第11章

Theothershadgoneuponerrandshecouldnotimagine，beyondthecompassofthatgreatcircleofearth。andsky。Hewondered，buttherewasnoonetoask。Asthedayworeon，aboutadozenreappearedintheeastwiththeirstoresreplenishedfromtheflotillaandtowinganumberofdrachenffieger。Towardsafternoontheweatherthickened，drivingcloudsappearedinthesouth—westandrantogetherandseemedtoengendermoreclouds，andthewindcameroundintothatquarterandblewstronger。

Towardstheeveningthe，windbecameagaleintowhichthenowtossingairshipshadtobeat。

AllthatdaythePrincewasnegotiatingwithWashington，whilehisdetachedscoutssoughtfarandwideovertheEasternStateslookingforanythingresemblinganaeronauticpark。AsquadronoftwentyairshipsdetachedovernighthaddroppedoutoftheairuponNiagaraandwasholdingthetownandpowerworks。

Meanwhiletheinsurrectionarymovementinthegiantcitygrewuncontrollable。Inspiteoffivegreatfiresalreadyinvolvingmanyacres，andspreadingsteadily，NewYorkwasstillnotsatisfiedthatshewasbeaten。

Atfirsttherebelliousspiritbelowfoundventonlyinisolatedshouts，street—crowdspeeches，andnewspapersuggestions;thenitfoundmuchmoredefiniteexpressionintheappearanceinthemorningsunlightofAmericanflagsatpointafterpointabovethearchitecturalcliffsofthecity。ItisquitepossiblethatinmanycasesthisspiriteddisplayofbuntingbyacityalreadysurrenderedwastheoutcomeoftheinnocentinformalityoftheAmericanmind，butitisalsoundeniablethatinmanyitwasadeliberateindicationthatthepeople"feltwicked。"

TheGermansenseofcorrectitudewasdeeplyshockedbythisoutbreak。TheGrafvonWinterfeldimmediatelycommunicatedwiththemayor，andpointedouttheirregularity，andthefirelook—outstationswereinstructedinthematter。TheNewYorkpolicewasspeedilyhardatwork，andafoolishcontestinfullswingbetweenimpassionedcitizensresolvedtokeeptheflagflying，andirritatedandworriedofficersinstructedtopullitdown。

ThetroublebecameacuteatlastinthestreetsaboveColumbiaUniversity。ThecaptainoftheairshipwatchingthisquarterseemstohavestoopedtolassoanddragfromitsstaffaflaghoisteduponMorganHall。AshedidsoavolleyofrifleandrevolvershotswasfiredfromtheupperwindowsofthehugeapartmentbuildingthatstandsbetweentheUniversityandRiversideDrive。

Mostofthesewereineffectual，buttwoorthreeperforatedgas—chambers，andonesmashedthehandandarmofamanupontheforwardplatform;Thesentinelonthelowergalleryimmediatelyreplied，andthemachinegunontheshieldoftheeagleletflyandpromptlystoppedanyfurthershots。TheairshiproseandsignalledtheflagshipandCityHall，policeandmilitiamenweredirectedatoncetothespot，andthisparticularincidentclosed。

ButharduponthatcamethedesperateattemptofapartyofyoungclubmenfromNewYork，who，inspiredbypatrioticandadventurousimaginations，slippedoffinhalfadozenmotor—carstoBeaconHill，andsettoworkwithremarkablevigourtoimproviseafortabouttheDoanswivelgunthathadbeenplacedthere。Theyfounditstillinthehandsofthedisgustedgunners，whohadbeenorderedtoceasefireatthecapitulation，anditwaseasytoinfectthesemenwiththeirownspirit。Theydeclaredtheirgunhadn’thadhalfachance，and，wereburningtoshowwhatitcoulddo。Directedbythenewcomers，theymadeatrenchandbankaboutthemountingofthepiece，andconstructedflimsyshelter—pitsofcorrugatediron。

TheywereactuallyloadingthegunwhentheywereobservedbytheairshipPreussenandtheshelltheysucceededinfiringbeforethebombsofthelattersmashedthemandtheircrudedefencestofragments，burstoverthemiddlegas—chambersoftheBingen，andbroughthertoearth，disabled，uponStatenIsland。Shewasbadlydeflated，anddroppedamongtrees，overwhichheremptycentralgas—bagsspreadincanopiesandfestoons。Nothing，however，hadcaughtfire，andhermenwerespeedilyatworkuponherrepair。Theybehavedwithaconfidencethatvergeduponindiscretion。Whilemostofthemcommencedpatchingthetearsofthemembrane，halfadozenofthemstartedoffforthenearestroadinsearchofagasmain，andpresentlyfoundthemselvesprisonersinthehandsofahostilecrowd。Closeathandwasanumberofvillaresidences，whoseoccupantsspeedilydevelopedfromanunfriendlycuriositytoaggression。AtthattimethepolicecontrolofthelargepolyglotpopulationofStatenIslandhadbecomeverylax，andscarcelyahouseholdbuthaditsrifleorpistolsandammunition。Thesewerepresentlyproduced，andaftertwoorthreemisses，oneofthemenatworkwashitinthefoot。ThereupontheGermanslefttheirsewingandmending，tookcoveramongthetrees，andreplied。

ThecracklingofshotsspeedilybroughtthePreussenandKielonthescene，andwithafewhandgrenadestheymadeshortworkofeveryvillawithinamile。Anumberofnon—combatantAmericanmen，women，andchildrenwerekilledandtheactualassailantsdrivenoff。Foratimetherepairswentoninpeaceundertheimmediateprotectionofthesetwoairships。Thenwhentheyreturnedtotheirquarters，anintermittentsnipingandfightingroundthestrandedBingenwasresumed，andwentonalltheafternoon，andmergedatlastinthegeneralcombatoftheevening……

AbouteighttheBingenwasrushedbyanarmedmob，andallitsdefenderskilledafterafierce，disorderlystruggle。

ThedifficultyoftheGermansinboththesecasescamefromtheimpossibilityoflandinganyefficientforceor，indeed，anyforceatallfromtheair—fleet。Theairshipswerequiteunequaltothetransportofanyadequatelandingparties;theircomplementofmenwasjustsufficienttomanoeuvreandfightthemintheair。Fromabovetheycouldinflictimmensedamage;theycouldreduceanyorganisedGovernmenttoacapitulationinthebriefestspace，buttheycouldnotdisarm，muchlesscouldtheyoccupy，thesurrenderedareasbelow。Theyhadtotrusttothepressureupontheauthoritiesbelowofathreattorenewthebombardment。Itwastheirsoleresource。Nodoubt，withahighlyorganisedandundamagedGovernmentandahomogeneousandwell—disciplinedpeoplethatwouldhavesufficedtokeepthepeace。ButthiswasnottheAmericancase。NotonlywastheNewYorkGovernmentaweakoneandinsufficientlyprovidedwithpolice，butthedestructionoftheCityHall——andPost—Offideandothercentralgangliahadhopelesslydisorganisedtheco—operationofpartwithpart。Thestreetcarsandrailwayshadceased;thetelephoneservicewasoutofgearandonlyworkedintermittently。TheGermanshadstruckatthehead，andtheheadwasconqueredandstunned——onlytoreleasethebodyfromitsrule。NewYorkhadbecomeaheadlessmonster，nolongercapableofcollectivesubmission。Everywhereitlifteditselfrebelliously;everywhereauthoritiesandofficialslefttotheirownimitativewerejoininginthearmingandflag—hoistingandexcitementofthatafternoon。

6

ThedisintegratingtrucegaveplacetoadefinitegeneralbreachwiththeassassinationoftheWetterhorn——forthatistheonlypossiblewordfortheact——aboveUnionSquare，andnotamileawayfromtheexemplaryruinsofCityHall。Thisoccurredlateintheafternoon，betweenfiveandsix。Bythattimetheweatherhadchangedverymuchfortheworse，andtheoperationsoftheairshipswereembarrassedbythenecessitytheywereunderofkeepingheadontothegusts。Aseriesofsqualls，withhailandthunder，followedoneanotherfromthesouthbysouth—east，andinordertoavoidtheseasmuchaspossible，theair—fleetcamelowoverthehouses，diminishingitsrangeofobservationandexposingitselftoarifleattack。

OvernighttherehadbeenagunplacedinUnionSquare。Ithadneverbeenmounted，muchlessfired，andinthedarknessafterthesurrenderitwastakenwithitssuppliesandputoutofthewayunderthearchesofthegreatDexterbuilding。Herelateinthemorningitwasremarkedbyanumberofpatrioticspirits。

Theysettoworktohoistandmountitinsidetheupperfloorsoftheplace。Theymade，infact，amaskedbatterybehindthedecorousofficeblinds，andtherelayinwaitassimplyexcitedaschildrenuntilatlastthestemofthelucklessWetterhornappeared，beatingandrollingatquarterspeedovertherecentlyreconstructedpinnaclesofTiffany’s。Promptlythatone—gunbatteryunmasked。Theairship’slook—outmanmusthaveseenthewholeofthetenthstoryoftheDexterbuildingcrumbleoutandsmashinthestreetbelowtodiscovertheblackmuzzlelookingoutfromtheshadowsbehind。Thenperhapstheshellhithim。

ThegunfiredtwoshellsbeforetheframeoftheDexterbuildingcollapsed，andeachshellrakedtheWetterhornfromstemtostern。Theysmashedherexhaustively。Shecrumpleduplikeacanthathasbeenkickedbyaheavyboot，herforepartcamedowninthesquare，andtherestofherlength，withagreatsnappingandtwistingofshaftsandstays，descended，collapsingathwartTammanyHallandthestreetstowardsSecondAvenue。Hergasescapedtomixwithair，andtheairofherrentballoonettepouredintoherdeflatinggas—chambers。Thenwithanimmenseimpactsheexploded……

TheVaterlandatthattimewasbeatinguptothesouthofCityHallfromovertheruinsoftheBrooklynBridge，andthereportsofthegun，followedbythefirstcrashesofthecollapsingDexterbuilding，broughtKurtand，Smallwaystothecabinporthole。Theywereintimetoseetheflashoftheexplodinggun，andthentheywerefirstflattenedagainstthewindowandthenrolledheadoverheelsacrossthefloorofthecabinbytheairwaveoftheexplosion。TheVaterlandboundedlikeafootballsomeonehaskickedandwhentheylookedoutagain，UnionSquarewassmallandremoteandshattered，asthoughsomecosmicallyvastgianthadrolledoverit。Thebuildingstotheeastofitwereablazeatadozenpoints，undertheflamingtattersandwarpingskeletonoftheairship，andalltheroofsandwallswereridiculouslyaskewandcrumblingasonelooked。"Gaw！"saidBert。"What’shappened？Lookatthepeople！"

ButbeforeKurtcouldproduceanexplanation，theshrillbellsoftheairshipwereringingtoquarters，andhehadtogo。Berthesitatedandsteppedthoughtfullyintothepassage，lookingbackatthewindowashedidso。HewasknockedoffhisfeetatoncebythePrince，whowasrushingheadlongfromhiscabintothecentralmagazine。

BerthadamomentaryimpressionofthegreatfigureofthePrince，whitewithrage，bristlingwithgiganticanger，hishugefistswinging。"BlutundEisen！"criedthePrince，asonewhoswears。"Oh！BlutundEisen！"

SomeonefelloverBert——somethinginthemanneroffallingsuggestedVonWinterfeld——andsomeoneelsepausedandkickedhimspitefullyandhard。Thenhewassittingupinthepassage，rubbingafreshlybruisedcheekandreadjustingthebandagehestillworeonhishead。"DemthatPrince，"saidBert，indignantbeyondmeasure。"’E’asn’tthemennersofa’og！"

Hestoodup，collectedhiswitsforaminute，andthenwentslowlytowardsthegangwayofthelittlegallery。AshedidsoheheardnoisessuggestiveofthereturnofthePrince。Thelotofthemwerecomingbackagain。Heshotintohiscabinlikearabbitintoitsburrow，justintimetoescapethatshoutingterror。

Heshutthedoor，waiteduntilthepassagewasstill，thenwentacrosstothewindowandlookedout。Adriftofcloudmadetheprospectofthestreetsandsquareshazy，andtherollingoftheairshipswungthepictureupanddown。Afewpeoplewererunningtoandfro，butforthemostparttheaspectofthedistrictwasdesertion。Thestreetsseemedtobroadenout，theybecameclearer，andthelittledotsthatwerepeoplelargerastheVaterlandcamedownagain。PresentlyshewasswayingalongabovethelowerendofBroadway。Thedotsbelow，Bertsaw，werenotrunningnow，butstandingandlookingup。Thensuddenlytheywereallrunningagain。

Somethinghaddroppedfromtheaeroplane，somethingthatlookedsmallandflimsy。IthitthepavementnearabigarchwayjustunderneathBert。Alittlemanwassprintingalongthesidewalkwithinhalfadozenyards，andtwoorthreeothersandonewomanwereboltingacrosstheroadway。Theywereoddlittlefigures，soverysmallweretheyabouttheheads，soveryactiveabouttheelbowsandlegs。Itwasreallyfunnytoseetheirlegsgoing。

Foreshortened，humanityhasnodignity。Thelittlemanonthepavementjumpedcomically——nodoubtwithterror，asthebombfellbesidehim。

Thenblindingflamessquirtedoutinalldirectionsfromthepointofimpact，andthelittlemanwhohadjumpedbecame，foraninstant，aflashoffireandvanished——vanishedabsolutely。Thepeoplerunningoutintotheroadtookpreposterousclumsyleaps，thenfloppeddownandlaystill，withtheirtornclothessmoulderingintoflame。Thenpiecesofthearchwaybegantodrop，andthelowermasonryofthebuildingtofallinwiththerumblingsoundofcoalsbeingshotintoacellar。AfaintscreamingreachedBert，andthenacrowdofpeopleranoutintothestreet，onemanlimpingandgesticulatingawkwardly。Hehalted，andwentbacktowardsthebuilding。Afallingmassofbrick—workhithimandsenthimsprawlingtoliestillandcrumpledwherehefell。Dustandblacksmokecamepouringintothestreet，andwerepresentlyshotwithredflame……

InthismannerthemassacreofNewYorkbegan。ShewasthefirstofthegreatcitiesoftheScientificAgetosufferbytheenormouspowersandgrotesquelimitationsofaerialwarfare。Shewaswreckedasinthepreviouscenturyendlessbarbariccitieshadbeenbombarded，becauseshewasatoncetoostrongtobeoccupiedandtooundisciplinedandproudtosurrenderinordertoescapedestruction。Giventhecircumstances，thethinghadtobedone。ItwasimpossibleforthePrincetodesist，andownhimselfdefeated，anditwasimpossibletosubduethecityexceptbylargelydestroyingit。Thecatastrophewasthelogicaloutcomeofthesituation，createdbytheapplicationofsciencetowarfare。Itwasunavoidablethatgreatcitiesshouldbedestroyed。Inspiteofhisintenseexasperationwithhisdilemma，thePrincesoughttobemoderateeveninmassacre。Hetriedtogiveamemorablelessonwiththeminimumwasteoflifeandtheminimumexpenditureofexplosives。ForthatnightheproposedonlythewreckingofBroadway。Hedirectedtheair—fleettomoveincolumnovertherouteofthisthoroughfare，droppingbombs，theVaterlandleading。AndsoourBertSmallwaysbecameaparticipantinoneofthemostcold—bloodedslaughtersintheworld’shistory，inwhichmenwhowereneitherexcitednor，exceptfortheremotestchanceofabullet，inanydanger，poureddeathanddestructionuponhomesandcrowdsbelow。

Heclungtotheframeoftheportholeastheairshiptossedandswayed，andstareddownthroughthelightrainthatnowdrovebeforethewind，intothetwilightstreets，watchingpeoplerunningoutofthehouses，watchingbuildingscollapseandfiresbegin。Astheairshipssailedalongtheysmashedupthecityasachildwillshatteritscitiesofbrickandcard。Below，theyleftruinsandblazingconflagrationsandheapedandscattereddead;men，women，andchildrenmixedtogetherasthoughtheyhadbeennomorethanMoors，orZulus，orChinese。LowerNewYorkwassoonafurnaceofcrimsonflames，fromwhichtherewasnoescape。Cars，railways，ferries，allhadceased，andneveralightlitthewayofthedistractedfugitivesinthatduskyconfusionbutthelightofburning。Hehadglimpsesofwhat，itmustmeantobedownthere——glimpses。Anditcametohimsuddenlyasanincrediblediscovery，thatsuchdisasterswerenotonlypossiblenowinthisstrange，gigantic，foreignNewYork，butalsoinLondon——inBunHill！thatthelittleislandinthesilverseaswasattheendofitsimmunity，thatnowhereintheworldanymorewasthereaplaceleftwhereaSmallwaysmightlifthisheadproudlyandvoteforwarandaspiritedforeignpolicy，andgosecurefromsuchhorriblethings。

CHAPTERVII

THE"VATERLAND"ISDISABLED

1

AndthenabovetheflamesofManhattanIslandcameabattle，thefirstbattleintheair。TheAmericanshadrealisedthepricetheirwaitinggamemustcost，andstruckwithallthestrengththeyhad，ifhaplytheymightstillsaveNewYorkfromthismadPrinceofBloodandIron，andfromfireanddeath。

TheycamedownupontheGermansonthewingsofagreatgaleinthetwilight，amidstthunderandrain。TheycamefromtheyardsofWashingtonandPhiladelphia，fulltiltintwosquadrons，andbutforonesentinelairshiphardbyTrenton，thesurprisewouldhavebeencomplete。

TheGermans，sickandwearywithdestruction，andhalfemptyofammunition，werefacingupintotheweatherwhenthenewsofthisonsetreachedthem。NewYorktheyhadleftbehindtothesouth—eastward，adarkenedcitywithonehideousredscarofflames。Alltheairshipsrolledandstaggered，burstsofhailstormborethemdownandforcedthemtofighttheirwayupagain;theairhadbecomebitterlycold。ThePrincewasonthepointofissuingorderstodropearthwardandtrailcopperlightningchainswhenthenewsoftheaeroplaneattackcametohim。Hefacedhisfleetinlineabreastsouth，hadthedrachenfliegermannedandheldreadytocastloose，andorderedageneralascentintothefreezingclearnessabovethewetanddarkness。

ThenewsofwhatwasimminentcameslowlytoBert’sperceptions。

Hewasstandinginthemessroomatthetimeandtheeveningrationswerebeingservedout。HehadresumedButteridge’scoatandgloves，andinadditionhehadwrappedhisblanketabouthim。

Hewasdippinghisbreadintohissoupandwasbitingoffbigmouthfuls。Hislegswerewideapart，andheleantagainstthepartitioninordertosteadyhimselfamidstthepitchingandoscillationoftheairship。Themenabouthimlookedtiredanddepressed;afewtalked，butmostweresullenandthoughtful，andoneortwowereair—sick。Theyallseemedtosharethepeculiarlyoutcastfeelingthathadfollowedthemurdersoftheevening，asenseofalandbeneaththem，andanoutragedhumanitygrownmorehostilethantheSea。

Thenthenewshitthem。Ared—facedsturdyman，amanwithlighteyelashesandascar，appearedinthedoorwayandshoutedsomethinginGermanthatmanifestlystartledeveryone。Bertfelttheshockofthealteredtone，thoughhecouldnotunderstandawordthatwassaid。Theannouncementwasfollowedbyapause，andthenagreatoutcryofquestionsandsuggestions。

Eventheair—sickmenflushedandspoke。Forsomeminutesthemess—roomwasBedlam，andthen，asifitwereaconfirmationofthenews，cametheshrillringingofthebellsthatcalledthementotheirposts。

Bertwithpantomimesuddennessfoundhimselfalone。

"What’sup？"hesaid，thoughhepartlyguessed。

Hestayedonlytogulpdowntheremainderofhissoup，andthenranalongtheswayingpassageand，clutchingtightly，downtheladdertothelittlegallery。Theweatherhithimlikecoldwatersquirtedfromahose。TheairshipengagedinsomenewfeatofatmosphericJiu—Jitsu。Hedrewhisblanketcloserabouthim，clutchingwithonestraininghand。Hefoundhimselftossinginawettwilight，withnothingtobeseenbutmistpouringpasthim。

Abovehimtheairshipwaswarmwithlightsandbusywiththemovementsofmengoingtotheirquarters。Thenabruptlythelightswentout，andtheVaterlandwithboundsandtwistsandstrangewrithingswasfightingherwayuptheair。

Hehadaglimpse，astheVaterlandrolledover，ofsomelargebuildingsburningclosebelowthem，aquiveringacanthusofflames，andthenhesawindistinctlythroughthedrivingweatheranotherairshipwallowingalonglikeaporpoise，andalsoworkingup。Presentlythecloudsswallowedheragainforatime，andthenshecamebacktosightasadarkandwhale—likemonster，amidststreamingweather。Theairwasfullofflappingsandpipings，ofvoid，gustyshoutsandnoises;itbuffetedhimandconfusedhim;everandagainhisattentionbecamerigid——ablindanddeafbalancingandclutching。

"Wow！"

Somethingfellpasthimoutofthevastdarknessesaboveandvanishedintothetumultsbelow，goingobliquelydownward。ItwasaGermandrachenflieger。Thethingwasgoingsofasthehadbutaninstantapprehensionofthedarkfigureoftheaeronautcrouchedtogetherclutchingathiswheel。Itmightbeamanoeuvre，butitlookedlikeacatastrophe。

"Gaw！"saidBert。

"Pup—pup—pup"wentagunsomewhereinthemirkaheadandsuddenlyandquitehorriblytheVaterlandlurched，andBertandthesentinelwereclingingtotherailfordearlife。"Bang！"cameavastimpactoutofthezenith，followedbyanotherhugeroll，andallabouthimthetumbledcloudsflashedredandluridinresponsetoflashesunseen，revealingimmensegulfs。Therailwentrightoverhead，andhewashanginglooseintheairholdingontoit。

ForatimeBert’swholemindandbeingwasgiventoclutching。

"I’mgoingintothecabin，"hesaid，astheairshiprightedagainandbroughtbackthegalleryfloortohisfeet。Hebegantomakehiswaycautiouslytowardstheladder。"Whee—wow！"hecriedasthewholegalleryreareditselfupforward，andthenplungeddownlikeadesperatehorse。

Crack！Bang！Bang！Bang！Andthenharduponthislittlerattleofshotsandbombscame，allabouthim，envelopinghim，engulfinghim，immenseandoverwhelming，aquiveringwhiteblazeoflightningandathunder—clapthatwasliketheburstingofaworld。

Justfortheinstantbeforethatexplosiontheuniverseseemedtobestandingstillinashadowlessglare。

ItwasthenhesawtheAmericanaeroplane。Hesawitinthelightoftheflashasathingaltogethermotionless。Evenitsscrewappearedstill，anditsmenwererigiddolls。（Foritwassonearhecouldseethemenuponitquitedistinctly。）Itssternwastiltingdown，andthewholemachinewasheelingover。

ItwasoftheColt—Coburn—Langleypattern，withdoubleup—tiltedwingsandthescrewahead，andthemenwereinaboat—likebodynettedover。Fromthisverylightlongbody，magazinegunsprojectedoneitherside。Onethingthatwasstrikinglyoddandwonderfulinthatmomentofrevelationwasthattheleftupperwingwasburningdownwardwithareddish，smokyflame。Butthiswasnotthemostwonderfulthingaboutthisapparition。ThemostwonderfulthingwasthatitandaGermanairshipfivehundredyardsbelowwerethreadedasitwereonthelightningflash，whichturnedoutofitspathasiftotakethem，and，thatoutfromthecornersandprojectingpointsofitshugewingseverywhere，littlebranchingthorn—treesoflightningwerestreaming。

LikeapictureBertsawthesethings，apicturealittleblurredbyathinveilofwind—tornmist。

Thecrashofthethunder—clapfollowedtheflashandseemedapartofit，sothatitishardtosaywhetherBertwastheratherdeafenedorblindedinthatinstant。

Andthendarkness，utterdarkness，andaheavyreportandathinsmallsoundofvoicesthatwentwailingdownwardintotheabyssbelow。

2

Therefolloweduponthesethingsalong，deepswayingoftheairship，andthenBertbeganastruggletogetbacktohiscabin。

Hewasdrenchedandcoldandterrifiedbeyondmeasure，andnowmorethanalittleair—sick。Itseemedtohimthatthestrengthhadgoneoutofhiskneesandhands，andthathisfeethadbecomeicilyslipperyoverthemetaltheytrodupon。Butthatwasbecauseathinfilmoficehadfrozenuponthegallery。

Heneverknewhowlonghisascentoftheladderbackintotheairshiptookhim，butinhisdreamsafterwards，whenherecalledit，thatexperienceseemedtolastforhours。Below，above，aroundhimweregulfs，monstrousgulfsofhowlingwindandeddiesofdark，whirlingsnowflakes，andhewasprotectedfromitallbyalittlemetalgratingandarail，agratingandrailthatseemedmadlyinfuriatedwithhim，passionatelyeagertowrenchhimoffandthrowhimintothetumultofspace。

Oncehehadafancythatabullettorebyhisear，andthatthecloudsandsnowflakeswerelitbyaflash，buthenevereventurnedhisheadtoseewhatnewassailantwhirledpasttheminthevoid。Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Hewantedtogetintothepassage！Wouldthearmbywhichhewasclingingholdout，orwoulditgivewayandsnap？Ahandfulofhailsmackedhimintheface，sothatforatimehewasbreathlessandnearlyinsensible。Holdtight，Bert！

Herenewedhisefforts。

Hefoundhimself，withanenormoussenseofreliefandwarmth，inthepassage。Thepassagewasbehavinglikeadice—box，itsdispositionwasevidentlytorattlehimaboutandthenthrowhimoutagain。Hehungonwiththeconvulsiveclutchofinstinctuntilthepassagelurcheddownahead。Thenhewouldmakeashortruncabin—ward，andclutchagainasthefore—endrose。

Behold！Hewasinthecabin！

Hesnapped—tothedoor，andforatimehewasnotahumanbeing，hewasacaseofair—sickness。Hewantedtogetsomewherethatwouldfixhim，thatheneedn’tclutch。Heopenedthelockerandgotinsideamongtheloosearticles，andsprawledtherehelplessly，withhisheadsometimesbumpingonesideandsometimestheother。Thelidshutuponhimwithaclick。Hedidnotcarethenwhatwashappeninganymore。Hedidnotcarewhofoughtwho，orwhatbulletswerefiredorexplosionsoccurred。

Hedidnotcareifpresentlyhewasshotorsmashedtopieces。

Hewasfulloffeeble，inarticulaterageanddespair。"Foolery！"

hesaid，hisoneexhaustivecommentonhumanenterprise，adventure，war，andthechapterofaccidentsthathadentangledhim。"Foolery！Ugh！"Heincludedtheorderoftheuniverseinthatcomprehensivecondemnation。Hewishedhewasdead。

Hesawnothingofthestars，aspresentlytheVaterlandclearedtherushandconfusionofthelowerweather，noroftheduelshefoughtwithtwocirclingaeroplanes，howtheyshotherrear—mostchambersthrough，andhowshefoughtthemoffwithexplosivebulletsandturnedtorunasshedidso。

Therushandswoopofthesewonderfulnightbirdswasalllostuponhim;theirheroicdashandself—sacrifice。TheVaterlandwasrammed，andforsomemomentsshehungonthevergeofdestruction，andsinkingswiftly，withtheAmericanaeroplaneentangledwithhersmashedpropeller，andtheAmericanstryingtoscrambleaboard。ItsignifiednothingtoBert。Tohimitconveyeditselfsimplyasvehementswaying。Foolery！WhentheAmericanairshipdroppedoffatlast，withmostofitscrewshotorfallen，BertinhislockerappreciatednothingbutthattheVaterlandhadtakenahideousupwardleap。

Butthencameinfiniterelief，incrediblyblissfulrelief。Therolling，thepitching，thestruggleceased，ceasedinstantlyandabsolutely。TheVaterlandwasnolongerfightingthegale;hersmashedandexplodedenginesthrobbednomore;shewasdisabledanddrivingbeforethewindassmoothlyasaballoon，ahuge，windspread，tatteredcloudofaerialwreckage。

ToBertitwasnomorethantheendofaseriesofdisagreeablesensations。Hewasnotcurioustoknowwhathadhappenedtotheairship，norwhathadhappenedtothebattle。Foralongtimehelaywaitingapprehensivelyforthepitchingandtossingandhisqualmstoreturn，andso，lying，boxedupinthelocker，hepresentlyfellasleep。

3

Heawoketranquilbutverystuffy，andatthesametimeverycold，andquiteunabletorecollectwherehecouldbe。Hisheadached，andhisbreathwassuffocated。HehadbeendreamingconfusedlyofEdna，anddesertdervishes，andofridingbicyclesinanextremelyperilousmannerthroughtheupperairamidstapyrotechnicdisplayofcrackersandBengallights——tothegreatannoyanceofasortofcompositepersonmadeupofthePrinceandMr。Butteridge。ThenforsomereasonEdnaandhehadbeguntocrypitifullyforeachother，andhewokeupwithweteye—lashesintothisill—ventilateddarknessofthelocker。HewouldneverseeEdnaanymore，neverseeEdnaanymore。

HethoughthemustbebackinthebedroombehindthecycleshopatthebottomofBunHill，andhewassurethevisionhehadhadofthedestructionofamagnificentcity，acityquiteincrediblygreatandsplendid，bymeansofbombs，wasnomorethanaparticularlyvividdream。

"Grubb！"hecalled，anxioustotellhim。

Theansweringsilence，andthedullresonanceofthelockertohisvoice，supplementingthestiflingqualityoftheair，setgoinganewtrainofideas。Helifteduphishandsandfeet，andmetaninflexibleresistance。Hewasinacoffin，hethought！

Hehadbeenburiedalive！Hegavewayatoncetowildpanic。

"’Elp！"hescreamed。"’Elp！"anddrummedwithhisfeet，andkickedandstruggled。"Letmeout！Letmeout！"

Forsomesecondshestruggledwiththisintolerablehorror，andthenthesideofhisimaginedcoffingaveway，andhewasflyingoutintodaylight。ThenhewasrollingaboutonwhatseemedtobeapaddedfloorwithKurt，andbeingpunchedandswornatlustily。

Hesatup。Hisheadbandagehadbecomelooseandgotoveroneeye，andhewhippedthewholethingoff。Kurtwasalsosittingup，ayardawayfromhim，pinkasever，wrappedinblankets，andwithanaluminiumdiver’shelmetoverhisknee，staringathimwithasevereexpression，andrubbinghisdownyunshavenchin。

Theywerebothonaslantingfloorofcrimsonpadding，andabovethemwasanopeninglikealong，lowcellarflapthatBertbyaneffortperceivedtobethecabindoorinahalf—invertedcondition。Thewholecabinhadinfactturnedonitsside。

"Whatthedeucedoyoumeanbyit，Smallways？"saidKurt，"jumpingoutofthatlockerwhenIwascertainyouhadgoneoverboardwiththerestofthem？Wherehaveyoubeen？"

"What’sup？"askedBert。

"Thisendoftheairshipisup。Mostotherthingsaredown。"

"Wasthereabattle？"

"Therewas。"

"Whowon？"

"Ihaven’tseenthepapers，Smallways。Weleftbeforethefinish。

Wegotdisabledandunmanageable，andourcolleagues——consortsI

mean——weretoobusymostofthemtotroubleaboutus，andthewindblewus——HeavenknowswherethewindISblowingus。Itblewusrightoutofactionattherateofeightymilesanhourorso。

Gott！whatawindthatwas！Whatafight！Andhereweare！"

"Where？"

"Intheair，Smallways——intheair！Whenwegetdownontheearthagainweshan’tknowwhattodowithourlegs。"

"Butwhat’sbelowus？"

"Canada，tothebestofmyknowledge——andajollybleak，empty，inhospitablecountryitlooks。"

"Butwhyain’twerightwaysup？"

Kurtmadenoanswerforaspace。

"LastIrememberwasseeingasortofflying—machineinalightningflash，"saidBert。"Gaw！thatwas’orrible。Gunsgoingoff！Thingsexplodin’！Cloudsand’ail。Pitchingandtossing。Igotsoscaredanddesperate——andsick。Youdon’tknowhowthefightcameoff？"

"Notabitofit。Iwasupwithmysquadinthosedivers’

dresses，insidethegas—chambers，withsheetsofsilkforcaulking。Wecouldn’tseeathingoutsideexceptthelightningflashes。IneversawoneofthoseAmericanaeroplanes。Justsawtheshotsflickerthroughthechambersandsentoffmenforthetears。Wecaughtfireabit——notmuch，youknow。Weweretoowet，sothefiressplutteredoutbeforewebanged。Andthenoneoftheirinfernalthingsdroppedoutoftheaironusandrammed。