THE WAR IN THE AIR

第5章

"Butthen，iftheyarstmetoexplaintheblessedthing？"

Hereturnedinaworriedwaytotheplans。"Idon’tbelieveit’sallhere！"hesaid……

Hegotmoreandmoreperplexedupthereamongthecloudsastowhatheshoulddowiththiswonderfulfindofhis。Atanymoment，sofarasheknewhemightdescendamongheknewnotwhatforeignpeople。

"It’sthechanceofmylife！"hesaid。

Itbecamemoreandmoremanifesttohimthatitwasn’t。"DirectlyIcomedownthey’lltelegraph——putitinthepapers。

Butteridge’llknowofitandcomealong——onmytrack。"

Butteridgewouldbeaterriblepersontobeonanyone’strack。

Bertthoughtofthegreatblackmoustaches，thetriangularnose，thesearchingbellowandtheglare。Hisafternoon’sdreamofamarvellousseizureandsaleofthegreatButteridgesecretcrumpledupinhismind，dissolved，andvanished。Heawoketosanityagain。

"Wouldn’tdo。What’sthegoodofthinkingofit？"HeproceededslowlyandreluctantlytoreplacetheButteridgepapersinpocketsandportfolioashehadfoundthem。Hebecameawareofasplendidgoldenlightupontheballoonabovehim，andofanewwarmthinthebluedomeofthesky。Hestoodupandbeheldthesun，agreatballofblindinggold，settinguponatumbledseaofgold—edgedcrimsonandpurpleclouds，strangeandwonderfulbeyondimagining。Eastwardcloud—landstretchedforever，darklingblue，anditseemedtoBertthewholeroundhemisphereoftheworldwasunderhiseyes。

Thenfar，awayoverthebluehecaughtsightofthreelong，darkshapeslikehurryingfishthatdroveoneaftertheother，asporpoisesfollowoneanotherinthewater。Theywereveryfish—likeindeed——withtails。Itwasanunconvincingimpressioninthatlight。Heblinkedhiseyes，staredagain，andtheyhadvanished。Foralongtimehescrutinisedthoseremotebluelevelsandsawnomore……

"WonderifIeversawanything，"hesaid，andthen:"Thereain’tsuchthings……"

Downwentthesunanddown，notdivingsteeply，butpassingnorthwardasitsank，andthensuddenlydaylightandtheexpansivewarmthofdaylighthadgonealtogether，andtheindexofthestatoscopequiveredovertoDescente。

"NOWwhat’sgoingto’appen？"saidBert。

Hefoundthecold，greycloudwildernessrisingtowardshimwithawide，slowsteadiness。Ashesankdownamongthemthecloudsceasedtoseemthesnowcladmountain—slopestheyhadresembledheretofore，becameunsubstantial，confessedanimmensesilentdriftandeddyintheirsubstance。Foramoment，whenhewasnearlyamongtheirtwilightmasses，hisdescentwaschecked。

Thenabruptlytheskywashidden，thelastvestigesofdaylightgone，andhewasfallingrapidlyinaneveningtwilightthroughawhirloffinesnowflakesthatstreamedpasthimtowardsthezenith，thatdriftedinuponthethingsabouthimandmelted，thattouchedhisfacewithghostlyfingers。Heshivered。Hisbreathcamesmokingfromhislips，andeverythingwasinstantlybedewedandwet。

HehadanimpressionofasnowstormpouringwithunexampledandincreasingfuryUPWARD;thenherealisedthathewasfallingfasterandfaster。

Imperceptiblyasoundgrewuponhisears。Thegreatsilenceoftheworldwasatanend。Whatwasthisconfusedsound？

Hecranedhisheadovertheside，concerned，perplexed。

Firstheseemedtosee，andthennottosee。Thenhesawclearlylittleedgesoffoampursuingeachother，andawidewasteofwelteringwatersbelowhim。Farawaywasapilotboatwithabigsailbearingdimblackletters，andalittlepinkish—yellowlight，anditwasrollingandpitching，rollingandpitchinginagale，whilehecouldfeelnowindat，all。Soonthesoundofwaterswasloudandnear。Hewasdropping，dropping——intothesea！

Hebecameconvulsivelyactive。

"Ballast！"hecried，andseizedalittlesackfromthefloor，andheaveditoverboard。Hedidnotwaitfortheeffectofthat，butsentanotherafterit。Helookedoverintimetoseeaminutewhitesplashinthedimwatersbelowhim，andthenhewasbackinthesnowandcloudsagain。

Hesentoutquiteneedlesslyathirdsackofballastandafourth，andpresentlyhadtheimmensesatisfactionofsoaringupoutofthedampandchillintotheclear，cold，upperairinwhichthedaystilllingered。"Thang—God！"hesaid，withallhisheart。

Afewstarsnowhadpiercedtheblue，andintheeastthereshonebrightlyaprolatemoon。

ThatfirstdownwardplungefilledBertwithahauntingsenseofboundlesswatersbelow。Itwasasummer’snight，butitseemedtohim，nevertheless，extraordinarilylong。Hehadafeelingofinsecuritythathefanciedquiteirrationallythesunrisewoulddispel。Alsohewashungry。Hefelt，inthedark，inthelocker，puthisfingersintheRomanpie，andgotsomesandwiches，andhealsoopenedrathersuccessfullyahalf—bottleofchampagne。Thatwarmedandrestoredhim，hegrumbledatGrubbaboutthematches，wrappedhimselfupwarmlyonthelocker，anddozedforatime。Hegotuponceortwicetomakesurethathewasstillsecurelyhighabovethesea。Thefirsttimethemoonlitcloudswerewhiteanddense，andtheshadowoftheballoonranathwartthemlikeadogthatfollowed;afterwardstheyseemedthinner。Ashelaystill，staringupatthehugedarkballoonabove，hemadeadiscovery。His——orratherMr。

Butteridge’s——waistcoatrustledashebreathed。Itwaslinedwithpapers。ButBertcouldnotseetogetthemoutorexaminethem，muchashewishedtodoso……

Hewasawakenedbythecrowingofcocks，thebarkingofdogs，andaclamourofbirds。Hewasdrivingslowlyatalowleveloverabroadlandlitgoldenbysunriseunderaclearsky。Hestaredoutuponhedgeless，well—cultivatedfieldsintersectedbyroads，eachlinedwithcable—bearingredpoles。Hehadjustpassedoveracompact，whitewashed，villagewithastraightchurchtowerandsteepred—tiledroofs。Anumberofpeasants，menandwomen，inshinyblousesandlumpishfootwear，stoodregardinghim，arrestedontheirwaytowork。Hewassolowthattheendofhisropewastrailing。

Hestaredoutatthesepeople。"Iwonderhowyouland，"hethought。

"S’poseIOUGHTtoland？"

Hefoundhimselfdriftingdowntowardsamono—railline，andhastilyflungouttwoorthreehandfulsofballasttoclearit。

"Lemmesee！Onemightsayjust’Pre’nez’！WishIknewtheFrenchfortakeholdoftherope！……IsupposetheyareFrench？"

Hesurveyedthecountryagain。"MightbeHolland。OrLuxembourg。OrLorraine’sfaras_I_know。Wonderwhatthosebigaffairsoverthereare？Somesortofkiln。

Prosperous—lookingcountry……"

Therespectabilityofthecountry’sappearanceawakenedansweringchordsinhisnature。

"Makemyselfabitship—shapefirst，"hesaid。

Heresolvedtorisealittleandgetridofhiswig（whichnowfelthotonhishead），andsoforth。Hethrewoutabagofballast，andwasastonishedtofindhimselfcareeringupthroughtheairveryrapidly。

"Blow！"saidMr。Smallways。"I’veover—donetheballasttrick……WonderwhenIshallgetdownagain？……brekfus’onboard，anyhow。"

Heremovedhiscapandwig，fortheairwaswarm，andanimprovidentimpulsemadehimcastthelatterobjectoverboard。

ThestatoscoperespondedwithavigorousswingtoMonte。

"TheblessedthinggoesupifyouonlyLOOKoverboard，"heremarked，andassailedthelocker。Hefoundamongotheritemsseveraltinsofliquidcocoacontainingexplicitdirectionsforopeningthathefollowedwithminutecare。Hepiercedthebottomwiththekeyprovidedintheholesindicated，andforthwiththecangrewfromcoldtohotterandhotter，untilatlasthecouldscarcelytouchit，andthenheopenedthecanattheotherend，andtherewashiscocoasmoking，withouttheuseofmatchorflameofanysort。Itwasanoldinvention，butnewtoBert。

Therewasalsohamandmarmaladeandbread，sothathehadareallyverytolerablebreakfastindeed。

Thenhetookoffhisovercoat，forthesunshinewasnowinclinedtobehot，andthatremindedhimoftherustlinghehadheardinthenight。Hetookoffthewaistcoatandexaminedit。"OldButteridgewon’tlikemeunpickingthis。"Hehesitated，andfinallyproceededtounpickit。Hefoundthemissingdrawingsofthelateralrotatingplanes，onwhichthewholestabilityoftheflyingmachinedepended。

AnobservantangelwouldhaveseenBertsittingforalongtimeafterthisdiscoveryinastateofintensemeditation。Thenatlastherosewithanairofinspiration，tookMr。Butteridge’sripped，demolished，andransackedwaistcoat，andhurleditfromtheballoonwhenceitfluttereddownslowlyandeddyinglyuntilatlastitcametorestwithacontentedflopuponthefaceofGermantouristsleepingpeacefullybesidetheHohenwegnearWildbad。Alsothissenttheballoonhigher，andsointoapositionstillmoreconvenientforobservationbyourimaginaryangelwhowouldnexthaveseenMr。Smallwaystearopenhisownjacketandwaistcoat，removehiscollar，openhisshirt，thrusthishandintohisbosom，andtearhisheartout——oratleast，ifnothisheart，somelargebrightscarletobject。Iftheobserver，overcomingathrillofcelestialhorror，hadscrutinisedthisscarletobjectmorenarrowly，oneofBert’smostcherishedsecrets，oneofhisessentialweaknesses，wouldhavebeenlaidbare。Itwasared—flannelchest—protector，oneofthoselargequasi—hygienicobjectsthatwithpillsandmedicinestaketheplaceofbeneficialrelicsandimagesamongtheProtestantpeoplesofChristendom。AlwaysBertworethisthing;

itwashischerisheddelusion，basedontheadviceofashillingfortune—telleratMargate，thathewasweakinthelungs。

Henowproceededtounbuttonhisfetish，toattackitwithaperiknife，andtothrustthenew—foundplansbetweenthetwolayersofimitationSaxonyflannelofwhichitwasmade。ThenwiththehelpofMr。Butteridge’ssmallshavingmirrorandhisfoldingcanvasbasinhereadjustedhiscostumewiththegravityofamanwhohastakenanirrevocablestepinlife，buttoneduphisjacket，castthewhitesheetoftheDesertDervishononeside，washedtemperately，shaved，resumedthebigcapandthefurovercoat，and，muchrefreshedbytheseexercises，surveyedthecountrybelowhim。

Itwasindeedaspectacleofincrediblemagnificence。Ifperhapsitwasnotsostrangeandmagnificentasthesunlitcloudlandofthepreviousday，itwasatanyrateinfinitelymoreinteresting。

Theairwasatitsutmostclearnessandexcepttothesouthandsouth—westtherewasnotacloudinthesky。Thecountrywashilly，withoccasionalfirplantationsandbleakuplandspaces，butalsowithnumerousfarms，andthehillsweredeeplyintersectedbythegorgesofseveralwindingriversinterruptedatintervalsbythebanked—uppondsandweirsofelectricgeneratingwheels。Itwasdottedwithbright—looking，steep—roofed，villages，andeachshowedadistinctiveandinterestingchurchbesideitswirelesstelegraphsteeple;hereandtherewerelargechateauxandparksandwhiteroads，andpathslinedwithredand，whitecablepostswereextremelyconspicuousinthelandscape。Therewerewalledenclosureslikegardensandrickyardsandgreatroofsofbarnsandmanyelectricdairycentres。Theuplandsweremottledwithcattle。Atplaceshewouldseethetrackofoneoftheoldrailroads（convertednowtomono—rails）dodgingthroughtunnelsandcrossingembankments，andarushinghumwouldmarkthepassingofatrain。Everythingwasextraordinarilyclearaswellasminute。Onceortwicehesawgunsandsoldiers，andwasremindedofthestirofmilitarypreparationshehadwitnessedontheBankHolidayinEngland;buttherewasnothingtotellhimthatthesemilitarypreparationswereabnormalortoexplainanoccasionalfaintirregularfiringOfgunsthatdrifteduptohim……

"WishIknewhowtogetdown，"saidBert，tenthousandfeetorsoaboveitall，andgavehimselftomuchfutiletuggingattheredandwhitecords。Afterwardshemadeasortofinventoryoftheprovisions。Lifeinthehighairwasgivinghimanappallingappetite，anditseemedtohimdiscreetatthisstagetoportionouthissupplyintorations。Sofarashecouldseehemightpassaweekintheair。

Atfirstallthevastpanoramabelowhadbeenassilentasapaintedpicture。Butasthedayworeonandthegasdiffusedslowlyfromtheballoon，itsankearthwardagain，detailsincreased，menbecamemorevisible，andhebegantohearthewhistleandmoanoftrainsandcars，soundsofcattle，buglesandkettledrums，andpresentlyevenmen’svoices。Andatlasthisguide—ropewastrailingagain，andhefounditpossibletoattemptalanding。Onceortwiceastheropedraggedovercableshefoundhishairerectwithelectricity，andoncehehadaslightshock，andsparkssnappedaboutthecar。Hetookthesethingsamongthechancesofthevoyage。Hehadoneideanowveryclearinhismind，andthatwastodroptheirongrapnelthathungfromthering。

Fromthefirstthisattemptwasunfortunate，perhapsbecausetheplacefordescentwasill—chosen。Aballoonshouldcomedowninanemptyopenspace，andhechoseacrowd。Hemadehisdecisionsuddenly，andwithoutproperreflection。Ashetrailed，Bertsawaheadofhimoneofthemostattractivelittletownsintheworld——aclusterofsteepgablessurmountedbyahighchurchtoweranddiversifiedwithtrees，walled，andwithafine，largegatewayopeningoutuponatree—linedhighroad。Allthewiresandcablesofthecountrysideconvergeduponitlikegueststoentertainment。Ithadamosthome—likeandcomfortablequality，anditwasmadegayerbyabundantflags。Alongtheroadaquantityofpeasantfolk，inbigpair—wheeledcartsandafoot，werecomingandgoing，besidesanoccasionalmono—rail，car;andatthecar—junction，underthetreesoutsidethetown，wasabusylittlefairofbooths。Itseemedawarm，human，well—rooted，andaltogetherdelightfulplacetoBert。Hecamelowoverthetree—tops，withhisgrapnelreadytothrowandsoanchorhim——acurious，interested，andinterestingguest，sohisimaginationfiguredit，intheverymiddleofitall。

Hethoughtofhimselfperformingfeatswiththesignlanguageandchancelinguisticsamidstacircleofadmiringrustics……

Andthenthechapterofadverseaccidentsbegan。

Theropemadeitselfunpopularlongbeforethecrowdhadfullyrealisedhisadventoverthetrees。Anelderlyandapparentlyintoxicatedpeasantinashinyblackhat，andcarryingalargecrimsonumbrella，caughtsightofitfirstasittrailedpasthim，andwasseizedwithadiscreditableambitiontokillit。Hepursuedit，brisklywithunpleasantcries。Itcrossedtheroadobliquely，splashedintoapailofmilkuponastall，andslappeditsmilkytailathwartamotor—carloadoffactorygirlshaltedoutsidethetowngates。Theyscreamedloudly。PeoplelookedupandsawBertmakingwhathemeanttobegenialsalutations，butwhattheyconsidered，inviewofthefeminineoutcry，tobeinsultinggestures。Then，thecarhittheroofofthegatehousesmartly，snappedaflagstaff，playedatuneuponsometelegraphwires，andsentabrokenwirelikeawhip—lashtodoitsshareinaccumulatingunpopularity。Bert，byclutchingconvulsively，justescapedbeingpitchedheadlong。Twoyoungsoldiersandseveralpeasantsshoutedthingsiuptohimandshookfistsathimandbegantoruninpursuitashedisappearedoverthewallintothetown。

Admiringrustics，indeed！

Theballoonleaptatonce，inthemannerofballoonswhenpartoftheirweightisreleasedbytouchingdown，withasortofflippancy，andinanothermomentBertwasoverastreetcrowdedwithpeasantsandsoldiers，thatopenedintoabusymarket—square。Thewaveofunfriendlinesspursuedhim。

"Grapnel，"saidBert，andthenwithanafterthoughtshouted，"TETESthere，you！Isay！Isay！TETES。’Engit！"

Thegrapnelsmasheddownasteeplyslopingroof，followedbyanavalancheofbrokentiles，jumpedthestreetamidstshrieksandcries，andsmashedintoaplate—glasswindowwithanimmenseandsickening，impact。Theballoonrollednauseatingly，andthecarpitched。Butthegrapnelhadnotheld。Itemergedatoncebearingononefluke，witharidiculousairoffastidiousselection，asmallchild’schair，andpursuedbyamaddenedshopman。Itlifteditscatch，swungaboutwithanappearanceofpainfulindecisionamidstaroarofwrath，anddroppeditatlastneatly，andasifbyinspiration，overtheheadofapeasantwomaninchargeofanassortmentofcabbagesinthemarket—place。

Everybodynowwasawareoftheballoon。Everybodywaseithertryingtododgethegrapnelorcatchthetrailrope。Withapendulum—likeswoopthroughthecrowd，thatsentpeopleflyingrightandleftthegrapnelcametoearthagain，triedforandmissedastoutgentlemaninabluesuitandastrawhat，smackedawayatrestlefromunderastallofhaberdashery，madeacyclistsoldierinknickerbockersleaplikeachamois，andsecureditselfuncertainlyamongthehind—legsofasheep——whichmadeconvulsive，ungenerouseffortstofreeitself，andwasdraggedintoapositionofrestagainstastonecrossinthemiddleoftheplace。Theballoonpulledupwithajerk。Inanothermomentascoreofwillinghandsweretuggingitearthward。AtthesameinstantBertbecameawareforthefirsttimeofafreshbreezeblowirgabouthim。

Forsomesecondshestoodstaggeringinthecar，whichnowswayedsickeningly，surveyingtheexasperatedcrowdbelowhimandtryingtocollecthismind。Hewasextraordinarilyastonishedatthisrunofmishaps。Werethepeoplereallysoannoyed？Everybodyseemedangrywithhim。Nooneseemedinterestedoramusedbyhisarrival。Adisproportionateamountoftheoutcryhadtheflavourofimprecation——had，indeedastrongflavourofriot。Severalgreatlyuniformedofficialsincockedhatsstruggledinvaintocontrolthecrowd。Fistsandstickswereshaken。AndwhenBertsawamanontheoutskirtsofthecrowdruntoahaycartandgetabrightlyprongedpitch—fork，andablue—cladsoldierunbucklehisbelt，hisrisingdoubtwhetherthislittletownwasafterallsuchagoodplaceforalandingbecameacertainty。

Hehadclungtothefancythattheywouldmakesomethingofaheroofhim。Nowheknewthathewasmistaken。

Hewasperhapstenfeetabovethepeoplewhenhemadehisdecision。Hisparalysisceased。Heleaptupontheseat，and，atimminentriskoffallingheadlong，releasedthegrapnel—ropefromthetogglethatheldit，sprangontothetrailropeanddisengagedthatalso。Ahoarseshoutofdisgustgreetedthedescentofthegrapnel—ropeandtheswiftleapoftheballoon，andsomething——hefanciedafterwardsitwasaturnip——whizzedbyhishead。Thetrail—ropefolloweditsfellow。Thecrowdseemedtojumpawayfromhim。Withanimmenseandhorrifyingrustletheballoonbrushedagainstatelephonepole，andforatenseinstantheanticipatedeitheranelectricexplosionoraburstingoftheoiledsilk，orboth。Butfortunewaswithhim。

Inanothersecondhewascoweringinthebottomofthecar，andreleasedfromtheweightofthegrapnelandthetworopes，rushinguponcemorethroughtheair。Foratimeheremainedcrouching，andwhenatlasthelookedoutagainthelittletownwasverysmallandtravelling，withtherestoflowerGermany，inacircularorbitroundandroundthecar——oratleastitappearedtobedoingthat。Whenhegotusedtoit，hefoundthisrotationoftheballoonratherconvenient;itsavedmovingaboutinthecar。

Lateintheafternoonofapleasantsummerdayintheyear191—，ifonemayborrowamodeofphrasingthatoncefoundfavourwiththereadersofthelateG。P。R。James，asolitaryballoonist——replacing。thesolitaryhorsemanoftheclassicromances——mighthavebeenobservedwendinghiswayacrossFranconiainanorth—easterlydirection，andataheightofabouteleventhousandfeetabovetheseaandstillspindlingslowly。

Hisheadwascranedoverthesideofthecar，andhesurveyedthecountrybelowwithanexpressionofprofoundperplexity;everandagainhislipsshapedinaudiblewords。"Shootin’atachap，"forexample，and"I’llcomedownrightenoughsoonasIfindout’ow。"OverthesideofthebaskettherobeoftheDesertDervishwashanging，anappealforconsideration，anineffectualwhiteflag。

Hewasnowverydistinctlyawarethattheworldbelowhim，sofarfrombeingthenaivecountrysideofhisearlierimaginingsthatday，sleepilyunconsciousofhimandcapableofbeingamazedandnearlyreverentialathisdescent，wasacutelyirritatedbyhiscareer，andextremelyimpatientwiththecoursehewastaking。——Butindeeditwasnothewhotookthatcourse，buthismasters，thewindsofheaven。Mysteriousvoicesspoketohiminhisear，jerkingthewordsuptohimbymeansofmegaphones，inaweirdandstartlingipanner，inagreatvarietyoflanguages。

Official—lookingpersonshadsignalledtohimbymeansofflagflappingandarmwaving。OnthewholeagutturalvariantofEnglishprevailedinthesentencesthatalightedupontheballoon;chieflyhewastoldto"gomedownoryouwillbeshot。"

"Allverywell，"saidBert，"but’ow？"

Thentheyshotalittlewideofthecar。Latterlyhehadbeenshotatsixorseventimes，andoncethebullethadgonebywithasoundsopersuasivelylikethetearingofsilkthathehadresignedhimselftotheprospectofaheadlongfall。Buteithertheywereaimingnearhimortheyhadmissed，andasyetnothingwastornbuttheairabouthim——andhisanxioussoul。

Hewasnowenjoyingarespitefromtheseattentions，buthefeltitwasatbestaninterlude，andhewasdoingwhathecouldtoappreciatehisposition。Incidentallyhewashavingsomehotcoffeeandpieinanuntidyinadvertentmanner，withaneyeflutteringnervouslyoverthesideofthecar。Atfirsthehadascribedthegrowinginterestinhiscareertohisill—conceivedattempttolandinthebrightlittleuplandtown，butnowhewasbeginningtorealisethatthemilitaryratherthanthecivilarmwasconcernedabouthim。

Hewasquiteinvoluntarilyplayingthatweirdmysteriouspart——thepartofanInternationalSpy。Hewasseeingsecretthings。Hehad，infact，crossedthedesignsofnolessapowerthantheGermanEmpire，hehadblunderedintothehotfocusofWelt—Politik，hewasdriftinghelplesslytowardsthegreatImperialsecret，theimmenseaeronauticparkthathadbeenestablishedataheadlongpaceinFranconiatodevelopsilently，swiftly，andonanimmensescalethegreatdiscoveriesofHunstedtandStossel，andsotogiveGermanybeforeallothernationsafleetofairships，theairpowerandtheEmpireoftheworld。

Later，justbeforetheyshothimdownaltogether，Bertsawthatgreatareaofpassionatework，warmlitintheeveninglight，agreatareaofuplandonwhichtheairshipslaylikeaherdofgrazingmonstersattheirfeed。Itwasavastbusyspacestretchingawaynorthwardasfarashecouldsee，methodicallycutupintonumberedsheds，gasometers，squadencampments，storageareas，interlacedwiththeomnipresentmono—raillines，andaltogetherfreefromoverheadwiresorcables。Everywherewasthewhite，blackandyellowofImperialGermany，everywheretheblackeaglesspreadtheirwings。Evenwithouttheseindications，thelargevigorousneatnessofeverythingwouldhavemarkeditGerman。Vastmultitudesofmenwenttoandfro，manyinwhiteanddrabfatigueuniformsbusyabouttheballoons，othersdrillinginsensibledrab。Hereandthereafulluniformglittered。Theairshipschi6flyengagedhisattention，andheknewatonceitwasthreeofthesehehadseenonthepreviousnight，takingadvantageofthecloudwelkintomanoeuvreunobserved。Theywerealtogetherfish—like。ForthegreatairshipswithwhichGermanyattackedNewYorkinherlastgiganticeffortforworldsupremacy——beforehumanityrealizedthatworldsupremacywasadream——werethelinealdescendantsoftheZeppelinairshipthatflewoverLakeConstancein1906，andoftheLebaudynavigablesthatmadetheirmemorableexcursionsoverParisin1907and1908。

TheseGermanairshipswereheldtogetherbyrib—likeskeletonsofsteelandaluminiumandastoutinelasticcanvasouter—skin，withinwhichwasanimperviousrubbergas—bag，cutupbytransversedissepimentsintofromfiftytoahundredcompartments。Thesewereallabsolutelygastightandfilledwithhydrogen，andtheentireaerostatwaskeptatanylevelbymeansofalonginternalballoonetteofoiledandtoughenedsilkcanvas，intowhichaircouldbeforcedandfromwhichitcouldbepumped。Sotheairshipcouldbemadeeitherheavierorlighterthanair，andlossesofweightthroughtheconsumptionoffuel，thecastingofbombsandsoforth，couldalsobecompensatedbyadmittingairtosectionsofthegeneralgas—bag。Ultimatelythatmadeahighlyexplosivemixture;butinallthesemattersrisksmustbetakenandguardedagainst。Therewasasteelaxistothewholeaffair，acentralbackbonewhichterminatedintheengineandpropeller，andthemenandmagazineswereforwardinaseriesofcabinsundertheexpandedheadlikeforepart。Theengine，whichwasoftheextraordinarilypowerfulPforzheimtype，thatsupremetriumphofGermaninvention，wasworkedbywiresfromthisforepart，whichwasindeedtheonlyreallyhabitablepartoftheship。Ifanythingwentwrong，theengineerswentaftalongaropeladderbeneaththeframe。Thetendencyofthewholeaffairtorollwaspartlycorrectedbyahorizontallateralfinoneitherside，andsteeringwaschieflyeffectedbytwoverticalfins，whichnormallylaybacklikegill—flapsoneithersideofthehead。Itwasindeedamostcompleteadaptationofthefishformtoaerialconditions，thepositionofswimmingbladder，eyes，andbrainbeing，however，belowinsteadofabove。A

striking，andunfish—likefeaturewastheapparatusforwirelesstelegraphythatdangledfromtheforwardcabin——thatistosay，underthechinofthefish。

Thesemonsterswerecapableofninetymilesanhourinacalm，sothattheycouldfaceandmakeheadwayagainstnearlyeverythingexceptthefiercesttornado。Theyvariedinlengthfromeighthundredtotwothousandfeet，andtheyhadacarryingpoweroffromseventytotwohundredtons。HowmanyGermanypossessedhistorydoesnotrecord，butBertcountednearlyeightygreatbulksrecedinginperspectiveduringhisbriefinspection。SuchweretheinstrumentsonwhichshechieflyreliedtosustainherinherrepudiationoftheMonroeDoctrineandherboldbidforashareintheempireoftheNewWorld。Butnotaltogetherdidsherelyonthese;shehadalsoaone—manbomb—throwingDrachenfliegerofunknownvalueamongtheresources。

ButtheDrachenfliegerwereawayinthesecondgreataeronauticparkeastofHamburg，andBertSmallwayssawnothingoftheminthebird’s—eyeviewhetookofiheFranconianestablishmentbeforetheyshothimdownveryneatly。Thebullettorepasthimandmadeasortofpopasitpiercedhisballoon——apopthatwasfollowedbyarustlingsighandasteadydownwardmovement。Andwhenintheconfusionofthemomenthedroppedabagofballast，theGermans，verypolitelybutfirmlyovercamehisscruplesbyshootinghisballoonagaintwice。

CHAPTERIV

THEGERMANAIR—FLEET

OfalltheproductionsofthehumanimaginationthatmaketheworldinwhichMr。BertSmallwayslivedconfusinglywonderful，therewasnonequitesostrange，soheadlonganddisturbing，sonoisyandpersuasiveanddangerous，asthemodernisationsofpatriotismproducedbyimperialandinternationalpolitics。Inthesoulofallmenisalikingforkind，aprideinone’sownatmosphere，atendernessforone’sMotherspeechandone’sfamiliarland。BeforethecomingoftheScientificAgethisgroupofgentleandnobleemotionshadbeenafinefactorintheequipmentofeveryworthyhumanbeing，afinefactorthathaditslessamiableaspectinausuallyharmlesshostilitytostrangepeople，andausuallyharmlessdetractionofstrangelands。Butwiththewildrushofchangeinthepace，scope，materials，scale，andpossibilitiesofhumanlifethatthenoccurred，theoldboundaries，theoldseclusionsandseparationswereviolentlybrokendown。Alltheoldsettledmentalhabitsandtraditionsofmenfoundthemselvesnotsimplyconfrontedbynewconditions，butbyconstantlyrenewedandchangingnewconditions。Theyhadnochanceofadaptingthemselves。Theywereannihilatedorpervertedorinflamedbeyondrecognition。

BertSmallways’grandfather，inthedayswhenBunHillwasavillageundertheswayofSirPeterBone’sparent，had"knownhisplace"totheuttermostfarthing，touchedhishattohisbetters，despisedandcondescendedtohisinferiors，andhadn’tchangedanideafromthecradletothegrave。HewasKentishandEnglish，andthatmeanthops，beer，dog—rose’s，andthesortofsunshinethatwasbestintheworld。Newspapersandpoliticsandvisitsto"Lunnon"weren’tforthelikesofhim。Thencamethechange。

TheseearlierchaptershavegivenanideaofwhathappenedtoBunHill，andhowthefloodofnovelthingshadpouredoveritsdevotedrusticity。BertSmallwayswasonlyoneofcountlessmillionsinEuropeandAmericaandAsiawho，insteadofbeingbornrootedinthesoil，werebornstrugglinginatorrenttheyneverclearlyunderstood。Allthefaithsoftheirfathershadbeentakenbysurprise，andstartledintothestrangestformsandreactions。Particularlydidthefineoldtraditionofpatriotismgetpervertedanddistortedintherushofthenewtimes。

InsteadofthesturdyestablishmentinprejudiceofBert’sgrandfather，towhomtheword"Frenchified"wastheultimatetermofcontempt，thereflowedthroughBert’sbrainasquitteringsuccessionofthinlyviolentideasaboutGermancompetition，abouttheYellowDanger，abouttheBlackPeril，abouttheWhiteMan’sBurthen——thatistosay，Bert’spreposterousrighttomuddlefurtherthenaturallyverymuddledpoliticsoftheentirelysimilarlittlecadstohimself（exceptforasmearofbrown）whosmokedcigarettesandrodebicyclesinBuluwayo，Kingston（Jamaica），orBombay。ThesewereBert’s"SubjectRaces，"andhewasreadytodie——byproxyinthepersonofanyonewhocaredtoenlist——tomaintainhisholduponthatright。