第10章

Inherstreetsonefoundtheextremesofmagnificenceandmisery，ofcivilisationanddisorder。Inonequarter，palacesofmarble，lacedand，crownedwithlightandflameandflowers，toweredupintohermarvelloustwilightsbeautiful，beyonddescription;inanother，ablackandsinisterpolyglotpopulationswelteredinindescribablecongestioninwarrens，andexcavationsbeyondthepowerandknowledgeofgovernment。Hervice，hercrime，herlawalikewereinspiredbyafierceandterribleenergy，andlikethegreatcitiesofmediaevalItaly，herwaysweredarkandadventurouswithprivatewar。

ItwasthepeculiarshapeofManhattanIsland，pressedinbyarmsoftheseaoneitherside，andincapableofcomfortableexpansion，exceptalonganarrownorthwardbelt，thatfirstgavetheNewYorkarchitectstheirbiasforextremeverticaldimensions。Everyneedwaslavishlysuppliedthem——money，material，labour;onlyspacewasrestricted。Tobegin，therefore，theybuilthighperforce。Buttodosowastodiscoverawholenewworldofarchitecturalbeauty，ofexquisiteascendantlines，andlongafterthecentralcongestionhadbeenrelievedbytunnelsunderthesea，fourcolossalbridgesovertheeastriver，andadozenmono—railcableseastandwest，theupwardgrowthwenton。InmanywaysNewYorkandhergorgeousplutocracyrepeatedVeniceinthemagnificenceofherarchitecture，painting，metal—workandsculpture，forexample，inthegrimintensity，ofherpoliticalmethod，inhermaritimeandcommercialascendancy。Butsherepeatednopreviousstateatallinthelaxdisorderofherinternaladministration，alaxitythatmadevastsectionsofherarealawlessbeyondprecedent，sothatitwaspossibleforwholedistrictstobeimpassable，whilecivilwarragedbetweenstreetandstreet，andforAlsatiastoexistinhermidstinwhichtheofficialpoliceneversetfoot。Shewasanethnicwhirlpool。Theflagsofallnationsflewinherharbour，andattheclimax，theyearlycomingandgoingoverseasnumberedtogetherupwardsoftwomillionhumanbeings。ToEuropeshewasAmerica，toAmericashewasthegatewayoftheworld。

ButtotellthestoryofNewYorkwouldbetowriteasocialhistoryoftheworld;saintsandmartyrs，dreamersandscoundrels，thetraditionsofathousandracesandathousandreligions，wenttohermakingandthrobbedandjostledinherstreets。Andoverallthattorrentialconfusionofmenandpurposesflutteredthatstrangeflag，thestarsandstripes，thatmeantatoncethenoblestthinginlife，andtheleastnoble，thatistosay，Libertyontheonehand，andontheotherthebasejealousytheindividualself—seekerfeelstowardsthecommonpurposeoftheState。

FormanygenerationsNewYorkhadtakennoheedofwar，saveasathingthathappenedfaraway，thataffectedpricesandsuppliedthenewspaperswithexcitingheadlinesandpictures。TheNewYorkersfeltperhapsevenmorecertainlythantheEnglishhaddonethatwarintheirownlandwasanimpossiblething。InthattheysharedthedelusionofallNorthAmerica。Theyfeltassecureasspectatorsatabullfight;theyriskedtheirmoneyperhapsontheresult，butthatwasall。AndsuchideasofwarasthecommonAmericanspossessedwerederivedfromthelimited，picturesque，adventurouswarofthepast。Theysawwarastheysawhistory，throughaniridescentmist，deodorised，scentedindeed，withallitsessentialcrueltiestactfullyhiddenaway。

Theywereinclinedtoregretitassomethingennobling，tosighthatitcouldnolongercomeintotheirownprivateexperience。

Theyreadwithinterest，ifnotwithavidity，oftheirnewguns，oftheirimmenseandstillmoreimmenseironclads，oftheirincredibleandstillmoreincredibleexplosives，butjustwhatthesetremendousenginesofdestructionmightmeanfortheirpersonallivesneverenteredtheirheads。Theydidnot，sofarasonecanjudgefromtheircontemporaryliterature，thinkthattheymeantanythingtotheirpersonallivesatall。TheythoughtAmericawassafeamidstallthispilingupofexplosives。Theycheeredtheflagbyhabitandtradition，theydespisedothernations，andwhenevertherewasaninternationaldifficultytheywereintenselypatriotic，thatistosay，theywereardentlyagainstanynativepoliticianwhodidnotsay，threaten，anddoharshanduncompromisingthingstotheantagonistpeople。TheywerespiritedtoAsia，spiritedtoGermany，sospiritedtoGreatBritainthattheinternationalattitudeofthemothercountrytohergreatdaughterwasconstantlycomparedincontemporarycaricaturetothatbetweenahen—peckedhusbandandaviciousyoungwife。Andfortherest，theyallwentabouttheirbusinessandpleasureasifwarhaddiedoutwiththemegatherium……

Andthensuddenly，intoaworldpeacefullybusiedforthemostpartuponarmamentsandtheperfectionofexplosives，warcame;

cametheshockofrealisingthatthegunsweregoingoff，thatthemassesofinflammablematerialallovertheworldwereatlastablaze。

2

TheimmediateeffectuponNewYorkofthesuddenonsetofwarwasmerelytointensifyhernormalvehemence。

ThenewspapersandmagazinesthatfedtheAmericanmind——forbooksuponthisimpatientcontinenthadbecomesimplymaterialfortheenergyofcollectors——wereinstantlyacoruscationofwarpicturesandofheadlinesthatroselikerocketsandburstlikeshells。Tothenormalhigh—strungenergyofNewYorkstreetswasaddedatouchofwar—fever。Greatcrowdsassembled，moreespeciallyinthedinnerhour，inMadisonSquareabouttheFarragutmonument，tolistentoandcheerpatrioticspeeches，andaveritableepidemicoflittleflagsandbuttonssweptthroughthesegreattorrentsofswiftlymovingyoungpeople，whopouredintoNewYorkofamorningbycarandmono—railandsubwayandtrain，totoil，andebbhomeagainbetweenthehoursoffiveandseven。Itwasdangerousnottowearawarbutton。Thesplendidmusic—hallsofthetimesankeverytopicinpatriotismandevolvedscenesofwildenthusiasm，strongmenweptatthesightofthenationalbannersustainedbythewholestrengthoftheballet，andspecialsearchlightsandilluminationsamazedthewatchingangels。Thechurchesre—echoedthenationalenthusiasmingraverkeyandslowermeasure，andtheaerialandnavalpreparationsontheEastRiverweregreatlyincommodedbythemultitudeofexcursionsteamerswhichthronged，helpfullycheering，aboutthem。Thetradeinsmall—armswasenormouslystimulated，andmanyoverwroughtcitizensfoundanimmediaterelieffortheiremotionsinlettingofffireworksofamoreorlessheroic，dangerous，andnationalcharacterinthepublicstreets。Smallchildren’sair—balloonsofthelatestmodelattachedtostringbecameaseriouschecktothepedestrianinCentralPark。AndamidstscenesofindescribableemotiontheAlbanylegislatureinpermanentsession，andwithageneroussuspensionofrulesandprecedents，passedthroughbothHousesthelong—disputedBillforuniversalmilitaryserviceinNewYorkState。

CriticsoftheAmericancharacteraredisposedtoconsider——thatuptotheactualimpactoftheGermanattackthepeopleofNewYorkdealtaltogethertoomuchwiththewarasifitwasapoliticaldemonstration。Littleornodamage，theyurge，wasdonetoeithertheGermanorJapaneseforcesbythewearingofbuttons，thewavingofsmallflags，thefireworks，orthesongs。

Theyforgotthat，undertheconditionsofwarfareacenturyofsciencehadbroughtabout，thenon—militarysectionofthepopulationcoulddonoseriousdamageinanyformtotheirenemies，andthattherewasnoreason，therefore，whytheyshould，notdoastheydid。Thebalanceofmilitaryefficiencywasshiftingbackfromthemanytothefew，fromthecommontothespecialised。

Thedayswhentheemotionalinfantrymandecidedbattleshadpassedbyforever。Warhadbecomeamatterofapparatusofspecialtrainingandskillofthemostintricatekind。Ithadbecomeundemocratic。Andwhateverthevalueofthepopularexcitement，therecanbenodenyingthatthesmallregularestablishmentoftheUnitedStatesGovernment，confrontedbythistotallyunexpectedemergencyofanarmedinvasionfromEurope，actedwithvigour，science，andimagination。Theyweretakenbysurprisesofarasthediplomaticsituationwasconcerned，andtheirequipmentforbuildingeithernavigablesoraeroplaneswascontemptibleincomparisonwiththehugeGermanparks。StilltheysettoworkatoncetoprovetotheworldthatthespiritthathadcreatedtheMonitorandtheSouthernsubmarinesof1864

wasnotdead。ThechiefoftheaeronauticestablishmentnearWestPointwasCabotSinclair，andheallowedhimselfbutonesinglemomentoftheposturingthatwassouniversalinthatdemocratictime。"Wehavechosenourepitaphs，"hesaidtoareporter，"andwearegoingtohave，’Theydidalltheycould。’

Nowrunaway！"

Thecuriousthingisthattheydidalldoalltheycould;thereisnoexceptionknown。Theironlydefectindeedwasadefectofstyle。Oneofthemoststrikingfactshistoricallyaboutthiswar，andtheonethatmakesthecompleteseparationthathadarisenbetweenthemethodsofwarfareandthenecessityofdemocraticsupport，istheeffectualsecrecyoftheWashingtonauthoritiesabouttheirairships。Theydidnotbothertoconfideasinglefactoftheirpreparationstothepublic。TheydidnotevencondescendtotalktoCongress。Theyburkedandsuppressedeveryinquiry。ThewarwasfoughtbythePresidentandtheSecretariesofStateinanentirelyautocraticmanner。Suchpublicityastheysoughtwasmerelytoanticipateandpreventinconvenientagitationtodefendparticularpoints。Theyrealisedthatthechiefdangerinaerialwarfarefromanexcitableandintelligentpublicwouldbeaclamourforlocalairshipsandaeroplanestodefendlocalinterests。This，withsuchresourcesastheypossessed，mightleadtoafataldivisionanddistributionofthenationalforces。ParticularlytheyfearedthattheymightbeforcedintoaprematureactiontodefendNewYork。TheyrealisedwithpropheticinsightthatthiswouldbetheparticularadvantagetheGermanswouldseek。Sotheytookgreatpainstodirectthepopularmindtowardsdefensiveartillery，andtodivertitfromanythoughtofaerialbattle。Theirrealpreparationstheymaskedbeneathostensibleones。TherewasatWashingtonalargerelserveofnavalguns，andtheseweredistributedrapidly，conspicuously，andwithmuchpressattention，amongtheEasterncities。Theyweremountedforthemostpartuponhillsandprominentcrestsaroundthethreatenedcentresofpopulation。TheyweremounteduponroughadaptationsoftheDoanswivel，whichatthattimegavethemaximumverticalrangetoaheavygun。Muchofthisartillerywasstillunmounted，andnearlyallofitwasunprotectedwhentheGermanair—fleetreachedNewYork。Anddowninthecrowdedstreets，whenthatoccurred，thereadersoftheNewYorkpaperswereregalingthemselveswithwonderfulandwonderfullyillustratedaccountsofsuchmattersas:——

THESECRETOFTHETHUNDERBOLT

AGEDSCIENTISTPERFECTSELECTRICGUN

TOELECTROCUTEAIRSHIPCREWSBYUPWARDLIGHTNING

WASHINGTONORDERSFIVEHUNDRED

WARSECRETARYLODGEDELIGHTED

SAYSTHEYWILLSUITTHEGERMANSDOWNTOTHEGROUND

PRESIDENTPUBLICLYAPPLAUDSTHISMERRYQUIP

3

TheGermanfleetreachedNewYorkinadvanceofthenewsoftheAmericannavaldisaster。ItreachedNewYorkinthelateafternoonandwasfirstseenbywatchersatOceanGroveandLongBranchcomingswiftlyoutofthesouthwardseaandgoingawaytothenorthwest。TheflagshippassedalmostverticallyovertheSandyHookobservationstation，risingrapidlyasitdidso，andinafewminutesallNewYorkwasvibratingtotheStatenIslandguns。

Severaloftheseguns，andespeciallythatatGiffordsandtheoneonBeaconHillaboveMatawan，wereremarkablywellhandled。

Theformer，atadistanceoffivemiles，andwithanelevationofsixthousandfeet，sentashelltoburstsoclosetotheVaterlandthatapaneofthePrince’sforwardwindowwassmashedbyafragment。ThissuddenexplosionmadeBerttuckinhisheadwiththecelerityofastartledtortoise。Thewholeair—fleetimmediatelywentupsteeplytoaheightofabouttwelvethousandfeetandatthatlevelpassedunscathedovertheineffectualguns。TheairshipslinedoutastheymovedforwardintotheformofaflattenedV，withitsapextowardsthecity，andwiththeflagshipgoinghighestattheapex。ThetwoendsoftheVpassedoverPlumfieldandJamaicaBay，respectively，andthePrincedirectedhiscoursealittletotheeastoftheNarrows，soaredoverUpperBay，andcametorestoverJerseyCityinapositionthatdominatedlowerNewYork。Therethemonstershung，largeandwonderfulintheeveninglight，serenelyregardlessoftheoccasionalrocketexplosionsandflashingshell—burstsinthelowerair。

Itwasapauseofmutualinspection。Foratimenaivehumanityswampedtheconventionsofwarfarealtogether;theinterestofthemillionsbelowandofthethousandsabovealikewasspectacular。Theeveningwasunexpectedlyfine——onlyafewthinlevelbandsofcloudsatsevenoreightthousandfeetbrokeitsluminousclarity。Thewindhaddropped;itwasaneveninginfinitelypeacefulandstill。Theheavyconcussionsofthedistantgunsandthoseincidentalharmlesspyrotechnicsatthelevelofthecloudsseemedtohaveaslittletodowithkillingandforce，terrorandsubmission，asasaluteatanavalreview。

Below，everypointofvantagebristledwithspectators，theroofsofthetoweringbuildings，thepublicsquares，theactiveferryboats，andeveryfavourablestreetintersectionhaditscrowds:

alltheriverpiersweredensewithpeople，theBatteryParkwassolidblackwitheast—sidepopulation，andeverypositionofadvantageinCentralParkandalongRiversideDrivehaditspeculiarandcharacteristicassemblyfromtheadjacentstreets。

ThefootwaysofthegreatbridgesovertheEastRiverwerealsocloselypackedandblocked。Everywhereshopkeepershadlefttheirshops，mentheirwork，andwomenandchildrentheirhomes，tocomeoutandseethemarvel。

"Itbeat，"theydeclared，"thenewspapers。"

Andfromabove，manyoftheoccupantsoftheairshipsstaredwithanequalcuriosity。NocityintheworldwaseversofinelyplacedasNewYork，somagnificentlycutupbyseaandbluffandriver，soadmirablydisposedtodisplaythetalleffectsofbuildings，thecompleximmensitiesofbridgesandmono—railwaysandfeatsofengineering。London，Paris，Berlin，wereshapeless，lowagglomerationsbesideit。ItsportreachedtoitsheartlikeVenice，and，likeVenice，itwasobvious，dramatic，andproud。

Seenfromaboveitwasalivewithcrawlingtrainsandcars，andatathousandpointsitwasalreadybreakingintoquiveringlight。NewYorkwasaltogetheratitsbestthatevening，itssplendidbest。

"Gaw！Whataplace！"saidBert。

Itwassogreat，andinitscollectiveeffectsopacificallymagnificent，thattomakewaruponitseemedincongruousbeyondmeasure，likelayingsiegetotheNationalGalleryorattackingrespectablepeopleinanhoteldining—roomwithbattle—axeandmail。Itwasinitsentiretysolarge，socomplex，sodelicatelyimmense，thattobringittotheissueofwarfarewaslikedrivingacrowbarintothemechanismofaclock。Andthefish—likeshoalofgreatairshipshoveringlightandsunlitabove，fillingthesky，seemedequallyremotefromtheuglyforcefulnessofwar。ToKurt，toSmallways，toIknownothowmanymoreofthepeopleintheair—fleetcamethedistinctestapprehensionoftheseincompatibilities。ButintheheadofthePrinceKarlAlbertwerethevapoursofromance:hewasaconqueror，andthiswastheenemy’scity。Thegreaterthecity，thegreaterthetriumph。Nodoubthehadatimeoftremendousexultationandsensedbeyondallprecedentthesenseofpowerthatnight。

Therecameanendatlasttothatpause。Somewirelesscommunicationshadfailedofasatisfactoryending，andfleetandcityrememberedtheywerehostilepowers。"Look！"criedthemultitude;"look！"

"Whataretheydoing？"

"What？"……Downthroughthetwilightsankfiveattackingairships，onetotheNavyYardonEastRiver，onetoCityHall，twooverthegreatbusinessbuildingsofWallStreetandLowerBroadway，onetotheBrooklynBridge，droppingfromamongtheirfellowsthroughthedangerzonefromthedistantgunssmoothlyandrapidlytoasafeproximitytothecitymasses。Atthatdescentallthecarsinthestreetsstoppedwithdramaticsuddenness，andallthelightsthathadbeencomingoninthestreetsandhouseswentoutagain。FortheCityHallhadawakenedandwasconferringbytelephonewiththeFederalcommandandtakingmeasuresfordefence。TheCityHallwasaskingforairships，refusingtosurrenderasWashingtonadvised，anddevelopingintoacentreofintenseemotion，ofhecticactivity。

Everywhereandhastilythepolicebegantocleartheassembledcrowds。"Gotoyourhomes，"theysaid;andthewordwaspassedfrommouthtomouth，"There’sgoingtobetrouble。"Achillofapprehensionranthroughthecity，andmenhurryingintheunwonteddarknessacrossCityHallParkandUnionSquarecameuponthedimformsofsoldiersandguns，andwerechallengedandsentback。InhalfanhourNewYorkhadpassedfromserenesunsetandgapingadmirationtoatroubledandthreateningtwilight。

ThefirstlossoflifeoccurredinthepanicrushfromBrooklynBridgeastheairshipapproachedit。WiththecessationofthetrafficanunusualstillnesscameuponNewYork，andthedisturbingconcussionsofthefutiledefendinggunsonthehillsaboutgrewmoreandmoreaudible。Atlasttheseceasedalso。A

pauseoffurthernegotiationfollowed。Peoplesatindarkness，soughtcounselfromtelephonesthatweredumb。Thenintotheexpectanthushcameagreatcrashanduproar，thebreakingdownoftheBrooklynBridge，theriflefirefromtheNavyYard，andtheburstingofbombsinWallStreetandtheCityHall。NewYorkasawholecoulddonothing，couldunderstandnothing。NewYorkinthedarknesspeeredandlistenedtothesedistantsoundsuntilpresentlytheydiedawayassuddenlyastheyhadbegun。"Whatcouldbehappening？"Theyaskeditinvain。

Along，vagueperiodintervened，andpeoplelookingoutofthewindowsofupperroomsdiscoveredthedarkhullsofGermanairships，glidingslowlyandnoiselessly，quitecloseathand。

Thenquietlytheelectriclightscameonagain，andanuproarofnocturnalnewsvendorsbeganinthestreets。

Theunitsofthatvastandvariedpopulationboughtandlearntwhathadhappened;therehadbeenafightandNewYorkhadhoistedthewhiteflag。

4

ThelamentableincidentsthatfollowedthesurrenderofNewYorkseemnowintheretrospecttobebutthenecessaryandinevitableconsequenceoftheclashofmodernappliancesandsocialconditionsproducedbythescientificcenturyontheonehand，andthetraditionofacrude，romanticpatriotismontheother。

Atfirstpeoplereceivedthefactwithanirresponsibledetachment，muchastheywouldhavereceivedtheslowingdownofthetraininwhichtheyweretravellingortheerectionofapublicmonumentbythecitytowhichtheybelonged。

"Wehavesurrendered。Dearme！HAVEwe？"wasratherthemannerinwhichthefirstnewswasmet。Theytookitinthesamespectacularspirittheyhaddisplayedatthefirstapparitionoftheair—fleet。Onlyslowlywasthisrealisationofacapitulationsuffusedwiththeflushofpassion，onlywithreflectiondidtheymakeanypersonalapplication。"WEhavesurrendered！"camelater;"inusAmericaisdefeated。"Thentheybegantoburnandtingle。

Thenewspapers，whichwereissuedaboutoneinthemorningcontainednoparticularsofthetermsuponwhichNewYorkhadyielded——nordidtheygiveanyintimationofthequalityofthebriefconflictthathadprecededthecapitulation。Thelaterissuesremediedthesedeficiencies。TherecametheexplicitstatementoftheagreementtovictualtheGermanairships，tosupplythecomplementofexplosivestoreplacethoseemployedinthefightandinthedestructionoftheNorthAtlanticfleet，topaytheenormousransomoffortymilliondollars，andtosurrendertheintheEastRiver。Therecame，too，longerandlongerdescriptionsofthesmashingupoftheCityHallandtheNavyYard，andpeoplebegantorealisefaintlywhatthosebriefminutesofuproarhadmeant。Theyreadthetaleofmenblowntobits，offutilesoldiersinthatlocalisedbattlefightingagainsthopeamidstanindescribablewreckage，offlagshauleddownbyweepingmen。AndthesestrangenocturnaleditionscontainedalsothefirstbriefcablesfromEuropeofthefleetdisaster，theNorthAtlanticfleetforwhichNewYorkhadalwaysfeltanespecialprideandsolicitude。Slowly，hourbyhour，thecollectiveconsciousnesswokeup，thetideofpatrioticastonishmentandhumiliationcamefloatingin。Americahadcomeupondisaster;suddenlyNewYorkdiscoveredherselfwithamazementgivingplacetowrathunspeakable，aconqueredcityunderthehandofherconqueror。

Asthatfactshapeditselfinthepublicmind，theresprangup，asflamesspringup，anangryrepudiation。"No！"criedNewYork，wakinginthedawn。"No！Iamnotdefeated。Thisisadream。"

BeforedaybroketheswiftAmericanangerwasrunningthroughallthecity，througheverysoulinthosecontagiousmillions。

Beforeittookaction，beforeittookshape，themenintheairshipscouldfeelthegiganticinsurgenceofemotion，ascattleandnaturalcreaturesfeel，itissaid，thecomingofanearthquake。ThenewspapersoftheKnypegroupfirstgavethethingwordsandaformula。"Wedonotagree，"theysaidsimply。

"Wehavebeenbetrayed！"Mentookthatupeverywhere，itpassedfrommouthtomouth，ateverystreetcornerunderthepalinglightsofdawnoratorsstoodunchecked，callinguponthespiritofAmericatoarise，makingtheshameapersonalrealitytoeveryonewhoheard。ToBert，listeningfivehundredfeetabove，itseemedthatthecity，whichhadatfirstproducedonlyconfusednoises，wasnowhumminglikeahiveofbees——ofveryangrybees。

AfterthesmashingoftheCityHallandPost—Office，thewhiteflaghadbeenhoistedfromatoweroftheoldParkRowbuilding，andthitherhadgoneMayorO’Hagen，urgedthitherindeedbytheterror—strickenpropertyownersoflowerNewYork，tonegotiatethecapitulationwithVonWinterfeld。TheVaterland，havingdroppedthesecretarybyaropeladder，remainedhovering，circlingveryslowlyabovethegreatbuildings，oldandnew，thatclusteredroundCityHallPark，whiletheHelmholz，whichhaddonethefightingthere，roseoverheadtoaheightofperhapstwothousandfeet。SoBerthadanearviewofallthatoccurredinthatcentralplace。TheCityHallandCourtHouse，thePost—OfficeandamassofbuildingsonthewestsideofBroadway，hadbeenbadlydamaged，andthethreeformerwereaheapofblackenedruins。Inthecaseofthefirsttwothelossoflifehadnotbeenconsiderable，butagreatmultitudeofworkers，includingmanygirlsandwomen，hadbeencaughtinthedestructionofthePost—Office，andalittlearmyofvolunteerswithwhitebadgesenteredbehindthefiremen，bringingouttheoftenstilllivingbodies，forthemostpartfrightfullycharred，andcarryingthemintothebigMonsonbuildingcloseathand。

Everywherethebusyfiremenweredirectingtheirbrightstreamsofwateruponthesmoulderingmasses:theirhoselayaboutthesquare，andlongcordonsofpoliceheldbackthegatheringlackmassesofpeople，chieflyfromtheeastside，fromthesecentralactivities。

Inviolentandextraordinarycontrastwiththissceneofdestruction，closeathandwerethehugenewspaperestablishmentsofParkRow。Theywereallalightandworking;theyhadnotbeenabandonedevenwhiletheactualbombthrowingwasgoingon，andnowstaffandpresseswerevehementlyactive，gettingoutthestory，theimmenseanddreadfulstoryofthenight，developingcommentand，inmostcases，spreadingtheideaofresistanceundertheverynosesoftheairships。ForalongtimeBertcouldnotimaginewhatthesecallouslyactiveofficescouldbe，thenhedetectedthenoiseofthepressesandemittedhis"Gaw！"

Beyondthesenewspaperbuildingsagain，andpartiallyhiddenbythearchesoftheoldElevatedRailwayofNewYork（longsinceconvertedintoamono—rail），therewasanothercordonofpoliceandasortofencampmentofambulancesanddoctors，busywiththedeadandwoundedwhohadbeenkilledearlyinthenightbythepanicuponBrooklynBridge。Allthishesawintheperspectivesofabird’s—eyeview，asthingshappeninginabig，irregular—shapedpitbelowhim，betweencliffsofhighbuilding。

NorthwardhelookedalongthesteepcanonofBroadway，downwhoselengthatintervalscrowdswereassemblingaboutexcitedspeakers;andwhenheliftedhiseyeshesawthechimneysandcable—stacksandroofspacesofNewYork，andeverywherenowoverthesethewatching，debatingpeopleclustered，exceptwherethefiresragedandthejetsofwaterflew。Everywhere，too，wereflagstaffsdevoidofflags;onewhitesheetdroopedandflappedanddroopedagainovertheParkRowbuildings。Andupontheluridlights，thefesteringmovementandintenseshadowsofthisstrangescene，therewasbreakingnowthecold，impartialdawn。

ForBertSmallwaysallthiswasframedintheframeoftheopenporthole。Itwasapale，dimworldoutsidethatdarkandtangiblerim。Allnighthehadclutchedatthatrim，jumpedandquiveredatexplosions，andwatchedphantomevents。Nowhehadbeenhighandnowlow;nowalmostbeyondhearing，nowflyingclosetocrashingsandshoutsandoutcries。Hehadseenairshipsflyinglowandswiftoverdarkenedandgroaningstreets;watchedgreatbuildings，suddenlyred—litamidsttheshadows，crumpleatthesmashingimpactofbombs;witnessedforthefirsttimeinhislifethegrotesque，swiftonset，ofinsatiableconflagrations。

Fromitallhefeltdetached，disembodied。TheVaterlanddidnotevenflingabomb;shewatchedandruled。ThendowntheyhadcomeatlasttohoveroverCityHallPark，andithadcreptinuponhismind，，chillingly，terrifyingly，thattheseilluminatedblackmassesweregreatofficesafire，andthatthegoingtoandfroofminute，dimspectresoflantern—litgreyandwhitewasaharvestingofthewoundedandthedead。Asthelightgrewclearerhebegantounderstandmoreandmorewhatthesecrumpledblackthingssignified……

HehadwatchedhourafterhoursincefirstNewYorkhadrisenoutoftheblueindistinctnessofthelandfall。Withthedaylightheexperiencedanintolerablefatigue。

Heliftedwearyeyestothepinkflushinthesky，yawnedimmensely，andcrawledbackwhisperingtohimselfacrossthecabintothelocker。Hedidnotso。muchliedownuponthatasfalluponitandinstantlybecomeasleep。

There，hoursafter，sprawlingundignifiedandsleepingprofoundly，Kurtfoundhim，averyimageofthedemocraticmindconfrontedwiththeproblemsofatimetoocomplexforitsapprehension。Hisfacewaspaleandindifferent，hismouthwideopen，andhesnored。Hesnoreddisagreeably。

Kurtregardedhimforamomentwithamilddistaste。Thenhekickedhisankle。

"Wakeup，"hesaidtoSmallways’stare，"andliedowndecent。"

Bertsatupandrubbedhiseyes。

"Anymorefightin’yet？"heasked。

"No，"saidKurt，andsatdown，atiredman。

"Gott！"hecriedpresently，rubbinghishandsoverhisface，"butI’dlikeacoldbath！I’vebeenlookingforstraybulletholesintheair—chambersallnightuntilnow。"Heyawned。"Imustsleep。You’dbetterclearout，Smallways。Ican’tstandyouherethismorning。You’resoinfernallyuglyanduseless。Haveyouhadyourrations？No！Well，goinandget’em，anddon’tcomeback。Stickinthegallery……"

5

SoBert，slightlyrefreshedbycoffeeandsleep，resumedhishelplessco—operationintheWarintheAir。Hewentdownintothelittlegalleryasthelieutenanthaddirected，andclungtotherailattheextremeendbeyondthelook—outman，tryingtoseemasinconspicuousandharmlessafragmentoflifeaspossible。

Awindwasrisingratherstronglyfromthesouth—east。ItobligedtheVaterlandtocomeaboutinthatdirection，andmadeherrollagreatdealasshewenttoandfrooverManhattanIsland。Awayinthenorth—westcloudsgathered。Thethrob—throbofherslowscrewworkingagainstthebreezewasmuchmoreperceptiblethanwhenshewasgoingfullspeedahead;andthefrictionofthewindagainsttheundersideofthegas—chamberdroveaseriesofshallowripplesalongitandmadeafaintflappingsoundlike，butfainterthan，thebeatingofripplesunderthestemofaboat。ShewasstationedoverthetemporaryCityHallintheParkRowbuilding，andeverynowandthenshewoulddescendtoresumecommunicationwiththemayorandwithWashington。ButtherestlessnessofthePrincewouldnotsufferhimtoremainforlonginanyoneplace。NowhewouldcircleovertheHudsonandEastRiver;nowhewouldgouphigh，asiftopeerawayintothebluedistances;onceheascendedsoswiftlyandsofarthatmountainsicknessovertookhimandthecrewandforcedhimdownagain;andBertsharedthedizzinessandnausea。

Theswayingviewvariedwiththesechangesofaltitude。Nowtheywouldbelowandclose，andhewoulddistinguishinthatsteep，unusualperspective，windows，doors，streetandskysigns，peopleandtheminutestdetails，andwatchtheenigmaticalbehaviourofcrowdsandclustersupontheroofsandinthestreets;thenastheysoaredthedetailswouldshrink，thesidesofstreetsdrawtogether，theviewwiden，thepeopleceasetobesignificant。Atthehighesttheeffectwasthatofaconcavereliefmap;Bertsawthedarkandcrowdedlandeverywhereintersectedbyshiningwaters，sawtheHudsonRiverlikeaspearofsilver，andLowerIslandSoundlikeashield。EventoBert’sunphilosophicalmindthecontrastofcitybelowandfleetabovepointedanopposition，theoppositionoftheadventurousAmerican’straditionandcharacterwithGermanorderanddiscipline。Below，theimmensebuildings，tremendousandfineastheywere，seemedlikethegianttreesofajunglefightingforlife;theirpicturesquemagnificencewasasplanlessasthechancesofcragandgorge，theircasualtyenhancedbythesmokeandconfusionofstillunsubduedandspreadingconflagrations。IntheskysoaredtheGermanairshipslikebeingsinadifferent，entirelymoreorderlyworld，allorientedtothesameangleofthehorizon，uniforminbuildandappearance，movingaccuratelywithonepurposeasapackofwolveswillmove，distributedwiththemostpreciseandeffectualco—operation。

ItdawneduponBertthathardlyathirdofthefleetwasvisible。