第9章

"What’stherow？"saidBert。

"Shutup！"saidthelieutenant。"Can’tyouhear？"

Intothestillnesscametherepeatedheavythudofguns，one，two，apause，thenthreeinquicksuccession。

"Gaw！"saidBert——"guns！"andwasinstantlyatthelieutenant’sside。Theairshipwasstillveryhighandtheseabelowwasmaskedbyathinveilofclouds。Thewindhadfallen，andBert，followingKurt’spointingfinger，sawdimlythroughthecolourlessveilfirstaredglow，thenaquickredflash，andthenatalittledistancefromitanother。Theywere，itseemedforawhile，silentflashes，andsecondsafter，whenonehadceasedtoexpectthem，camethebelatedthuds——thud，thud。KurtspokeinGerman，veryquickly。

Abuglecallrangthroughtheairship。

Kurtsprangtohisfeet，sayingsomethinginanexcitedtone，stillusingGerman，andwenttothedoor。

"Isay！What’sup？"criedBert。"What’sthat？"

Thelieutenantstoppedforaninstantinthedoorway，darkagainstthelightpassage。"Youstaywhereyouare，Smallways。

Youkeepthereanddonothing。We’regoingintoaction，"heexplained，andvanished。

Bert’sheartbegantobeatrapidly。Hefelthimselfpoisedoverthefightingvesselsfarbelow。Inamoment，weretheytodroplikeahawkstrikingabird？"Gaw！"hewhisperedatlast，inawestrickentones。

Thud！……thud！Hediscoveredfarawayasecondruddyflareflashinggunsbackatthefirst。HeperceivedsomedifferenceontheVaterlandforwhichhecouldnotaccount，andthenherealisedthattheengineshadslowedtoanalmostinaudiblebeat。

Hestuckhisheadoutofthewindow——itwasatightfit——andsawinthebleakairtheotherairshipssloweddowntoascarcelyperceptiblemotion。

Asecondbuglesounded，wastakenupfaintlyfromshiptoship。

Outwentthelights;thefleetbecamedim，darkbulksagainstanintenseblueskythatstillretainedanoccasionalstar。Foralongtimetheyhung，foraninterminabletimeitseemedtohim，andthenbeganthesoundofairbeingpumpedintotheballoonette，andslowly，slowlytheVaterlandsankdowntowardstheclouds。

Hecranedhisneck，buthecouldnotseeiftherestofthefleetwasfollowingthem;theoverhangofthegas—chambersintervened。

Therewassomethingthatstirredhisimaginationdeeplyinthatstealthy，noiselessdescent。Theobscuritydeepenedforatime，thelastfadingstaronthehorizonvanished，andhefeltthecoldpresenceofcloud。Thensuddenlytheglowbeneathassumeddistinctoutlines，becameflames，andtheVaterlandceasedtodescendandhungobservant，anditwouldseemunobserved，justbeneathadriftingstratumofcloud，athousandfeet，perhaps，overthebattlebelow。

Inthenightthestrugglingnavalbattleandretreathadentereduponanewphase。TheAmericanshaddrawntogethertheendsoftheflyinglineskilfullyanddexterously，untilatlastitwasacolumnandwelltothesouthofthelaxsweepingpursuitoftheGermans。TheninthedarknessbeforethedawntheyhadcomeaboutandsteamednorthwardincloseorderwiththeideaofpassingthroughtheGermanbattle—lineandfallingupontheflotillathatwasmakingforNewYorkinsupportoftheGermanair—fleet。Muchhadalteredsincethefirstcontactofthefleets。BythistimetheAmericanadmiral，O’Connor，wasfullyinformedoftheexistenceoftheairships，andhewasnolongervitallyconcernedforPanama，sincethesubmarineflotillawasreportedarrivedtherefromKeyWest，andtheDelawareandAbrahamLincoln，twopowerfulandentirelymodernships，werealreadyatRioGrande，onthePacificsideofthecanal。Hismanoeuvrewas，however，delayedbyaboilerexplosiononboardtheSusquehanna，anddawnfoundthisshipinsightofandindeedsoclosetotheBremenandWeimarthattheyinstantlyengaged。

Therewasnoalternativetoherabandonmentbutafleetengagement。O’Connorchosethelattercourse。Itwasbynomeansahopelessfight。TheGermans，thoughmuchmorenumerousandpowerfulthantheAmericans，wereinadispersedlinemeasuringnearlyforty—fivemilesfromendtoend，andthereweremanychancesthatbeforetheycouldgatherinforthefightthecolumnofsevenAmericanswouldhaverippedthemfromendtoend。

Thedaybrokedimandovercast，andneithertheBremennortheWeimarrealisedtheyhadtodealwithmorethantheSusquehannauntilthewholecolumndrewoutfrombehindheratadistanceofamile。orlessandboredownonthem。ThiswasthepositionofaffairswhentheVaterlandappearedinthesky。TheredglowBerthadseenthroughthecolumnofcloudscamefromthelucklessSusquehanna;shelayalmostimmediatelybelow，burningforeandaft，butstillfightingtwoofhergunsandsteamingslowlysouthward。TheBremenandtheWeimar，bothhitinseveralplaces，weregoingwestbysouthandawayfromher。TheAmericanfleet，headedbytheTheodoreRoosevelt，wascrossingbehindthem，poundingtheminsuccession，steaminginbetweenthemandthebigmodernFurstBismarck，whichwascomingupfromthewest。

ToBert，however，thenamesofalltheseshipswereunknown，andforaconsiderabletimeindeed，misledbythedirectioninwhichthecombatantsweremoving，heimaginedtheGermanstobeAmericansandtheAmericansGermans。Hesawwhatappearedtohimtobeacolumnofsixbattleshipspursuingthreeotherswhoweresupportedbyanewcomer，untilthefactthattheBremenandWeimarwerefiringintotheSusquehannaupsethiscalculations。

Thenforatimehewashopelesslyataloss。Thenoiseoftheguns，too，confusedhim，theynolongerseemedtoboom;theywentwhack，whack，whack，whack，andeachfaintflashmadehisheartjumpinanticipationoftheinstantimpact。Hesawtheseironclads，too，notinprofile，ashewasaccustomedtoseeironcladsinpictures，butinplanandcuriouslyforeshortened。

Forthemostparttheypresentedemptydecks，buthereandtherelittleknotsofmenshelteredbehindsteelbulwarks。Thelong，agitatednosesoftheir，bigguns，jettingthintransparentflashesandthebroadsideactivityofthequick—firers，werethechieffactsinthisbird’s—eyeview。TheAmericansbeingsteam—turbineships，hadfromtwotofourblastfunnelseach;theGermanslaylowerinthewater，havingexplosiveengines，whichnowforsomereasonmadeanunwontedmuteringroar。Becauseoftheirsteampropulsion，theAmericanshipswerelargerandwithamoregracefuloutline。Hesawalltheseforeshortenedshipsrollingconsiderablyandfightingtheirgunsoveraseaofhugelowwavesandunderthecold，explicitlightofdawn。Thewholespectaclewavedslowlywiththelongrhythmicrisingandbeatoftheairship。

AtfirstonlytheVaterlandofalltheflyingfleetappeareduponthescenebelow。Shehoveredhigh，overtheTheodoreRoosevelt，keepingpacewiththefullspeedofthatship。Fromthatshipshemusthavebeenintermittentlyvisiblethroughthedriftingclouds。TherestoftheGermanfleetremainedabovethecloudcanopyataheightofsixorseventhousandfeet，communicatingwiththeflagshipbywirelesstelegraphy，butriskingnoexposuretotheartillerybelow。

ItisdoubtfulatwhatparticulartimetheunluckyAmericansrealisedthepresenceofthisnewfactorinthefight。Noaccountnowsurvivesoftheirexperience。Wehavetoimagineaswellaswecanwhatitmusthavebeentoabattled—strainedsailorsuddenlyglancingupwardtodiscoverthathugelongsilentshapeoverhead，vasterthananybattleship，andtrailingnowfromitshinderquarterabigGermanflag。Presently，astheskycleared，moreofsuchshipsappearedinthebluethroughthedissolvingclouds，andmore，alldisdainfullyfreeofgunsorarmour，allflyingfasttokeeppacewiththerunningfightbelow。

FromfirsttolastnogunwhateverwasfiredattheVaterland，andonlyafewrifleshots。Itwasamereadversestrokeofchancethatshehadamankilledaboardher。Nordidshetakeanydirectshareinthefightuntiltheend。SheflewabovethedoomedAmericanfleetwhilethePrincebywirelesstelegraphydirectedthemovementsofherconsorts。MeanwhiletheVogel—sternandPreussen，eachwithhalfadozendrachenfliegerintow，wentfullspeedaheadandthendroppedthroughtheclouds，perhapsfivemilesaheadoftheAmericans。TheTheodoreRooseveltletflyatoncewiththebiggunsinherforwardbarbette，buttheshellsburstfarbelowtheVogel—stern，andforthwithadozensingle—mandrachenfliegerwereswoopingdowntomaketheirattack。

Bert，craninghisneckthroughthecabinport—hole，saw，thewholeofthatincident，thatfirstencounterofaeroplaneandironclad。

HesawthequeerGermandrachenflieger，withtheirwideflatwingsandsquarebox—shapedheads，theirwheeledbodies，andtheirsingle—manriders，soardowntheairlikeaflightofbirds。"Gaw！"hesaid。Onetotherightpitchedextravagantly，shotsteeplyupintotheair，burstwithaloudreport，andflameddownintothesea;anotherplungednoseforwardintothewaterandseemedtoflytopiecesasithitthewaves。HesawlittlemenonthedeckoftheTheodoreRooseveltbelow，menforeshortenedinplanintomereheadsandfeet，runningoutpreparingtoshootattheothers。Thentheforemostflying—machinewasrushingbetweenBertandtheAmerican’sdeck，andthenbang！camethethunderofitsbombflungneatlyattheforwardbarbette，andathinlittlecracklingofrifleshotsinreply。Whack，whack，whack，wentthequick—firinggunsoftheAmericans’battery，andsmashcameanansweringshellfromtheFurstBismarck。Thenasecondandthirdflying—machinepassedbetweenBertandtheAmericanironclad，droppingbombsalso，andafourth，itsriderhitbyabullet，reeleddownanddasheditselftopiecesandexplodedbetweentheshot—tornfunnels，blowingthemapart。Berthadamomentaryglimpseofalittleblackcreaturejumpingfromthecrumplingframeoftheflying—

machine，hittingthefunnel，andfallinglimply，tobeinstantlycaughtanddriventonothingnessbytheblazeandrushoftheexplosion。

Smash！cameavastexplosionintheforwardpartoftheflagship，andahugepieceofmetalworkseemedtoliftoutofheranddumpitselfintothesea，droppingmenandleavingagapintowhichapromptdrachenfliegerplantedaflaringbomb。AndthenforaninstantBertperceivedonlytooclearlyinthegrowing，pitilesslightanumberofminute，convulsivelyactiveanimalculascorchedandstrugglingintheTheodoreRoosevelt’sfoamingwake。Whatwerethey？Notmen——surelynotmen？Thosedrowning，mangledlittlecreaturestorewiththeirclutchingfingersatBert’ssoul。"Oh，Gord！"hecried，"Oh，Gord！"almostwhimpering。Helookedagainandtheyhadgone，andtheblackstemoftheAndrewJackson，alittledisfiguredbythesinkingBremen’slastshot，waspartingthewaterthathadswallowedthemintotwoneatlysymmetricalwaves。ForsomemomentssheerblankhorrorblindedBerttothedestructionbelow。

Then，withanimmenserushingsound，bearingasitwereastragglingvolleyofcrashingminorexplosionsonitsback，theSusquehanna，threemilesandmorenowtotheeast，blewupandvanishedabruptlyinaboiling，steamingwelter。Foramomentnothingwastobeseenbuttumbledwater，and——thentherecamebelchingupfrombelow，withimmensegulpingnoises，eructationsofsteamandairandpetrolandfragmentsofcanvasandwoodworkandmen。

Thatmadeadistinctpauseinthefight。ItseemedalongpausetoBert。Hefoundhimselflookingforthedrachenflieger。TheflattenedruinofonewasfloatingabeamoftheMonitor，theresthadpassed，droppingbombsdowntheAmericancolumn;severalwereinthewaterandapparentlyuninjured，andthreeorfourwerestillintheairandcomingroundnowinawidecircletoreturntotheirmotherairships。TheAmericanironcladswerenolongerincolumnformation;theTheodoreRoosevelt，badlydamaged，hadturnedtothesoutheast，andtheAndrewJackson，greatlybatteredbutuninjuredinanyfightingpartwaspassingbetweenherandthestillfreshandvigorousFurstBismarcktointerceptandmeetthelatter’sfire。AwaytothewesttheHermannandtheGermanicushadappearedandwerecomingintoaction。

Inthepause，aftertheSusquehanna’sdisasterBertbecameawareofatrivialsoundlikethenoiseofanill—greased，ill—hungdoorthatfallsajar——thesoundofthemenintheFurstBismarckcheering。

Andinthatpauseintheuproartoo，thesunrose，thedarkwatersbecameluminouslyblue，andatorrentofgoldenlightirradiatedtheworld。Itcamelikeasuddensmileinasceneofhateandterror。Thecloudveilhadvanishedasifbymagic，andthewholeimmensityoftheGermanair—fleetwasrevealedinthesky;theair—fleetstoopingnowuponitsprey。

"Whack—bang，whack—bang，"thegunsresumed，butironcladswerenotbuilttofightthezenith，andtheonlyhitstheAmericansscoredwereafewluckychancesinagenerallyineffectualriflefire。Theircolumnwasnowbadlybroken，theSusquehannahadgone，theTheodoreRoosevelthadfallenasternoutoftheline，withherforwardgunsdisabled，inaheapofwreckage，andtheMonitorwasinsomegravetrouble。Thesetwohadceasedfirealtogether，andsohadtheBremenandWeimar，allfourshipslyingwithinshotofeachotherinaninvoluntarytruceandwiththeirrespectiveflagsstilldisplayed。OnlyfourAmericanshipsnow，withtheAndrewJacksonreadingskepttothesouth—easterlycourse。AndtheFurstBismarck，theHermann，andtheGermanicussteamedparalleltothemanddrewaheadofthem，fightingheavily。TheVaterlandroseslowlyintheairinpreparationfortheconcludingactofthedrama。

Then，fallingintoplaceonebehindtheother，astringofadozenairshipsdroppedwithunhurryingswiftnessdowntheairinpursuitoftheAmericanfleet。Theykeptataheightoftwothousandfeetormoreuntiltheywereoverandalittleinadvanceoftherearmostironclad，andthenstoopedswiftlydownintoafountainofbullets，andgoingjustalittlefasterthantheshipbelow，peltedherthinlyprotecteddeckswithbombsuntiltheybecamesheetsofdetonatingflame。SotheairshipspassedoneaftertheotheralongtheAmericancolumnasitsoughttokeepupitsfightwiththeFurstBismarck，theHermann，andtheGermanicus，andeachairshipaddedtothedestructionandconfusionitspredecessorhadmade。TheAmericangunfireceased，exceptforafewheroicshots，buttheystillsteamedon，obstinatelyunsubdued，bloody，battered，andwrathfullyresistant，spittingbulletsattheairshipsandunmercifullypoundedbytheGermanironclads。ButnowBerthadbutintermittentglimpsesofthembetweenthenearerbulksoftheairshipsthatassailedthem……

ItstruckBertsuddenlythatthewholebattlewasrecedingandgrowingsmallandlessthunderouslynoisy。TheVaterlandwasrisingintheair，steadilyandsilently，untiltheimpactofthegunsnolongersmoteupontheheartbutcametotheeardulledbydistance，untilthefoursilencedshipstotheeastwardwerelittledistantthings:butweretherefour？Bertnowcouldseeonlythreeofthosefloating，blackened，andsmokingraftsofruinagainstthesun。ButtheBremenhadtwoboatsout;theTheodoreRooseveltwasalsodroppingboatstowherethedriftofminuteobjectsstruggled，risingandfallingonthebig，broadAtlanticwaves……TheVaterlandwasnolongerfollowingthefight。Thewholeofthathurryingtumultdroveawaytothesouth—eastward，growingsmallerandlessaudibleasitpassed。

Oneoftheairshipslayonthewaterburning，aremotemonstrousfountofflames，andfarinthesouth—westappearedfirstoneandthenthreeotherGermanironcladshurryinginsupportoftheirconsorts……

5

SteadilytheVaterlandsoared，andtheair—fleetsoaredwithherandcameroundtoheadforNewYork，andthebattlebecamealittlethingfaraway，anincidentbeforethebreakfast。Itdwindledtoastringofdarkshapesandonesmokingyellowflarethatpresentlybecameamereindistinctsmearuponthevasthorizonandthebrightnewday，thatwasatlastaltogetherlosttosight……

SoitwasthatBertSmallwayssawthefirstfightoftheairshipandthelastfightofthosestrangestthingsinthewholehistoryofwar:theironcladbattleships，whichbegantheircareerwiththefloatingbatteriesoftheEmperorNapoleonIIIintheCrimeanwarandlasted，withanenormousexpenditureofhumanenergyandresources，forseventyyears。Inthatspaceoftimetheworldproducedovertwelvethousandfivehundredofthesestrangemonsters，inschools，intypes，inseries，eachlargerandheavierandmoredeadlythanitspredecessors。Eachinitsturnwashailedasthelastbirthoftime，mostintheirturnweresoldforoldiron。Onlyaboutfivepercentofthemeverfoughtinabattle。Somefoundered，somewentashore，andbrokeup，severalrammedoneanotherbyaccidentandsank。Thelivesofcountlessmenwerespentintheirservice，thesplendidgenius，andpatienceofthousandsofengineersandinventors，wealthandmaterialbeyondestimating;totheiraccountwemustput，stuntedandstarvedlivesonland，millionsofchildrensenttotoilunduly，innumerableopportunitiesoffinelivingundevelopedandlost。Moneyhadtobefoundforthematanycost——thatwasthelawofanation’sexistenceduringthatstrangetime。Surelytheyweretheweirdest，mostdestructiveandwastefulmegatheriainthewholehistoryofmechanicalinvention。

Andthencheapthingsofgasandbasket—workmadeanendofthemaltogether，smitingoutofthesky！……

NeverbeforehadBertSmallwaysseenpuredestruction，neverhadherealisedthemischiefandwasteofwar。Hisstartledmindrosetotheconception;thisalsoisinlife。Outofallthisfiercetorrentofsensationoneimpressionroseandbecamecardinal——theimpressionofthemenoftheTheodoreRooseveltwhohadstruggledinthewateraftertheexplosionofthefirstbomb。

"Gaw！"hesaidatthememory;"itmight’avebeenmeandGrubb！……Isupposeyoukickaboutandgetthewaterinyourmouf。I

don’tsupposeitlastslong。"

HebecameanxioustoseehowKurtwasaffectedbythesethings。

Alsoheperceivedhewashungry。Hehesitatedtowardsthedoorofthecabinandpeepedoutintothepassage。Downforward，nearthegangwaytothemen’smess，stoodalittlegroupofairsailorslookingatsomethingthatwashiddenfromhiminarecess。Oneofthemwasinthelightdiver’scostumeBerthadalreadyseeninthegaschamberturret，andhewasmovedtowalkalongandlookatthispersonmorecloselyandexaminethehelmethecarriedunderhisarm。Butheforgotaboutthehelmetwhenhegottotherecess，becausetherehefoundlyingonthefloorthedeadbodyoftheboywhohadbeenkilledbyabulletfromtheTheodoreRoosevelt。

BerthadnotobservedthatanybulletsatallhadreachedtheVaterlandor，indeed，imaginedhimselfunderfire。Hecouldnotunderstandforatimewhathadkilledthelad，andnooneexplainedtohim。

Theboylayjustashehadfallenanddied，withhisjackettornandscorched，hisshoulder—bladesmashedandburstawayfromhisbodyandalltheleftsideofhisbodyrippedandrent。Therewasmuchblood。Thesailorsstoodlisteningtothemanwiththehelmet，whomadeexplanationsandpointedtotheroundbulletholeinthefloorandthesmashinthepanelofthepassageuponwhichthestillviciousmissilehadspenttheresidueofitsenergy。Allthefacesweregraveandearnest:theywerethefacesofsober，blond，blue—eyedmenaccustomedtoobedienceandanorderlylife，towhomthiswaste，wet，painfulthingthathadbeenacomradecamealmostasstrangelyasitdidtoBert。

Apealofwildlaughtersoundeddownthepassageinthedirectionofthelittlegalleryandsomethingspoke——almostshouted——inGerman，intonesofexultation。

Othervoicesatalower，morerespectfulpitchreplied。

"DerPrinz，"saidavoice，andallthemenbecamestifferandlessnatural。Downthepassageappearedagroupoffigures，LieutenantKurtwalkinginfrontcarryingapacketofpapers。

Hestoppedpointblankwhenhesawthethingintherecess，andhisruddyfacewentwhite。

"So！"saidheinsurprise。

ThePrincewasfollowinghim，talkingoverhisshouldertoVonWinterfeldandtheKapitan。

"Eh？"hesaidtoKurt，stoppinginmid—sentence，andfollowedthegestureofKurt’shand。Heglaredatthecrumpledobjectintherecessandseemedtothinkforamoment。

Hemadeaslight，carelessgesturetowardstheboy’sbodyandturnedtotheKapitan。

"Disposeofthat，"hesaidinGerman，andpassedon，finishinghissentencetoVonWinterfeldinthesamecheerfultoneinwhichithadbegun。

6

ThedeepimpressionofhelplesslydrowningmenthatBerthadbroughtfromtheactualfightintheAtlanticmixeditselfupinextricablywiththatofthelordlyfigureofPrinceKarlAlbertgesturingasidethedeadbodyoftheVaterlandsailor。Hithertohehadratherlikedtheideaofwarasbeingajolly，smashing，excitingaffair，somethinglikeaBankHolidayragonalargescale，andonthewholeagreeableandexhilarating。Nowheknewitalittlebetter。

Thenextdaytherewasaddedtohisgrowingdisillusionmentathirduglyimpression，trivialindeedtodescribe，amerenecessaryeverydayincidentofastateofwar，butverydistressingtohisurbanisedimagination。Onewrites"urbanised"

toexpressthedistinctivegentlenessoftheperiod。Itwasquitepeculiartothecrowdedtownsmenofthattime，anddifferentaltogetherfromthenormalexperienceofanyprecedingage，thattheyneversawanythingkilled，neverencountered，savethroughthemitigatingmediaofbookorpicture，thefactoflethalviolencethatunderliesalllife。Threetimesinhisexistence，andthreetimesonly，hadBertseenadeadhumanbeing，andhehadneverassistedatthekillingofanythingbiggerthananew—bornkitten。

TheincidentthatgavehimhisthirdshockwastheexecutionofoneofthemenontheAdlerforcarryingaboxofmatches。Thecasewasaflagrantone。Themanhadforgottenhehadituponhimwhencomingaboard。Amplenoticehadbeengiventoeveryoneofthegravityofthisoffence，andnoticesappearedatnumerouspointsallovertheairships。Theman’sdefencewasthathehadgrownsousedtothenoticesandhadbeensopreoccupiedwithhisworkthathehadn’tappliedthemtohimself;hepleaded，inhisdefence，whatisindeedinmilitaryaffairsanotherseriouscrime，inadvertency。Hewastriedbyhiscaptain，andthesentenceconfirmedbywirelesstelegraphybythePrince，anditwasdecidedtomakehisdeathanexampletothewholefleet。

"TheGermans，"thePrincedeclared，"hadn’tcrossedtheAtlantictogowoolgathering。"Andinorderthatthislessonindisciplineandobediencemightbevisibletoeveryone，itwasdeterminednottoelectrocuteordrownbuthangtheoffender。

Accordinglytheair—fleetcameclusteringroundtheflagshiplikecarpinapondatfeedingtime。TheAdlerhungatthezenithimmediatelyalongsidetheflagship。ThewholecrewoftheVaterlandassembleduponthehanginggallery;thecrewsoftheotherairshipsmannedtheair—chambers，thatistosay，clambereduptheouternettingtotheuppersides。Theofficersappeareduponthemachine—gunplatforms。Bertthoughtitanaltogetherstupendoussight，lookingdown，ashewas，upontheentirefleet。

Faroffbelowtwosteamersontherippledbluewater，oneBritishandtheotherflyingtheAmericanflag，seemedtheminutestobjects，andmarkedthescale。Theywereimmenselydistant。

Bertstoodonthegallery，curioustoseetheexecution，butuncomfortable，becausethatterribleblondPrincewaswithinadozenfeetofhim，glaringterribly，withhisarmsfolded，andhisheelstogetherinmilitaryfashion。

TheyhungthemanfromtheAdler。Theygavehimsixtyfeetofrope，so，thatheshouldhanganddangleinthesightofallevil—doerswhomightbehidingmatchesorcontemplatinganykindreddisobedience。Bertsawthemanstanding，aliving，reluctantman，nodoubtscaredandrebelliousenoughinhisheart，butoutwardlyerectandobedient，onthelowergalleryoftheAdleraboutahundredyardsaway。Thentheyhadthrusthimoverboard。

Downhefell，handsandfeetextending，untilwithajerkhewasattheendoftherope。Thenheoughttohavediedandswungedifyingly，butinsteadamoreterriblethinghappened;hisheadcamerightoff，anddownthebodywentspinningtothesea，feeble，grotesque，fantastic，withtheheadracingitinitsfall。

"Ugh！"saidBert，clutchingtherailbeforehim，andasympatheticgruntcamefromseveralofthemenbesidehim。

"So！"saidthePrince，stifferandsterner，glaredforsomeseconds，thenturnedtothegangwayupintotheairship。

ForalongtimeBertremainedclingingtotherailingofthegallery。Hewasalmostphysicallysickwiththehorrorofthistriflingincident。Hefounditfarmoredreadfulthanthebattle。Hewasindeedaverydegenerate，latter—day，civilisedperson。

LatethatafternoonKurtcameintothecabinandfoundhimcurleduponhislocker，andlookingverywhiteandmiserable。Kurthadalsolostsomethingofhispristinefreshness。

"Sea—sick？"heasked。

"No！"

"WeoughttoreachNewYorkthisevening。There’sagoodbreezecomingupunderourtails。Thenweshallseethings。"

Bertdidnotanswer。

Kurtopenedoutfoldingchairandtable，andrustledforatimewithhismaps。Thenhefellthinkingdarkly。Herousedhimselfpresently，andlookedathiscompanion。"What’sthematter？"hesaid。

"Nothing！"

Kurtstaredthreateningly。"What’sthematter？"

"Isawthemkillthatchap。Isawthatflying—machinemanhitthefunnelsofthebigironclad。Isawthatdeadchapinthepassage。Iseentoomuchsmashingandkillinglately。That’sthematter。Idon’tlikeit。Ididn’tknowwarwasthissortofthing。I’macivilian。Idon’tlikeit"

_I_don’tlikeit，"saidKurt。"ByJove，no！"

"I’vereadaboutwar，andallthat，butwhenyouseeitit’sdifferent。AndI’mgettin’giddy。I’mgettin’giddy。Ididn’tmindabitbeingupinthatballoonatfirst，butallthislookingdownandfloatingoverthingsandsmashinguppeople，it’sgettingonmynerves。See？"

"It’llhavetogetoffagain……"

Kurtthought。"You’renottheonlyone。Themenareallgettingstrungup。Theflying——that’sjustflying。Naturallyitmakesonealittleswimmyintheheadatfirst。Asforthekilling，we’vegottobeblooded;that’sall。We’retame，civilisedmen。Andwe’vegottogetblooded。Isupposethere’snotadozenmenontheshipwho’vereallyseenbloodshed。Nice，quiet，law—abidingGermansthey’vebeensofar……Heretheyare——inforit。

They’reabitsqueamynow，butyouwaittillthey’vegottheirhandsin。"

Hereflected。"Everybody’sgettingabitstrungup，"hesaid。

Heturnedagaintohismaps。Bertsatcrumpledupinthecorner，apparentlyheedlessofhim。Forsometimebothkeptsilence。

"WhatdidthePrincewanttogoand’angthatchapfor？"askedBert，suddenly。

"Thatwasallright，"saidKurt，"thatwasallright。QUITE

right。Hereweretheorders，plainasthenoseonyourface，andherewasthatfoolgoingaboutwithmatches——"

"Gaw！Ishan’tforgetthatbitina’urry，"saidBertirrelevantly。

Kurtdidnotanswerhim。HewasmeasuringtheirdistancefromNewYorkandspeculating。"WonderwhattheAmericanaeroplanesarelike？"hesaid。"Somethinglikeourdrachenflieger……Weshallknowbythistimeto—morrow……Iwonderwhatweshallknow？Iwonder。Suppose，afterall，theyputupafight……

Rumsortoffight！"

Hewhistledsoftlyandmused。Presentlyhefrettedoutofthecabin，andlaterBertfoundhiminthetwilightupontheswingingplatform，staringahead，andspeculatingaboutthethingsthatmighthappenonthemorrow。Cloudsveiledtheseaagain，andthelongstragglingwedgeofair—shipsrisingandfallingastheyflewseemedlikeaflockofstrangenewbirthsinaChaosthathadneitherearthnorwaterbutonlymistandsky。

CHAPTERVI

HOWWARCAMETONEWYORK

1

TheCityofNewYorkwasintheyearoftheGermanattackthelargest，richest，inmanyrespectsthemostsplendid，andinsome，thewickedestcitytheworldhadeverseen。ShewasthesupremetypeoftheCityoftheScientificCommercialAge;shedisplayeditsgreatness，itspower，itsruthlessanarchicenterprise，anditssocialdisorganisationmoststrikinglyandcompletely。ShehadlongoustedLondonfromherprideofplaceasthemodernBabylon，shewasthecentreoftheworld’sfinance，theworld’strade，andtheworld’spleasure;andmenlikenedhertotheapocalypticcitiesoftheancientprophets。ShesatdrinkingupthewealthofacontinentasRomeoncedrankthewealthoftheMediterraneanandBabylonthewealthoftheeast。