobetakingoffhisclothes，thenhisheadcameoverthesideofthecar。"Catchholdoftherope！"theyheard，quiteplain。

"Salvage，Bert！"criedGrubb，andstartedtoheadofftherope。

Bertfollowedhim，andcollided，withoutupsetting，withafishermanbentuponasimilarerrand。Awomancarryingababyinherarms，twosmallboyswithtoyspades，andastoutgentlemaninflannelsallgottothetrailingropeataboutthesametime，andbegantodanceoveritintheirattemptstosecureit。Bertcameuptothiswriggling，elusiveserpentandgothisfootonit，wentdownonallfoursandachievedagrip。Inhalfadozensecondsthewholediffusedpopulationofthebeachhad，asitwere，crystallisedontherope，andwaspullingagainsttheballoonunderthevehementandstimulatingdirectionsofthemaninthecar。"Pull，Itellyou！"saidthemaninthecar——"pull！"

Forasecondorsothebtlloonobeyeditsmomentumandthewindandtuggeditshumananchorseaward。Itdropped，touchedthewater，andmadeaflat，silverysplash，andrecoiledasone’sfingerrecoilswhenonetouchesanythinghot。"Pullherin，"

saidthemaninthecar。"SHE’SFAINTED！"

Heoccupiedhimselfwithsomeunseenobjectwhilethepeopleontheropepulledhimin。Bertwasnearesttheballoon，andmuchexcitedandinterested。HekeptstumblingoverthetailoftheDervishcostumeinhiszeal。Hehadneverimaginedbeforewhatabig，light，wallowingthingaballoonwas。Thecarwasofbrowncoarsewicker—work，andcomparativelysmall。Theropehetuggedatwasfastenedtoastout—lookingring，fourorfivefeetabovethecar。Ateachtughedrewinayardorsoofrope，andthewagglingwicker—workwasdrawnsomuchnearer。Outofthecarcamewrathfulbellowings:"Fainted，shehas！"andthen:"It’sherheart——brokenwithallshe’shadtogothrough。"

Theballoonceasedtostruggle，andsankdownward。Bertdroppedtherope，andranforwardtocatchitinanewplace。Inanothermomenthehadhishandonthecar。"Layholdofit，"saidthemanintheear，andhisfaceappearedclosetoBert’s——astrangelyfamiliarface，fierceeyebrows，aflattishnose，ahugeblackmoustache。Hehaddiscardedcoatandwaistcoat——perhapswithsomeideaofpresentlyhavingtoswimforhislife——andhisblackhairwasextraordinarilydisordered。"Willallyoupeoplegetholdroundthecar？"hesaid。"There’saladyherefainted——

orgotfailureoftheheart。Heavenaloneknowswhich！MynameisButteridge。Butteridge，mynameis——inaballoon。Nowplease，allontotheedge。ThisisthelasttimeItrustmyselftooneofthesepaleolithiccontrivances。Theripping—cordfailed，andthevalvewouldn’tact。IfeverImeetthescoundrelwhooughttohaveseen——"

Hestuckhisheadoutbetweentheropesabruptly，andsaid，inanoteofearnestexpostulation:"Getsomebrandy！——someneatbrandy！"Someonewentupthebeachforit。

Inthecar，sprawlinguponasortofbed—bench，inanattitudeofelaborateself—abandonment，wasalarge，blondlady，wearingafurcoatandabigfloriferoushat。Herheadlolledbackagainstthepaddedcornerofthecar，andhereyeswereshutandhermouthopen。"Medear！"saidMr。Butteridge，inacommon，loudvoice，"we’resafe！"

Shegavenosign。

"Medear！"saidMr。Butteridge，inagreatlyintensifiedloudvoice，"we’resafe！"

Shewasstillquiteimpassive。

ThenMr。Butteridgeshowedthefierycoreofhissoul。"Ifsheisdead，"hesaid，slowlyliftingafisttowardstheballoonabovehim，andspeakinginanimmensetremulousbellow——"ifsheisdead，Iwillr—r—rendtheheavenslikeagarment！Imustgetherout，"hecried，hisnostrilsdilatedwithemotion—"Imustgetherout。Icannothaveherdieinawicker—workbasketninefeetsquare——shewhowasmadeforkings’palaces！Keepholtofthiscar！IsthereastrongmanamongyetotakeherifIhandherout？"

Heswepttheladytogetherbyapowerfulmovementofhisarms，andliftedher。"Keepthecarfromjumping，"hesaidtothosewhoclusteredabouthim。"Keepyourweightonit。Sheisnolightwoman，andwhensheisoutofit——itwillberelieved。"

Bertleaptlightlyintoasittingpositionontheedgeofthecar。Theotherstookafirmergripupontheropesandring。

"Areyouready？"saidMr。Butteridge。

Hestooduponthebed—benchandliftedtheladycarefully。ThenhesatdownonthewickeredgeoppositetoBert，andputonelegovertodangleoutside。Aropeorsoseemedtoincommodehim。

"Willsomeoneassistme？"hesaid。"Iftheywouldtakethislady？"

Itwasjustatthismoment，withMr。Butteridgeandtheladybalancedfinelyonthebasketbrim，thatshecame—to。Shecame—tosuddenlyandviolentlywithaloud，heart—rendingcryof"Alfred！Saveme！"Andshewavedherarmssearchingly，andthenclaspedMr。Butteridgeabout。

ItseemedtoBertthatthecarswayedforamomentandthenbuck—jumpedandkickedhim。Alsohesawthebootsoftheladyandtherightlegofthegentlemandescribingarcsthroughtheair，preparatorytovanishingoverthesideofthecar。Hisimpressionswerecomplex，buttheyalsocomprehendedthefactthathehadlosthisbalance，andwasgoingtostandonhisheadinsidethiscreakingbasket。Hespreadoutclutchingarms。Hedidstandonhishead，moreorless，histow—beardcameoffandgotinhismouth，andhischeekslidalongagainstpadding。Hisnoseburieditselfinabagofsand。Thecargaveaviolentlurch，andbecamestill。

"Confoundit！"hesaid。

Hehadanimpressionhemustbestunnedbecauseofasurginginhisears，andbecauseallthevoicesofthepeopleabouthimhadbecomesmallandremote。Theywereshoutinglikeelvesinsideahill。

Hefounditalittledifficulttogetonhisfeet。HislimbsweremixedupwiththegarmentsMr。Butteridgehaddiscardedwhenthatgentlemanhadthoughthemustneedsplungeintothesea。

Bertbawledouthalfangry，halfrueful，"Youmighthavesaidyouweregoingtotipthebasket。"Thenhestoodupandclutchedtheropesofthecarconvulsively。

Belowhim，farbelowhim，shiningblue，werethewatersoftheEnglishChannel。Faroff，alittlethinginthesunshine，andrushingdownasifsomeonewasbendingithollow，wasthebeachandtheirregularclusterofhousesthatconstitutesDymchurch。

Hecouldseethelittlecrowdofpeoplehehadsoabruptlyleft。

Grubb，inthewhitewrapperofaDesertDervish，wasrunningalongtheedgeofthesea。Mr。Butteridgewasknee—deepinthewater，bawlingimmensely。Theladywassittingupwithherfloriferoushatinherlap，shockinglyneglected。Thebeach，eastandwest，wasdottedwithlittlepeople——theyseemedallheadsandfeet——lookingup。Andtheballoon，releasedfromthetwenty—fivestoneorsoofMr。Butteridgeandhislady，wasrushingupintotheskyatthepaceofaracingmotor—car。"Mycrikey！"saidBert;"here’sago！"

Helookeddownwithapinchedfaceattherecedingbeach，andreflectedthathewasn’tgiddy;thenhemadeasuperficialsurveyofthecordsandropesabouthimwithavagueideaof"doingsomething。""I’mnotgoingtomessaboutwiththething，"hesaidatlast，andsatdownuponthemattress。"I’mnotgoingtotouchit……Iwonderwhatoneoughttodo？"

Soonhegotupagainandstaredforalongtimeitthesinkingworldbelow，atwhitecliffstotheeastandflatteningmarshtotheleft，ataminutewideprospectofwealdanddownland，atdimtownsandharboursandriversandribbon—likeroads，atshipsandships，decksandforeshortenedfunnelsupontheever—wideningsea，andatthegreatmono—railbridgethatstraddledtheChannelfromFolkestonetoBoulogne，untilatlast，firstlittlewispsandthenaveiloffilmycloudhidtheprospectfromhiseyes。

Hewasn’tatallgiddynorverymuchfrightened，onlyinastateofenormousconsternation。

CHAPTERIII

THEBALLOON

BertSmallwayswasavulgarlittlecreature，thesortofpert，limitedsoulthattheoldcivilisationoftheearlytwentiethcenturyproducedbythemillionineverycountryoftheworld。

Hehadlivedallhislifeinnarrowstreets，andbetweenmeanhouseshecouldnotlookover，andinanarrowcircleofideasfromwhichtherewasnoescape。Hethoughtthewholedutyofmanwastobesmarterthanhisfellows，gethishands，asheputit，"onthedibs，"andhaveagoodtime。Hewas，infact，thesortofmanwhohadmadeEnglandandAmericawhattheywere。Theluckhadbeenagainsthimsofar，butthatwasbytheway。HewasamereaggressiveandacquisitiveindividualwithnosenseoftheState，nohabitualloyalty，nodevotion，nocodeofhonour，nocodeevenofcourage。Nowbyacuriousaccidenthefoundhimselfliftedoutofhismarvellousmodernworldforatime，outofalltherushandconfusedappealsofit，andfloatinglikeathingdeadanddisembodiedbetweenseaandsky。ItwasasifHeavenwasexperimentingwithhim，hadpickedhimoutasasamplefromtheEnglishmillions，tolookathimmorenearly，andtoseewhatwashappeningtothesoulofman。ButwhatHeavenmadeofhiminthatcaseIcannotprofesstoimagine，forIhavelongsinceabandonedalltheoriesabouttheidealsandsatisfactionsofHeaven。

Tobealoneinaballoonataheightoffourteenorfifteenthousandfeet——andtothatheightBertSmallwayspresentlyroseislikenothingelseinhumanexperience。Itisoneofthesupremethingspossibletoman。Noflyingmachinecaneverbetterit。Itistopassextraordinarilyoutofhumanthings。

Itistobestillandalonetoanunprecedenteddegree。Itissolitudewithoutthesuggestionofintervention;itiscalmwithoutasingleirrelevantmurmur。Itistoseethesky。Nosoundreachesoneofalltheroarandjarofhumanity，theairisclearandsweetbeyondthethoughtofdefilement。Nobird，noinsectcomessohigh。Nowindblowseverinaballoon，nobreezerustles，foritmoveswiththewindandisitselfapartoftheatmosphere。Oncestarted，itdoesnotrocknorsway;youcannotfeelwhetheritrisesorfalls。Bertfeltacutelycold，buthewasn’tmountain—sick;heputonthecoatandovercoatandglovesButteridgehaddiscarded——putthemoverthe"DesertDervish"

sheetthatcoveredhischeapbestsuit——andsatverystillforalong，time，overawedbythenew—foundquietoftheworld。

Abovehimwasthelight，translucent，billowingglobeofshiningbrownoiledsilkandtheblazingsunlightandthegreatdeepbluedomeofthesky。

Below，farbelow，wasatornfloorofsunlitcloudslashedbyenormousrentsthroughwhichhesawthesea。

Ifyouhadbeenwatchinghimfrombelow，youwouldhaveseenhishead，amotionlesslittleblackknob，stickingoutfromthecarfirstofallforalongtimeononeside，andthenvanishingtoreappearafteratimeatsomeotherpoint。

Hewasn’tintheleastdegreeuncomfortablenorafraid。Hedidthinkthatasthisuncontrollablethinghadthusrusheduptheskywithhimitmightpresentlyrushdownagain，butthisconsiderationdidnottroublehimverymuch。Essentiallyhisstatewaswonder。Thereisnofearnortroubleinballoons——

untiltheydescend。

"Gollys！"hesaidatlast，feelinganeedfortalking;"it’sbetterthanamotor—bike。

"It’sallright！

"Isupposethey’retelegraphingabout，aboutme。"……

Thesecondhourfoundhimexaminingtheequipmentofthecarwithgreatparticularity。Abovehimwasthethroatoftheballoonbunchedandtiedtogether，butwithanopenlumenthroughwhich，Bertcouldpeerupintoavast，empty，quietinterior，andoutofwhichdescendedtwofinecordsofunknownimport，onewhite，onecrimson，topocketsbelowthering。Thenettingabouttheballoon—endedincordsattachedtothering，abigsteel—boundhoop。towhichthecarwasslungbyropes。Fromitdependedthetrailropeandgrapnel，andoverthesidesofthecarwereanumberofcanvasbagsthatBertdecidedmustbeballastto"chuckdown"iftheballoonfell。（"Notmuchfallingjustyet，"saidBert。）

Therewereananeroidandanotherbox—shapedinstrumenthangingfromthering。Thelatterhadanivoryplatebearing"statoscope"andotherwordsinFrench，andalittleindicatorquiveredandwaggled，betweenMonteeandDescente。"That’sallright，"saidBert。"Thattellsifyou’regoingupordown。"OnthecrimsonpaddedseatoftheballoontherelayacoupleofrugsandaKodak，andinoppositecornersofthebottomofthecarwereanemptychampagnebottleandaglass。"Refreshments，"saidBertmeditatively，tiltingtheemptybottle。Thenhehadabrilliantidea。Thetwopaddedbed—likeseats，eachwithblanketsandmattress，heperceived，wereboxes，andwithinhefoundMr。Butteridge’sconceptionofanadequateequipmentforaballoonascent:ahamperwhichincludedagamepie，aRomanpie，acoldfowl，tomatoes，lettuce，hamsandwiches，shrimpsandwiches，alargecake，knivesandforksandpaperplates，self—heatingtinsofcoffeeandcocoa，bread，butter，andmarmalade，severalcarefullypackedbottlesofchampagne，bottlesofPerrierwater，andabigjarofwaterforwashing，aportfolio，maps，andacompass，arucksackcontaininganumberofconveniences，includingcurling—tongsandhair—pins，，acapwithear—flaps，andsoforth。

"A’omefrom’ome，"saidBert，surveyingthisprovisionashetiedtheear—flapsunderhischin。Helookedoverthesideofthecar。Farbelowweretheshiningclouds。Theyhadthickenedsothatthewholeworldwashidden。Southwardtheywerepiledingreatsnowymasses，sothathewashalfdisposedtothinkthemmountains;northwardandeastwardtheywereinwavelikelevels，andblindinglysunlit。

"Wonderhowlongaballoonkeepsup？"hesaid。

Heimaginedhewasnotmoving，soinsensiblydidthemonsterdriftwiththeairaboutit。"Nogoodcomingdowntillweshiftabit，"hesaid。

Heconsultedthestatoscope。

"StillMonty，"hesaid。

"Wonderwhatwouldhappenifyoupulledacord？"

"No，"hedecided。"Iain’tgoingtomessitabout。"

Afterwardshedidpullboththeripping—andthevalve—cords，but，asMr。Butteridgehadalreadydiscovered，theyhadfouledafoldofsilkinthethroat。Nothinghappened。Butforthatlittlehitchtheripping—cordwouldhavetorntheballoonopenasthoughithadbeenslashedbyasword，andhurledMr。Smallwaystoeternityattherateofsomethousandfeetasecond。"Nogo！"

hesaid，givingitafinaltug。Thenhelunched。

Heopenedabottleofchampagne，which，assoonashecutthewire，blewitscorkoutwithincredibleviolence，andforthemostpartfolloweditintospace。Bert，however，gotaboutatumblerful。"Atmosphericpressure，"saidBert，findingauseatlastfortheelementaryphysiographyofhisseventh—standarddays。"I’llhavetobemorecarefulnexttime。Nogoodwastin’

drink。"

ThenheroutedaboutformatchestoutiliseMr。Butteridge’scigars;buthereagainluckwasonhisside，andhecouldn’tfindanywherewithtosetlighttothegasabovehim。Orelsehewouldhavedroppedinaflare，asplendidbuttransitorypyrotechnicdisplay。"’EngoldGrubb！"saidBert，slappingunproductivepockets。"’Edidn’toughtto’avekep’mybox。’E’salwayssneakingmatches。"

Hereposedforatime。Thenhegotup，paddledabout，rearrangedtheballastbagsonthefloor，watchedthecloudsforatime，andturnedoverthemapsonthelocker。Bertlikedmaps，andhespentsometimeintryingtofindoneofFranceortheChannel;

buttheywereallBritishordnancemapsofEnglishcounties。

Thatsethimthinkingaboutlanguagesandtryingtorecallhisseventh—standardFrench。"JesuisAnglais。C’estunemeprise。

Jesuisarriveparaccidentici，"hedecideduponasconvenientphrases。ThenitoccurredtohimthathewouldentertainhimselfbyreadingMr。Butteridge’slettersandexamininghispocket—book，andinthismannerhewhiledawaytheafternoon。

Hesatuponthepaddedlocker，wrappedaboutverycarefully，fortheair，thoughcalm，wasexhilaratinglycoldandclear。Hewaswearingfirstamodestsuitofbluesergeandalltheunpretendingunderwearofasuburbanyoungmanoffashion，withsandal—likecycling—shoesandbrownstockingsdrawnoverhistrouserends;thentheperforatedsheetpropertoaDesertDervish;thenthecoatandwaistcoatandbigfur—trimmedovercoatofMr。Butteridge;thenalady’slargefurcloak，androundhiskneesablanket。Overhisheadwasatowwig，surmountedbyalargecapofMr。Butteridge’swiththeflapsdownoverhisears。

Andsomefursleeping—bootsofMr。Butteridge’swarmedhisfeet。

Thecaroftheballoonwassmallandneat，somebagsofballasttheuntidiestofitscontents，andhehadfoundalightfolding—tableandputitathiselbow，andonthatwasaglasswithchampagne。Andabouthim，aboveandbelow，wasspace——suchaclearemptinessandsilenceofspaceasonlytheaeronautcanexperience。

Hedidnotknowwherehemightbedrifting，orwhatmighthappennext。HeacceptedthisstateofaffairswithaserenitycreditabletotheSmallways’courage，whichonemightreasonablyhaveexpectedtobeofamoredegenerateandcontemptiblequalityaltogether。Hisimpressionwasthathewasboundtocomedownsomewhere，andthatthen，ifhewasn’tsmashed，someone，some"society"perhaps，wouldprobablypackhimandtheballoonbacktoEngland。Ifnot，hewouldaskveryfirmlyfortheBritishConsul。

"LeconsueloBritannique，"hedecidedthiswouldbe。"ApportezmoialeconsueloBritannique，s’ilvousplait，"hewouldsay，forhewasbynomeansignorantofFrench。Inthemeanwhile，hefoundtheintimateaspectsofMr。Butteridgeaninterestingstudy。

TherewerelettersofanentirelyprivatecharacteraddressedtoMr。Butteridge，andamongothersseverallove—lettersofadevouringsortinalargefemininehand。Thesearenobusinessofours，andoneremarkswithregretthatBertreadthem。

Whenhehadreadthemheremarked，"Gollys！"inanawestrickentone，andthen，afteralonginterval，"Iwonderifthatwasher？

"Lord！"

Hemusedforatime。

HeresumedhisexplorationoftheButteridgeinterior。ItincludedanumberofpresscuttingsofinterviewsandalsoseverallettersinGerman，thensomeinthesameGermanhandwriting，butinEnglish。"Hul—LO！"saidBert。

Oneofthelatter，thefirsthetook，beganwithanapologytoButteridgefornotwritingtohiminEnglishbefore，andfortheinconvenienceanddelaythathadbeencausedhimbythat，andwentontomatterthatBertfoundexcitingin，thehighestdegree。"Wecanunderstandentirelythedifficultiesofyourposition，andthatyoushallpossiblybewatchedatthepresentjuncture。——But，sir，wedonotbelievethatanyseriousobstacleswillbeputinyourwayifyouwishedtoendeavourtoleavethecountryandcometouswithyourplansbythecustomaryroutes——eitherviaDover，Ostend，Boulogne，orDieppe。Wefinditdifficulttothinkyouarerightinsupposingyourselftobeindangerofmurderforyourinvaluableinvention。"

"Funny！"saidBert，andmeditated。

Thenhewentthroughtheotherletters。

"Theyseemtowanthimtocome，"saidBert，"buttheydon’tseemhurtingthemselvestoget’im。Orelsethey’reshammingdon’tcaretogethispricesdown。

"Theydon’tquiteseemtobethegov’ment，"hereflected，afteraninterval。"It’smorelikesomefirm’spaper。Allthisprintedstuffatthetop。Drachenflieger。Drachenballons。

Ballonstoffe。Kugelballons。Greektome。

"Buthewastryingtosellhisblessedsecretabroad。That’sallright。NoGreekaboutthat！Gollys！HereISthesecret！"

Hetumbledofftheseat，openedthelocker，andhadtheportfolioopenbeforehimonthefolding—table。Itwasfullofdrawingsdoneinthepeculiarflatstyleandconventionalcoloursengineersadopt。And，in，additionthereweresomeratherunder—exposedphotographs，obviouslydonebyanamateur，atclosequarters，oftheactualmachine’smutteringshadmade，initsshedneartheCrystalPalace。Bertfoundhewastrembling。

"Lord"hesaid，"hereamIandthewholeblessedsecretofflying——lostuphereontheroofofeverywhere。

"Let’ssee！"Hefelltostudyingthedrawingsandcomparingthemwiththephotographs。Theypuzzledhim。Halfofthemseemedtobemissing。Hetriedtoimaginehowtheyfittedtogether，andfoundtheefforttoogreatforhismind。

"It’stryin’，"saidBert。"IwishI’dbeenbroughtuptotheengineering。IfIcouldonlymakeitout！"

Hewenttothesideofthecarandremainedforatimestaringwithunseeingeyesatahugeclusterofgreatclouds——aclusterofslowlydissolvingMonteRosas，sunlitbelow。Hisattentionwasarrestedbyastrangeblackspotthatmovedoverthem。Italarmedhim。Itwasablackspotmovingslowlywithhimfarbelow，followinghimdownthere，indefatigably，overthecloudmountains。Whyshouldsuchathingfollowhim？Whatcoulditbe？……

Hehadaninspiration。"Uvcourse！"hesaid。Itwastheshadowoftheballoon。Buthestillwatcheditdubiouslyforatime。

Hereturnedtotheplansonthetable。

Hespentalongafternoonbetweenhisstrugglestounderstandthemandfitsofmeditation。HeevolvedaremarkablenewsentenceinFrench。

"Voici，Mossoo！——JesuisuninventeurAnglais。MonnomestButteridge。Beh。oo。teh。teh。eh。arr。E。deh。geh。eh。

J’avaisicipourvendrelesecretdeleflying—machine。

Comprenez？Vendrepourl’argenttoutsuite，l’argentenmain。

Comprenez？C’estlemachineajouerdansl’air。Comprenez？

C’estlemachineafairel’oiseau。Comprenez？Balancer？

Oui，exactement！Battirl’oiseauenfait，asonproprejeu。Jedesiredevendrececiavotregovernmentnational。Voulezvousmedirecterla？

"Bitrummy，Iexpect，fromthepointofviewofgrammar，"saidBert，"buttheyoughttogetthehangofitallright。