第6章

Itkepthimawakeatnightstothinkthathemightloseit。

TheessentialfactofthepoliticsoftheageinwhichBertSmallwayslived——theagethatblunderedatlastintothecatastropheoftheWarintheAir——wasaverysimpleone，ifonlypeoplehadhadtheintelligencetobesimpleaboutit。ThedevelopmentofSciencehadalteredthescaleofhumanaffairs。

Bymeansofrapidmechanicaltraction，ithadbroughtmennearertogether，somuchnearersocially，economically，physically，thattheoldseparationsintonationsandkingdomswerenolongerpossible，anewer，widersynthesiswasnotonlyneeded，butimperativelydemanded。JustastheonceindependentdukedomsofFrancehadtofuseintoanation，sonowthenationshadtoadaptthemselvestoawidercoalescence，theyhadtokeepwhatwaspreciousandpossible，andconcedewhatwasobsoleteanddangerous。Asanerworldwouldhaveperceivedthispatentneedforareasonablesynthesis，wouldhavediscussedittemperately，achievedandgoneontoorganisethegreatcivilisationthatwasmanifestlypossibletomankind。TheworldofBertSmallwaysdidnothingofthesort。Itsnationalgovernments，itsnationalinterests，wouldnothearofanythingsoobvious;theyweretoosuspiciousofeachother，toowantingingenerousimaginations。

Theybegantobehavelikeill—bredpeopleinacrowdedpubliccar，tosqueezeagainstoneanother，elbow，thrust，disputeandquarrel。Vaintopointouttothemthattheyhadonlytorearrangethemselvestobecomfortable。Everywhere，allovertheworld，thehistorian，oftheearlytwentiethcenturyfindsthesamething，theflowandrearrangementofhumanaffairsinextricablyentangledbytheoldareas，theoldprejudicesandasortofheatedirasciblestupidity，andeverywherecongestednationsininconvenientareas，sloppingpopulationandproduceintoeachother，annoyingeachotherwithtariffs，andeverypossiblecommercialvexation，andthreateningeachotherwithnaviesandarmiesthatgreweveryyearmoreportentous。

Itisimpossiblenowtoestimatehowmuchoftheintellectualandphysicalenergyoftheworldwaswastedinmilitarypreparationandequipment，butitwasanenormousproportion。GreatBritainspentuponarmyandnavymoneyandcapacity，thatdirectedintothechannelsofphysicalcultureandeducationwouldhavemadetheBritishthearistocracyoftheworld。Herrulerscouldhavekeptthewholepopulationlearningandexercisinguptotheageofeighteenandmadeabroad—chestedandintelligentmanofeveryBertSmallwaysintheislands，hadtheygiventheresourcestheyspentinwarmaterialtothemakingofmen。Insteadofwhichtheywaggledflagsathimuntilhewasfourteen，incitedhimtocheer，andthenturnedhimoutofschooltobeginthatcareerofprivateenterprisewehavecompactlyrecorded。Franceachievedsimilarimbecilities;Germanywas，ifpossibleworse;Russiaunderthewasteandstressesofmilitarismfesteredtowardsbankruptcyanddecay。AllEuropewasproducingbiggunsandcountlessswarmsoflittleSmallways。TheAsiaticpeopleshadbeenforcedinself—defenceintoalikediversionofthenewpowerssciencehadbroughtthem。Ontheeveoftheoutbreakofthewarthereweresixgreatpowersintheworldandaclusterofsmallerones，eacharmedtotheteethandstrainingeverynervetogetaheadoftheothersindeadlinessofequipmentandmilitaryefficiency。ThegreatpowerswerefirsttheUnitedStates，anationaddictedtocommerce，butrousedtomilitarynecessitiesbytheeffortsofGermanytoexpandintoSouthAmerica，andbythenaturalconsequencesofherownunwaryannexationsoflandintheveryteethofJapan。Shemaintainedtwoimmensefleetseastandwest，andinternallyshewasinviolentconflictbetweenFederalandStategovernmentsuponthequestionofuniviorsalserviceinadefensivemilitia。NextcamethegreatallianceofEasternAsia，aclose—knitcoalescenceofChinaandJapan，advancingwithrapidstridesyearbyyeartopredominanceintheworld’saffairs。ThentheGermanalliancestillstruggledtoachieveitsdreamofimperialexpansion，anditsimpositionoftheGermanlanguageuponaforciblyunitedEurope。Thesewerethethreemostspiritedandaggressivepowersintheworld。FarmorepacificwastheBritishEmpire，perilouslyscatteredovertheglobe，anddistractednowbyinsurrectionarymovementsinIrelandandamongallitsSubjectRaces。Ithadgiventhesesubjectracescigarettes，boots，bowlerhats，cricket，racemeetings，cheaprevolvers，petroleum，thefactorysystemofindustry，halfpeunynewspapersinbothEnglishandthevernacular，inexpensiveuniversitydegrees，motor—bicyclesandelectrictrams;ithadproducedaconsiderableliteratureexpressingcontemptfortheSubjectRaces，andrendereditfreelyaccessibletothem，andithadbeencontenttobelievethatnothingwouldresultfromthesestimulantsbecausesomebodyoncewrote"theimmemorialeast";andalso，intheinspiredwordsofKipling——

Eastiseastandwestiswest，Andneverthetwainshallmeet。

Insteadofwhich，Egypt，India，andthesubjectcountriesgenerallyhadproducednewgenerationsinastateofpassionateindignationandtheutmostenergy，activityandmodernity。ThegoverningclassinGreatBritainwasslowlyadaptingitselftoanewconception，oftheSubjectRacesaswakingpeoples，andfindingitseffortstokeeptheEmpiretogetherunderthese，strainsandchangingideasgreatlyimpededbytheentirelysportingspiritwithwhichBertSmallwaysathome（bythemillion）casthisvote，andbythetendencyofhismorehighlycolouredequivalentstobedisrespectfultoirascibleofficials。

Theirimpertinencewasexcessive;itwasnomerestone—throwingandshouting。TheywouldquoteBurnsatthemandMillandDarwinandconfutetheminarguments。

EvenmorepacificthantheBritishEmpirewereFranceanditsallies，theLatinpowers，heavilyarmedstatesindeed，butreluctantwarriors，andinmanywayssociallyandpoliticallyleadingwesterncivilisation。Russiawasapacificpowerperforce，dividedwithinitself，tornbetweenrevolutionariesandreactionarieswhowereequallyincapableofsocialreconstruction，andsosinkingtowardsatragicdisorderofchronicpoliticalvendetta。Wedgedinamongtheseportentouslargerbulks，swayedandthreatenedbythem，thesmallerstatesoftheworldmaintainedaprecariousindependence，eachkeepingitselfarmedasdangerouslyasitsutmostabilitycouldcontrive。

Soitcameaboutthatineverycountryagreatandgrowingbodyofenergeticandinventivemenwasbusiedeitherforoffensiveordefensiveends，inelaboratingtheapparatusofwar，untiltheaccumulatingtensionsshouldreachthebreaking—point。Eachpowersoughttokeepitspreparationssecret，toholdnewweaponsinreserve，toanticipateandlearnthepreparationsofitsrivals。Thefeelingofdangerfromfreshdiscoveriesaffectedthepatrioticimaginationofeverypeopleintheworld。NowitwasrumouredtheBritishhadanoverwhelminggun，nowtheFrenchaninvinciblerifle，nowtheJapaneseanewexplosive，nowtheAmericansasubmarinethatwoulddriveeveryironcladfromtheseas。Eachtimetherewouldbeawarpanic。

Thestrengthandheartofthenationswasgiventothethoughtofwar，andyetthemassoftheircitizenswasateemingdemocracyasheedlessofandunfittedforfighting，mentally，morally，physically，asanypopulationhaseverbeen——or，oneventurestoadd，couldeverbe。Thatwastheparadoxofthetime。Itwasaperiodaltogetheruniqueintheworld’shistory。Theapparatusofwarfare，the，artandmethodoffighting，changedabsolutelyeverydozenyearsinastupendousprogresstowardsperfection，andpeoplegrewlessandlesswarlike，andtherewasnowar。

Andthenatlastitcame。Itcameasasurprisetoalltheworldbecauseitsrealcauseswerehidden。RelationswerestrainedbetweenGermanyandtheUnitedStatesbecauseoftheintenseexasperationofatariffconflictandtheambiguousattitudeoftheformerpowertowardstheMonroeDoctrine，andtheywerestrainedbetweentheUnitedStatesandJapanbecauseoftheperennialcitizenshipquestion。Butinbothcasesthesewerestandingcausesofoffence。Therealdecidingcause，itisnowknown，wastheperfectingofthePforzheimenginebyGermanyandtheconsequentpossibilityofarapidandentirelypracticableairship。AtthattimeGermanywasbyfarthemostefficientpowerintheworld，betterorganisedforswiftandsecretaction，betterequippedwiththeresourcesofmodernscience，andwithherofficialandadministrativeclassesatahigherlevelofeducationandtraining。Thesethingssheknew，andsheexaggeratedthatknowledgetothepitchofcontemptforthesecretcounselsofherneighbours。Itmaybethatwiththehabitofself—confidenceherspyinguponthemhadgrownlessthorough。

Moreover，shehadatraditionofunsentimentalandunscrupulousactionthatvitiatedherinternationaloutlookprofoundly。Withthecomingofthesenewweaponshercollectiveintelligencethrilledwiththesensethatnowhermomenthadcome。Onceagaininthehistoryofprogressitseemedsheheldthedecisiveweapon。Nowshemightstrikeandconquer——beforetheothershadanythingbutexperimentsintheair。

ParticularlyshemuststrikeAmerica，swiftly，becausethere，ifanywhere，laythechanceofanaerialrival。ItwasknownthatAmericapossessedaflying—machineofconsiderablepracticalvalue，developedoutoftheWrightmodel;butitwasnotsupposedthattheWashingtonWarOfficehadmadeanywholesaleattemptstocreateairaerialnavy。Itwasnecessarytostrikebeforetheycoulddoso。Francehadafleetofslownavigables，severaldatingfrom1908，thatcouldmakenopossibleheadwayagainstthenewtype。Theyhadbeenbuiltsolelyforreconnoitringpurposesontheeasternfrontier，theyweremostlytoosmalltocarrymorethanacouple，ofdozenmenwithoutarmsorprovisions，andnotonecoulddofortymiles。anhour。GreatBritain，itseemed，inanaccessofmeanness，temporisedandwrangledwiththeimperialspiritedButteridgeandhisextraordinaryinvention。Thatalsowasnotinplay——andcouldnotbeforsomemonthsattheearliest。FromAsiathere，camenosign。TheGermansexplainedthisbysayingtheyellowpeopleswerewithoutinvention。Noothercompetitorwasworthconsidering。"Nowornever，"saidtheGermans——"noworneverwemayseizetheair——asoncetheBritishseizedtheseas！Whilealltheotherpowersarestillexperimenting。"

Swiftandsystematicandsecretweretheirpreparations，andtheirplanmostexcellent。Sofarastheirknowledgewent，Americawastheonlydangerouspossibility;America，whichwasalsonowtheleadingtraderivalofGermanyandoneofthechiefbarrierstoherImperialexpansion。SoatoncetheywouldstrikeatAmerica。TheywouldflingagreatforceacrosstheAtlanticheavensandbearAmericadownunwarnedandunprepared。

Altogetheritwasawell—imaginedandmosthopefulandspiritedenterprise，havingregardtotheinformationinthepossessionoftheGermangovernment。Thechancesofitbeingasuccessfulsurprisewereverygreat。Theairshipandtheflying—machinewereverydifferentthingsfromironclads，whichtakeacoupleofyearstobuild。Givenhands，givenplant，theycouldbemadeinnumerablyinafewweeks。Oncetheneedfulparksandfoundrieswereorganised，air—shipsandDracheinfliegercouldbepouredintothesky。Indeed，whenthetimecame，theydidpourintotheskylike，asabitterFrenchwriterputit，fliesrousedfromfilth。

TheattackuponAmericawastobethefirstmoveinthistremendousgame。ButnosoonerhaditstartedthaninstantlytheaeronauticparksweretoproceedtoputtogetherandinflatethesecondfleetwhichwastodominateEuropeandmanoeuvresignificantlyoverLondon，Paris，Rome，St。Petersburg，orwhereverelseitsmoraleffectwasrequired。AWorldSurpriseitwastobe——nolessaWorldConquest;anditiswonderfulhownearthecalmlyadventurousmindsthatplanneditcametosucceedingintheircolossaldesign。

VonSternbergwastheMoltkeofthisWarintheAir，butitwasthecurioushardromanticismofPrinceKarlAlbertthatwonoverthehesitatingEmperortothescheme。PrinceKarlAlbertwasindeedthecentralfigureoftheworlddrama。HewasthedarlingoftheImperialistspiritinGerman，andtheidealofthenewaristocraticfeeling——thenewChivalry，asitwascalled——thatfollowedtheoverthrowofSocialismthroughitsinternaldivisionsandlackofdiscipline，andtheconcentrationofwealthinthehandsofafewgreatfamilies。HewascomparedbyobsequiousflattererstotheBlackPrince，toAlcibiades，totheyoungCaesar。TomanyheseemedNietzsche’sOvermanrevealed。Hewasbigandblondandvirile，andsplendidlynon—moral。ThefirstgreatfeatthatstartledEurope，andalmostbroughtaboutanewTrojanwar，washisabductionofthePrincessHelenaofNorwayandhisblankrefusaltomarryher。ThenfollowedhismarriagewithGretchenKrass，aSwissgirlofpeerlessbeauty。Thencamethegallantrescue，whichalmostcosthimhislife，ofthreedrowningtailorswhoseboathadupsetintheseanearHeligoland。ForthatandhisvictoryovertheAmericanyachtDefender，C。C。I。，theEmperorforgavehimandplacedhimincontrolofthenewaeronauticarmoftheGermanforces。Thishedevelopedwithmarvellousenergyandability，beingresolved，ashesaid，togivetoGermanylandandseaandsky。Thenationalpassionforaggressionfoundinhimitssupremeexponent，andachievedthroughhimitsrealisationinthisastoundingwar。Buthisfascinationwasmorethannational;

allovertheworldhisruthlessstrengthdominatedmindsastheNapoleoniclegendhaddominatedminds。Englishmenturnedindisgustfromtheslow，complex，civilisedmethodsoftheirnationalpoliticstothisuncompromising，forcefulfigure。

Frenchmenbelievedinhim。PoemswerewrittentohiminAmerican。

Hemadethewar。

Quiteequallywiththerestoftheworld，thegeneralGermanpopulationwastakenbysurprisebytheswiftvigouroftheImperialgovernment。Aconsiderableliteratureofmilitaryforecasts，beginningasearlyas1906withRudolfMartin，theauthornotmerelyofabrilliantbookofanticipations，butofaproverb，"ThefutureofGermanyliesintheair，"had，however，partiallypreparedtheGermanimaginationforsomesuchenterprise。

2

Ofalltheseworld—forcesandgiganticdesignsBertSmallwaysknewnothinguntilhefoundhimselfintheveryfocusofitallandgapeddownamazedonthespectacleofthatgiantherdofair—

ships。EachoneseemedaslongastheStrand，andasbigaboutasTrafalgarSquare。Somemusthavebeenathirdofamileinlength。Hehadneverbeforeseenanythingsovastanddisciplinedasthistremendouspark。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehereallyhadanintimationoftheextraordinaryandquiteimportantthingsofwhichacontemporarymaygoinignorance。HehadalwaysclungtotheillusionthatGermanswerefat，absurdmen，whosmokedchinapipes，andwereaddictedtoknowledgeandhorsefleshandsauerkrautandindigestiblethingsgenerally。

Hisbird’s—eyeviewwasquitetransitory。Heduckedatthefirstshot;anddirectlyhisballoonbegantodrop，hismindranconfusedlyuponhowhemightexplainhimself，andwhetherheshouldpretendtobeButteridgeornot。"OLord！"hegroaned，inanagonyofindecision。Thenhiseyecaughthissandals，andhefeltaspasmofself—disgust。"They’llthinkI’mabloomin’

idiot，"hesaid，andthenitwasheroseupdesperatelyandthrewoverthesand—bagandprovokedthesecondandthirdshots。

Itflashedintohishead，ashecoweredinthebottomofthecar，thathemightavoidallsortsofdisagreeableandcomplicatedexplanationsbypretendingtobemad。

Thatwashislastideabeforetheairshipsseemedtorushupabouthimasiftolookathim，andhiscarhitthegroundandboundedandpitchedhimoutonhishead……

Heawoketofindhimselffamous，andtohearavoicecrying，"Booteraidge！Ja！JaiHerrBooteraidge！Selbst！"

Hewaslyingonalittlepatchofgrassbesideoneofthemainavenuesoftheaeronauticpark。Theairshipsrecededdownagreatvista，animmenseperspective，andthebluntprowofeachwasadornedwithablackeagleofahundredfeetorsospread。

Downtheothersideoftheavenueranaseriesofgasgenerators，andbighose—pipestrailedeverywhereacrosstheinterveningspace。Closeathandwashisnownearlydeflatedballoonandthecaronitssidelookingminutelysmall，amerebrokentoy，ashrivelledbubble，incontrastwiththegiganticbulkofthenearerairship。Thishesawalmostend—on，risinglikeacliffandslopingforwardtowardsitsfellowontheothersidesoastoovershadowthealleybetweenthem。Therewasacrowdofexcitedpeopleabouthim，bigmenmostlyintightuniforms。Everybodywastalking，andseveralwereshouting，inGerman;heknewthatbecausetheysplashedandaspiratedsoundslikestartledkittens。

Onlyonephrase，repeatedagainandagaincouldherecognize——thenameof"HerrBooteraidge。"

"Gollys！"saidBert。"They’vespottedit。"

"Besser，"saidsomeone，andsomerapidGermanfollowed。

Heperceivedthatcloseathandwasafieldtelephone，andthatatallofficerinbluewastalkingthereatabouthim。Anotherstoodclosebesidehimwiththeportfolioofdrawingsandphotographsinhishand。Theylookedroundathim。

"DoyouspikCherman，HerrBooteraidge？"

Bertdecidedthathehadbetterbedazed。Hedidhisbesttoseemthoroughlydazed。"WhereAMI？"heasked。

Volubilityprevailed。"DerPrinz，"wasmentioned。Abuglesoundedfaraway，anditscallwastakenupbyonenearer，andthenbyonecloseathand。Thisseemedtoincreasetheexcitementgreatly。Amono—railcarbumbledpast。Thetelephonebellrangpassionately，andthetallofficerseemedtoengageinaheatedaltercation。ThenheapproachedthegroupaboutBert，callingoutsomethingabout"mitbringen。"

Anearnest—faced，emaciatedmanwithawhitemoustacheappealedtoBert。"HerrBooteraidge，sir，wearechusttostart！"

"WhereamI？"Bertrepeated。

Someoneshookhimbytheothershoulder。"AreyouHerrBooteraidge？"heasked。

"HerrBooteraidge，wearechusttostart！"repeatedthewhitemoustache，andthenhelplessly，"Whatisdegoot？Whatcanwedo？"

Theofficerfromthetelephonerepeatedhissentenceabout"DerPrinz"and"mitbringen。"Themanwiththemoustachestaredforamoment，graspedanideaandbecameviolentlyenergetic，stoodupandbawleddirectionsatunseenpeople。Questionswereasked，andthedoctoratBert’ssideanswered，"Ja！Ja！"severaltimes，alsosomethingabout"Kopf。"WithacertainurgencyhegotBertratherunwillinglytohisfeet。TwohugesoldiersingreyadvanceduponBertandseizedholdofhim。"’Ullo！"saidBert，startled。"What’sup？"

"Itisallright，"thedoctorexplained;"theyaretocarryyou。"

"Where？"askedBert，unanswered。

"Putyourarmsroundttheir——hals——roundthem！"

"Yes！butwhere？"

"Holdtight！"

BeforeBertcoulddecidetosayanythingmorehewaswhiskedupbythetwosoldiers。Theyjoinedhandstoseathim，andhisarmswereputabouttheirnecks。"Vorwarts！"Someoneranbeforehimwiththeportfolio，andhewasbornerapidlyalongthebroadavenuebetweenthegasgeneratorsandtheairships，rapidlyandonthewholesmoothlyexceptthatonceortwicehisbearersstumbledoverhose—pipesandnearlylethimdown。

HewaswearingMr。Butteridge’sAlpinecap，andhislittleshoulderswereinMr。Butteridge’sfur—linedovercoat，andhehadrespondedtoMr。Butteridge’sname。Thesandalsdangledhelplessly。Gaw！Everybodyseemedinadevilofahurry。Why？

Hewascarriedjogglingandgapingthroughthetwilight，marvellingbeyondmeasure。

Thesystematicarrangementofwideconvenientspaces，thequantitiesofbusiness—likesoldierseverywhere，theoccasionalneatpilesofmaterial，theubiquitousmono—raillines，andthetoweringship—likehullsabouthim，remindedhimalittleofimpressionshehadgotasaboyonavisittoWoolwichDockyard。

Thewholecampreflectedthecolossalpowerofmodernsciencethathadcreatedit。Apeculiarstrangenesswasproducedbythelownessoftheelectriclight，whichlayupontheground，castingallshadowsupwardsandmakingagrotesqueshadowfigureofhimselfandhisbearersontheairshipsides，fusingallthreeofthemintoamonstrousanimalwithattenuatedlegsandanimmensefan—likehumpedbody。Thelightswereonthegroundbecauseasfaraspossibleallpolesandstandardshadbeendispensedwithtopreventcomplicationswhentheairshipsrose。

Itwasdeeptwilightnow，atranquilblue—skyedevening;

everythingroseoutfromthesplashesoflightuponthegroundintodimtranslucenttallmasses;withinthecavitiesoftheairshipssmallinspectinglampsglowedlikecloud—veiledstars，andmadethemseemmarvellouslyunsubstantial。Eachairshiphaditsnameinblacklettersonwhiteoneitherflank，andforwardtheImperialeaglesprawled，anoverwhelmingbirdinthedimness。

Buglessounded，mono—railcarsofquietsoldiersslitheredburblingby。Thecabinsundertheheadsoftheairshipswerebeinglitup;doorsopenedinthem，andrevealedpaddedpassages。

Nowandthenavoicegavedirectionstoworkersindistinctlyseen。

Therewasamatterofsentinels，gangwaysandalongnarrowpassage，ascrambleoveradisorderofbaggage，andthenBertfoundhimselfloweredtothegroundandstandinginthedoorwayofaspaciouscabin——itwasperhapstenfeetsquareandeighthigh，furnishedwithcrimsonpaddingandaluminium。Atall，bird—likeyoungmanwithasmallhead，alongnose，andverypalehair，withhishandsfullofthingslikeshaving—strops，boot—trees，hair—brushes，andtoilettidies，wassayingthingsaboutGottandthunderandDummerBooteraidgeasBertentered。

Hewasapparentlyanevictedoccupant。Thenhevanished，andBertwaslyingbackonacouchinthecornerwithapillowunderhisheadandthedoorofthecabinshutuponhim。Hewasalone。

Everybodyhadhurriedoutagainastonishingly。

"Gollys！"saidBert。"Whatnext？"

Hestaredabouthimattheroom。

"Butteridge！ShallItrytokeepitup，orshan’tI？"

Theroomhewasinpuzzledhim。"’Tisn’taprisonand’tisn’tanorfis？"Thentheoldtroublecameuppermost。"Iwishto’eavenIadn’tthesesillysandalson，"hecriedquerulouslytotheuniverse。"Theygivethewholeblessedshowaway。"

3

Hisdoorwasflungopen，andacompactyoungmaninuniformappeared，carryingMr。Butteridge’sportfolio，rucksac，andshaving—glass。

"Isay！"hesaidinfaultlessEnglishasheentered。Hehadabeamingface，andasortofpinkishblondhair。"FancyyoubeingButteridge。HeslappedBert’smeagreluggagedown。

"We’dhavestarted，"hesaid，"inanotherhalf—hour！Youdidn’tgiveyourselfmuchtime！"

HesurveyedBertcuriously。Hisgazerestedforafractionofamomentonthesandals。"Yououghttohavecomeonyourflying—machine，Mr。Butteridge。"

Hedidn’twaitforananswer。"ThePrincesaysI’vegottolookafteryou。Naturallyhecan’tseeyounow，buthethinksyourcoming’sprovidential。LastgraceofHeaven。Likeasign。Hullo！"

Hestoodstillandlistened。

Outsidetherewasagoingtoandfrooffeet，asoundofdistantbuglessuddenlytakenupandechoedcloseathand，mencalledoutinloudtonesshort，sharp，seeminglyvitalthings，andwereanswereddistantly。Abelljangled，andfeetwentdownthecorridor。Thencameastillnessmoredistractingthansound，andthenagreatgurglingandrushingandsplashingofwater。Theyoungman’seyebrowslifted。Hehesitated，anddashedoutoftheroom。Presentlycameastupendousbangtovarythenoiseswithout，thenadistantcheering。Theyoungmanre—appeared。

"They’rerunningthewateroutoftheballonettealready。"

"Whatwater？"askedBert。

"Thewaterthatanchoredus。Artfuldodge。Eh？"

Berttriedtotakeitin。

"Ofcourse！"saidthecompactyoungman。"Youdon’tunderstand。"

AgentlequiveringcreptuponBert’ssenses。"That’stheengine，"

saidthecompactyoungmanapprovingly。"Nowweshan’tbelong。"

Anotherlonglisteninginterval。

Thecabinswayed。"ByJove！we’restartingalready;"hecried。

"We’restarting！"

"Starting！"criedBert，sittingup。"Where？"

Buttheyoungmanwasoutoftheroomagain。TherewerenoisesofGermaninthepassage，andothernerve—shakingsounds。

Theswayingincreased。Theyoungmanreappeared。"We’reoff，rightenough！"

"Isay！"，saidBert，"wherearewestarting？Iwishyou’dexplain。What’sthisplace？Idon’tunderstand。"

"What！"criedtheyoungman，"youdon’tunderstand？"

"No。I’m’alldazed—likefromthatcrackonthenobIgot。

WhereAREwe？WHEREarewestarting？"

"Don’tyouknowwhereyouare——whatthisis？"

"Notabitofit！What’salltheswayingandtherow？"

"Whatalark！"criedtheyoungman。"Isay！Whatathunderinglark！Don’tyouknow？We’reofftoAmerica，andyouhaven’trealised。You’vejustcaughtusbyaneck。You’reontheblessedoldflagshipwiththePrince。Youwon’tmissanything。

Whatever’son，youbettheVaterlandwillbethere。"

"Us！——offtoAmerica？"

"Ra——ther！

"Inanairship？"

"WhatdoYOUthink？"

"Me！goingtoAmericaonanairship！Afterthatballoon！’Ere！

Isay——Idon’twanttogo！Iwanttowalkaboutonmylegs。Letmegetout！Ididn’tunderstand。"

Hemadeadiveforthedoor。

TheyoungmanarrestedBertwithagesture，tookholdofastrap，liftedupapanelinthepaddedwall，andawindowappeared。

"Look！"hesaid。Sidebysidetheylookedout。

"Gaw！"saidBert。"We’regoingup！"

"Weare！"saidtheyoungman，cheerfully;"fast！"

Theywererisingintheairsmoothlyandquietly，andmovingslowlytothethroboftheengineathwarttheaeronauticpark。

Downbelowitstretched，dimlygeometricalinthedarkness，pickedoutatregularintervalsbyglow—wormspanglesoflight。

Oneblackgapinthelonglineofgrey，round—backedairshipsmarkedthepositionfromwhichtheVaterlandhadcome。Besideitasecondmonsternowrosesoftly，releasedfromitsbondsandcablesintotheair。Then，takingabeautifullyexactdistance，athirdascended，andthenafourth。

"Toolate，Mr。Butteridge！"theyoungmanremarked。"We’reoff！

Idaresayitisabitofashocktoyou，butthereyouare！ThePrincesaidyou’dhavetocome。"

"Look’ere，"saidBert。"Ireallyamdazed。What’sthisthing？

Wherearewegoing？"

"This，Mr。Butteridge，"saidtheyoungman，takingpainstobeexplicit，"isanairship。It’stheflagshipofPrinceKarlAlbert。ThisistheGermanair—fleet，anditisgoingovertoAmerica，togivethatspiritedpeople’whatfor。’Theonlythingwewereatalluneasyaboutwasyourinvention。Andhereyouare！"

"But！——youaGerman？"askedBert。

"LieutenantKurt。Luft—lieutenantKurt，atyourservice。"

"ButyouspeakEnglish！"

"MotherwasEnglish——wenttoschoolinEngland。Afterwards，Rhodesscholar。Germannonethelessforthat。Detailedforthepresent，Mr。Butteridge，tolookafteryou。You’reshakenbyyourfall。It’sallright，really。They’regoingtobuyyourmachineandeverything。Yousitdown，andtakeitquitecalmly。

You’llsoongetthehangoftheposition。"

4

Bertsatdownonthelocker，collectinghismind，andtheyoungmantalkedtohimabouttheairship。