第14章

BertsawnothingthenofthesecondfleetoftheAsiatics，thoughprobablythatwascomingintosightoftheGermansatthetime，inthenorth—west。

Theairwasverystill，theskyalmostwithoutacloud，andtheGermanfleethadrisentoanimmenseheight，sothattheairshipsseemednolongerofanyconsiderablesize。Bothendsoftheircrescentshowedplainly。AstheybeatsouthwardtheypassedslowlybetweenBertandthesunlight，andbecameblackoutlinesofthemselves。ThedrachenfliegerappearedaslittleflecksofblackoneitherwingofthisaerialArmada。

Thetwofleetsseemedinnohurrytoengage。TheAsiaticswentfarawayintotheeast，quickeningtheirpaceandrisingastheydidso，andthentailedoutintoalongcolumnandcameflyingback，risingtowardstheGermanleft。Thesquadronsofthelattercameabout，facingthisobliqueadvance，andsuddenlylittleflickeringsandafaintcrepitatingsoundtoldthattheyhadopenedfire。Foratimenoeffectwasvisibletothewatcheronthebridge。Then，likeahandfulofsnowflakes，thedrachenfliegerswoopedtotheattack，andamultitudeofredspeckswhirleduptomeetthem。ItwastoBert’ssensenotonlyenormouslyremotebutsingularlyinhuman。Notfourhourssincehehadbeenononeofthoseveryairships，andyettheyseemedtohimnownotgas—bagscarryingmen，butstrangesentientcreaturesthatmovedaboutanddidthingswithapurposeoftheirown。TheflightoftheAsiaticandGermanflying—machinesjoinedanddroppedearthward，becamelikeahandfulofwhiteandredrosepetalsflungfromadistantwindow，grewlarger，untilBertcouldseetheoverturnedonesspinningthroughtheair，andwerehiddenbygreatvolumesofdarksmokethatwererisinginthedirectionofBuffalo。Foratimetheyallwerehidden，thentwoorthreewhiteandanumberofredones。roseagainintothesky，likeaswarmofbigbutterflies，andcircledfightinganddroveawayoutofsightagaintowardstheeast。

AheavyreportrecalledBert’seyestothezenith，andbehold，thegreatcrescenthadlostitsdressingandburstintoadisorderlylongcloudofairships！Onehaddroppedhalfwaydownthesky。Itwasflamingforeandaft，andevenasBertlookeditturnedoverandfell，spinningoverandoveritselfandvanishedintothesmokeofBuffalo。

Bert’smouthopenedandshut，andheclutchedtighterontherailofthebridge。Forsomemoments——theyseemedlongmoments——thetwofleetsremainedwithoutanyfurtherchangeflyingobliquelytowardseachother，andmakingwhatcametoBert’searsasamidgetuproar。Thensuddenlyfromeithersideairshipsbegandroppingoutofalignment，smittenbymissileshecouldneitherseenortrace。ThestringofAsiaticshipsswungroundandeitherchargedintoorover（itwasdifficulttosayfrombelow）

theshatteredlineoftheGermans，whoseemedtoopenouttogivewaytothem。Somesortofmanoeuvringbegan，butBertcouldnotgraspitsimport。Theleftofthebattlebecameaconfuseddanceofairships。Forsomeminutesuptherethetwocrossinglinesofshipslookedsocloseitseemedlikeahand—to—handscuffleinthesky。Thentheybrokeupintogroupsandduels。ThedescentofGermanair—shipstowardsthelowerskyincreased。Oneofthemflareddownandvanishedfarawayinthenorth;twodroppedwithsomethingtwistedandcrippledintheirmovements;thenagroupofantagonistscamedownfromthezenithinaneddyingconflict，twoAsiaticsagainstoneGerman，andwerepresentlyjoinedbyanother，anddroveawayeastwardalltogetherwithothersdroppingoutoftheGermanlinetojointhem。

OneAsiaticeitherrammedorcollidedwithastillmoregiganticGerman，andthetwowentspinningtodestructiontogether。ThenorthernsquadronofAsiaticscameintothebattleunnotedbyBert，exceptthatthemultitudeofshipsaboveseemedpresentlyincreased。Inalittlewhilethefightwasutterconfusion，driftingonthewholetothesouthwestagainstthewind。Itbecamemoreandmoreaseriesofgroupencounters。HereahugeGermanairshipflamedearthwardwithadozenflatAsiaticcraftabouther，crushinghereveryattempttorecover。Hereanotherhungwithitsscrewfightingofftheswordsmanfromaswarmofflying—machines。Here，again，anAsiaticaflameateitherendswoopedoutofthebattle。Hisattentionwentfromincidenttoincidentinthevastclearnessoverhead;theseconspicuouscasesofdestructioncaughtandheldhismind;itwasonlyveryslowlythatanysortofschememanifesteditselfbetweenthosenearer，morestrikingepisodes。

Themassoftheairshipsthateddiedremotelyabovewas，however，neitherdestroyingnordestroyed。Themajorityofthemseemedtobegoingatfullspeedandcirclingupwardforposition，exchangingineffectualshotsastheydidso。Verylittlerammingwasessayedafterthefirsttragicdownfalloframmerandrammed，andwhateverattemptsatboardingweremadewereinvisibletoBert。Thereseemed，however，asteadyattempttoisolateantagonists，tocutthemofffromtheirfellowsandbearthemdown，causingaperpetualsailingbackandinterlacingoftheseshoalingbulks。ThegreaternumbersoftheAsiaticsandtheirswifterheelingmovementsgavethemtheeffectofpersistentlyattackingtheGermans。Overhead，andevidentlyendeavouringtokeepitselfintouchwiththeworksofNiagara，abodyofGermanairshipsdrewitselftogetherintoacompactphalanx，andtheAsiaticsbecamemoreandmoreintentuponbreakingthisup。Hewasgrotesquelyremindedoffishinafish—pondstrugglingforcrumbs。Hecouldseepunypuffsofsmokeandtheflashofbombs，butneverasoundcamedowntohim……

AflappingshadowpassedforamomentbetweenBertandthesunandwasfollowedbyanother。Awhirringofengines，click，clock，clitterclock，smoteuponhisears。Instantlyheforgotthezenith。

Perhapsahundredyardsabovethewater，outofthesouth，ridinglikeValkyriesswiftlythroughtheaironthestrangesteedstheengineeringofEuropehadbegottenupontheartisticinspirationofJapan，camealongstringofAsiaticswordsman。Thewingsflappedjerkily，click，block，clitterclock，andthemachinesdroveup;theyspreadandceased，andtheapparatuscamesoaringthroughtheair。Sotheyroseandfellandroseagain。TheypassedsocloselyoverheadthatBertcouldheartheirvoicescallingtooneanother。TheyswoopedtowardsNiagaracityandlandedoneafteranotherinalonglineinaclearspacebeforethehotel。Buthedidnotstaytowatchthemland。Oneyellowfacehadcranedoverandlookedathim，andforoneenigmaticalinstantmethiseyes……

ItwasthentheideacametoBertthathewasaltogethertooconspicuousinthemiddleofthebridge，andthathetooktohisheelstowardsGoatIsland。Thence，dodgingaboutamongthetrees，withperhapsanexcessiveself—consciousness，hewatchedtherestofthestruggle。

5

WhenBert’ssenseofsecuritywassufficientlyrestoredforhimtowatchthebattleagain，heperceivedthatabrisklittlefightwasinprogressbetweentheAsiaticaeronautsandtheGermanengineersforthepossessionofNiagaracity。Itwasthefirsttimeinthewholecourseofthewarthathehadseenanythingresemblingfightingashehadstudieditintheillustratedpapersofhisyouth。Itseemedtohimalmostasthoughthingswerecomingright。Hesawmencarryingriflesandtakingcoverandrunningbrisklyfrompointtopointinalooseattackingformation。Thefirstbatchofaeronautshadprobablybeenundertheimpressionthatthecitywasdeserted。TheyhadgroundedintheopennearProspectParkandapproachedthehousestowardsthepower—worksbeforetheyweredisillusionedbyasuddenfire。

Theyhadscatteredbacktothecoverofabanknearthewater——itwastoofarforthemtoreachtheirmachinesagain;theywerelyingandfiringatthemeninthehotelsandframe—housesaboutthepower—works。

Thentotheirsupportcameasecondstringofredflying—machinesdrivingupfromtheeast。Theyroseupoutofthehazeabovethehousesandcameroundinalongcurveasifsurveyingthepositionbelow。ThefireoftheGermansrosetoaroar，andoneofthosesoaringshapesgaveanabruptjerkbackwardandfellamongthehouses。Theothersswoopeddownexactlylikegreatbirdsupontheroofofthepower—house。Theycaughtuponit，andfromeachspranganimblelittlefigureandrantowardstheparapet。

Otherflappingbird—shapescameintothisaffair，butBerthadnotseentheircoming。Astaccatoofshotscameovertohim，remindinghimofarmymanoeuvres，ofnewspaperdescriptionsoffights，ofallthatwasentirelycorrectinhisconceptionofwarfare。HesawquiteanumberofGermansrunningfromtheoutlyinghousestowardsthepower—house。Twofell。Onelaystill，buttheotherwriggledandmadeeffortsforatime。Thehotelthatwasusedasahospital，andtowhichhehadhelpedcarrythewoundedmenfromtheZeppelinearlierintheday，suddenlyranuptheGenevaflag。ThetownthathadseemedsoquiethadevidentlybeenconcealingaconsiderablenumberofGermans，andtheywerenowconcentratingtoholdthecentralpower—house。Hewonderedwhatammunitiontheymighthave。MoreandmoreoftheAsiaticflying—machinescameintotheconflict。

TheyhaddisposedoftheunfortunateGermandrachenfliegerandwerenowaimingattheincipientaeronauticpark，——theelectricgasgeneratorsandrepairstationswhichformedtheGermanbase。

Some，landed，andtheiraeronautstookcoverandbecameenergeticinfantrysoldiers。Othershoveredabovethefight，theirmeneverandagainfiringshotsdownatsomechanceexposurebelow。

Thefiringcameinparoxysms;nowtherewouldbeawatchfullullandnowarapidtattooofshots，risingtoaroar。Onceortwiceflyingmachines，astheycircledwarily，camerightoverhead，andforatimeBertgavehimselfbodyandsoultocowering。

Everandagainalargerthundermingledwiththerattleandremindedhimofthegrappleofairshipsfarabove，butthenearerfightheldhisattention。

Abruptlysomethingdroppedfromthezenith;somethinglikeabarrelorahugefootball。

CRASH！Itsmashedwithanimmensereport。IthadfallenamongthegroundedAsiaticaeroplanesthatlayamongtheturfandflower—bedsneartheriver。Theyflewinscrapsandfragments，turf，trees，andgravelleaptandfell;theaeronautsstilllyingalongthecanalbankwerethrownaboutlikesacks，catspawsflewacrossthefoamingwater。Allthewindowsofthehotelhospitalthathadbeenshininglyreflectingblueskyandairshipsthemomentbeforebecamevastblackstars。Bang！——asecondfollowed。

Bertlookedupandwasfilledwithasenseofanumberofmonstrousbodiesswoopingdown，comingdownonthewholeaffairlikeaflightofbellyingblankets，likeastringofvastdish—covers。Thecentraltangleofthebattleabovewascirclingdownasiftocomeintotouchwiththepower—housefight。Hegotaneweffectofairshipsaltogether，asvastthingscomingdownuponhim，growingswiftlylargerandlargerandmoreoverwhelming，untilthehousesoverthewayseemedsmall，theAmericanrapidsnarrow，thebridgeflimsy，thecombatantsinfinitesimal。Astheycamedowntheybecameaudibleasacomplexofshootingsandvastcreakingsandgroaningsandbeatingsandthrobbingsandshoutsandshots。Thefore—shortenedblackeaglesatthefore—endsoftheGermanshadaneffectofactualcombatofflyingfeathers。

Someofthesefightingairshipscamewithinfivehundredfeetoftheground。BertcouldseemenonthelowergalleriesoftheGermans，firingrifles;couldseeAsiaticsclingingtotheropes;

sawonemaninaluminiumdiver’sgearfallflashinghead—longintothewatersaboveGoatIsland。ForthefirsttimehesawtheAsiaticairshipsclosely。Fromthisaspecttheyremindedhimmorethananythingelseofcolossalsnowshoes;theyhadacuriouspatterninginblackandwhite，informsthatremindedhimoftheengine—turnedcoverofawatch。Theyhadnohanginggalleries，butfromlittleopeningsonthemiddlelinepeepedoutmenandthemuzzlesofguns。So，drivinginlong，descendingandascendingcurves，thesemonsterswrestledandfought。Itwaslikecloudsfighting，likepuddingstryingtoassassinateeachother。Theywhirledandcircledabouteachother，andforatimethrewGoatIslandandNiagaraintoasmokytwilight，throughwhichthesunlightsmoteinshaftsandbeams。Theyspreadandclosedandspreadandgrappledanddroveroundovertherapids，andtwomilesawayormoreintoCanada，andbackovertheFallsagain。AGermancaughtfire，andthewholecrowdbrokeawayfromherflareandroseaboutherdispersing，leavinghertodroptowardsCanadaandblowupasshedropped。Thenwithreneweduproartheothersclosedagain。OncefromthemeninNiagaracitycameasoundlikeanant—hillcheering。AnotherGermanburnt，andonebadlydeflatedbytheprowofanantagonist，floppedoutofactionsouthward。

ItbecamemoreandmoreevidentthattheGermansweregettingtheworstoftheunequalfight。Moreandmoreobviouslyweretheybeingpersecuted。Lessandlessdidtheyseemtofightwithanyobjectotherthanescape。TheAsiaticssweptbythemandabovethem，rippedtheirbladders，setthemalight，pickedofftheirdimlyseenmenindivingclothes，whostruggledagainstfireandtearwithfireextinguishersandsilkribbonsintheinnernetting。Theyansweredonlywithineffectualshots。ThencethebattlecircledbackoverNiagara，andthensuddenlytheGermans，asifatapreconcertedsignal，brokeanddispersed，goingeast，west，north，andsouth，inopenandconfusedflight。TheAsiatics，astheyrealisedthis，rosetoflyabovethemandafterthem。OnlyonelittleknotoffourGermansandperhapsadozenAsiaticsremainedfightingabouttheHohenzollernandthePrinceashecircledinalastattempttosaveNiagara。

RoundtheyswoopedonceagainovertheCanadianFall，overthewasteofwaterseastward，untiltheyweredistantandsmall，andthenroundandback，hurrying，bounding，swoopingtowardstheonegapingspectator。

Thewholestrugglingmassapproachedveryswiftly，growingrapidlylarger，andcomingoutblackandfeaturelessagainsttheafternoonsunandabovetheblindingwelteroftheUpperRapids。

Itgrewlikeastormclouduntiloncemoreitdarkenedthesky。

TheflatAsiaticairshipskepthighabovetheGermansandbehindthem，andfiredunansweredbulletsintotheirgas—chambersandupontheirflanks——theone—manflying—machineshoveredandalightedlikeaswarmofattackingbees。Nearertheycame，andnearer，fillingthelowerheaven。TwooftheGermansswoopedandroseagain，buttheHohenzollernhadsufferedtoomuchforthat。

Sheliftedweakly，turnedsharplyasiftogetoutofthebattle，burstintoflamesforeandaft，sweptdowntothewater，splashedintoitobliquely，androlledoverandoverandcamedownstreamrollingandsmashingandwrithinglikeathingalive，haltingandthencomingonagain，withhertornandbentpropellerstillbeatingtheair。Theburstingflamessplutteredoutagainincloudsofsteam。Itwasadisastergiganticinitsdimensions。

Shelayacrosstherapidslikeanisland，liketallcliffs，tallcliffsthatcamerolling，smoking，andcrumpling，andcollapsing，advancingwithasortoffluctuatingrapidityuponBert。OneAsiaticairship——itlookedtoBertfrombelowlikethreehundredyardsofpavement——whirledbackandcircledtwoorthreetimesoverthatgreatoverthrow，andhalfadozencrimsonflying—machinesdancedforamomentlikegreatmidgesinthesunlightbeforetheysweptonaftertheirfellows。Therestofthefighthadalreadygoneovertheisland，awildcrescendoofshotsandyellsandsmashinguproar。ItwashiddenfromBertnowbythetreesoftheisland，andforgottenbyhiminthenearerspectacleofthehugeadvanceofthedefeatedGermanairship。

Somethingfellwithamightysmashingandsplinteringofboughsunheededbehindhim。

ItseemedforatimethattheHohenzollernmustneedsbreakherbackuponthePartingoftheWaters，andthenforatimeherpropellerfloppedandfrothedintheriverandthrustthemassofbuckling，crumpledwreckagetowardstheAmericanshore。ThenthesweepofthetorrentthatfoameddowntotheAmericanFallcaughther，andinanotherminutetheimmensemassofdeflatingwreckage，withflamesspurtingoutinthreenewplaces，hadcrashedagainstthebridgethatjoinedGoatIslandandNiagaracity，andforcedalongarm，asitwere，inaheavingtangleunderthecentralspan。Thenthemiddlechambersblewupwithaloudreport，andinanothermomentthebridgehadgivenwayandthemainbulkoftheairship，likesomegrotesquecrippleinrags，staggered，flappingandwavingflambeauxtothecrestoftheFallandhesitatedthereandvanishedinadesperatesuicidalleap。

Itsdetachedfore—endremainedjammedagainstthatlittleisland，GreenIslanditusedtobecalled，whichformsthestepping—stonebetweenthemainlandandGoatIsland’spatchoftrees。

BertfollowedthisdisasterfromthePartingoftheWaterstothebridgehead。Then，regardlessofcover，regardlessoftheAsiaticairshiphoveringlikeahugehouseroofwithoutwallsabovetheSuspensionBridge，hesprintedalongtowardsthenorthandcameoutforthefirsttimeuponthatrockypointbyLunaIslandthatlookssheerdownupontheAmericanFall。Therehestoodbreathlessamidstthateternalrushofsound，breathlessandstaring。

Farbelow，andtravellingrapidlydownthegorge，whirledsomethinglikeahugeemptysack。Forhimitmeant——whatdiditnotmean？——theGermanair—fleet，Kurt，thePrince，Europe，allthingsstableandfamiliar，theforcesthathadbroughthim，theforcesthathadseemedindisputablyvictorious。AnditwentdowntherapidslikeanemptysackandleftthevisibleworldtoAsia，toyellowpeoplebeyondChristendom，toallthatwasterribleandstrange！

RemoteoverCanadarecededtherestofthatconflictandvanishedbeyondtherangeofhisvision……

CHAPTERIX

ONGOATISLAND

1

ThewhackofabulletontherocksbesidehimremindedhimthathewasavisibleobjectandwearingatleastportionsofaGermanuniform。Itdrovehimintothetreesagain，andforatimehedodgedanddroppedandsoughtcoverlikeachickhidingamongreedsfromimaginaryhawks。

"Beaten，"hewhispered。"Beatenanddonefor……Chinese！Yellowchapschasing’em！"

Atlasthecametorestinaclumpofbushesnearalocked—upanddesertedrefreshmentshedwithinviewoftheAmericanside。Theymadeasortofholeandharbourforhim;theymetcompletelyoverhead。Helookedacrosstherapids，butthefiringhadceasednowaltogetherandeverythingseemedquiet。TheAsiaticaeroplanehadmovedfromitsformerpositionabovetheSuspensionBridge，wasmotionlessnowaboveNiagaracity，shadowingallthatdistrictaboutthepower—housewhichhadbeenthesceneofthelandfight。Themonsterhadanairofquietandassuredpredominance，andfromitssternittrailed，sereneandornamental，alongstreamingflag，thered，black，andyellowofthegreatalliance，theSunriseandtheDragon。Beyond，totheeast，atamuchhigherlevel，hungasecondconsort，andBert，presentlygatheringcourage，wriggledoutandcranedhisnecktofindanotherstillairshipagainstthesunsetinthesouth。

"Gaw！"hesaid。"Beatenandchased！MyGawd！"

Thefighting，itseemedatfirst，wasquiteoverinNiagaracity，thoughaGermanflagwasstillflyingfromoneshatteredhouse。

Awhitesheetwashoistedabovethepower—house，andthisremainedflyingallthroughtheeventsthatfollowed。ButpresentlycameasoundofshotsandthenGermansoldiersrunning。

Theydisappearedamongthehouses，andthencametwoengineersinblueshirtsandtrousershotlypursuedbythreeJapaneseswordsman。Theforemostofthetwofugitiveswasashapelyman，andranlightlyandwell;thesecondwasasturdylittleman，andratherfat。Herancomicallyinleapsandbounds，withhisplumparmsbentupbyhissideandhisheadthrownback。Thepursuersranwithuniformsanddarkthinmetalandleatherhead—dresses。

Thelittlemanstumbled，andBertgasped，realisinganewhorrorinwar。

Theforemostswordsmanwonthreestridesonhimandwasnearenoughtoslashathimandmissashespurted。

Adozenyardstheyran，andthentheswordsmanslashedagain，andBertcouldhearacrossthewatersalittlesoundlikethemooofanelfincowasthefatlittlemanfellforward。Slashwenttheswordsmanandslashatsomethingonthegroundthattriedtosaveitselfwithineffectualhands。"Oh，Icarn’t！"criedBert，nearblubbering，andstaringwithstartingeyes。

Theswordsmanslashedafourthtimeandwentonashisfellowscameupafterthebetterrunner。Thehindmostswordsmanstoppedandturnedback。Hehadperceivedsomemovementperhaps;butatanyratehestood，andeverandagainslashedatthefallenbody。

"Oo—oo！"groanedBertateveryslash，andshrankcloserintothebushesandbecameverystill。Presentlycameasoundofshotsfromthetown，andtheneverythingwasquiet，everything，eventhehospital。

Hesawpresentlylittlefiguressheathingswordscomeoutfromthehousesandwalktothedebrisoftheflying—machinesthebombhaddestroyed。Othersappearedwheelingundamagedaeroplanesupontheirwheelsasmenmightwheelbicycles，andsprangintothesaddlesandflappedintotheair。Astringofthreeairshipsappearedfarawayintheeastandflewtowardsthezenith。TheonethathunglowaboveNiagaracitycamestillloweranddroppedaropeladdertopickupmenfromthepower—house。

ForalongtimehewatchedthefurtherhappeningsinNiagaracityasarabbitmightwatchameet。Hesawmengoingfrombuildingtobuilding，tosetfiretothem，ashepresentlyrealised，andheheardaseriesofdulldetonationsfromthewheelpitofthepower—house。SomesimilarbusinesswentonamongtheworksontheCanadianside。Meanwhilemoreandmoreairshipsappeared，andmanymoreflying—machines，untilatlastitseemedtohimnearlyathirdoftheAsiaticfleethadre—assembled。Hewatchedthemfromhisbush，crampedbutimmovable，watchedthemgatherandrangethemselvesandsignalandpickupmen，untilatlasttheysailedawaytowardstheglowingsunset，goingtothegreatAsiaticrendez—vous，abovetheoilwellsofCleveland。Theydwindledandpassedaway，leavinghimalone，sofarashecouldtell，theonlylivingmaninaworldofruinandstrangelonelinessalmostbeyonddescribing。Hewatchedthemrecedeandvanish。Hestoodgapingafterthem。

"Gaw！"hesaidatlast，likeonewhorouseshimselffromatrance。

Itwasfarmorethananypersonaldesolationextremitythatfloodedhissoul。Itseemedtohimindeedthatthismustbethesunsetofhisrace。

2

Hedidnotatfirstenvisagehisownplightindefiniteandcomprehensibleterms。Thingshappenedtohimsomuchoflate，hisowneffortshadcountedforsolittle，thathehadbecomepassiveandplanless。HislastschemehadbeentogoroundthecoastofEnglandasadesertdervishgivingrefinedentertainmenttohisfellow—creatures。Fatehadquashedthat。Fatehadseenfittodirecthimtootherdestinies，hadhurriedhimfrompointtopoint，anddroppedhimatlastuponthislittlewedgeofrockbetweenthecataracts。Itdidnotinstantlyoccurtohimthatnowitwashisturntoplay。Hehadasingularfeelingthatallmustendasadreamends，thatpresentlysurelyhewouldbebackintheworldofGrubbandEdnaandBunHill，thatthisroar，thisglitteringpresenceofincessantwater，wouldbedrawnasideasacurtainisdrawnasideafteraholidaylanternshow，andoldfamiliar，customarythingsre—assumetheirsway。ItwouldbeinterestingtotellpeoplehowhehadseenNiagara。AndthenKurt’swordscameintohishead:"Peopletornawayfromthepeopletheycarefor;homessmashed，creaturesfulloflifeandmemoriesandpeculiarlittlegifts——torntopieces，starved，andspoilt。"……

Hewondered，halfincredulous，ifthatwasindeedtrue。Itwassohardtorealiseit。OutbeyondtherewasitpossiblethatTomandJessicawerealsoinsomedireextremity？thatthelittlegreen—grocer’sshopwasnolongerstandingopen，withJessicaservingrespectfully，warmingTom’searinsharpasides，orpunctuallysendingoutthegoods？

Hetriedtothinkwhatdayoftheweekitwas，andfoundhehadlosthisreckoning。PerhapsitwasSunday。Ifso，weretheygoingtochurchor，weretheyhiding，perhapsinbushes？Whathadhappenedtothelandlord，thebutcher，andtoButteridgeandallthosepeopleonDymchurchbeach？Something，heknew，hadhappenedtoLondon——abombardment。Butwhohadbombarded？WereTomandJessicatoobeingchasedbystrangebrownmenwithlongbareswordsandevileyes？Hethoughtofvariouspossibleaspectsofaffliction，butpresentlyonephaseoustedalltheothers。Weretheygettingmuchtoeat？Thequestionhauntedhim，obsessedhim。

Ifonewasveryhungrywouldoneeatrats？

Itdawneduponhimthatapeculiarmiserythatoppressedhimwasnotsomuchanxietyandpatrioticsorrowashunger。Ofcoursehewashungry！

Hereflectedandturnedhisstepstowardsthelittlerefreshmentshedthatstoodneartheendoftheruinedbridge。"Oughttobesomethin’——"

Hestrolledrounditonceortwice，andthenattackedtheshutterswithhispocket—knife，reinforcedpresentlybyawoodenstakehefoundconvenientlynear。Atlasthegotashuttertogive，andtoreitbackandstuckinhishead。

"Grub，"heremarked，"anyhow。Leastways——"

Hegotattheinsidefasteningoftheshutterandhadpresentlythisestablishmentopenforhisexploration。Hefoundseveralsealedbottlesofsterilizedmilk，muchmineralwater，twotinsofbiscuitsandacrockofverystalecakes，cigarettesingreatquantitybutverydry，someratherdryoranges，nuts，sometinsofcannedmeatandfruit，andplatesandknivesandforksandglassessufficientforseveralscoreofpeople。Therewasalsoazinclocker，buthewasunabletonegotiatethepadlockofthis。

"Shan’tstarve，"saidBert，"forabit，anyhow。"Hesatonthevendor’sseatandregaledhimselfwithbiscuitsandmilk，andfeltforamomentquitecontented。

"Quiterestful，"hemuttered，munchingandglancingabouthimrestlessly，"afterwhatIbeenthrough。

"Crikey！WOTaday！Oh！WOTaday！"

Wondertookpossessionofhim。"Gaw！"hecried:"Wotafightit’sbeen！Smashingupthepoorfellers！’Eadlong！Theairships——thefliersandall。IwonderwhathappenedtotheZeppelin？……AndthatchapKurt——Iwonderwhathappenedto’im？

’Ewasagoodsortofchap，wasKurt。"

Somephantomofimperialsolicitudefloatedthroughhismind。

"Injia，"hesaid……

Amorepracticalinterestarose。

"Iwonderifthere’sanythingtoopenoneofthesetinsofcornedbeef？"

3

Afterhehadfeasted，Bertlitacigaretteandsatmeditativeforatime。"WonderwhereGrubbis？"hesaid;"Idowonderthat！

Wonderifanyof’emwonderaboutme？"

Herevertedtohisowncircumstances。"DessayIshall’avetostoponthisislandforsometime。"

Hetriedtofeelathiseaseandsecure，butpresentlytheindefinablerestlessnessofthesocialanimalinsolitudedistressedhim。Hebegantowanttolookoverhisshoulder，and，asacorrective，rousedhimselftoexploretherestoftheisland。

Itwasonlyveryslowlythathebegantorealisethepeculiaritiesofhisposition，toperceivethatthebreakingdownofthearchbetweenGreenIslandandthemainlandhadcuthimoffcompletelyfromtheworld。Indeeditwasonlywhenhecamebacktowherethefore—endoftheHohenzollernlaylikeastrandedship，andwascontemplatingtheshatteredbridge，thatthisdawneduponhim。Eventhenitcamewithnosortofshocktohismind，afactamonganumberofotherextraordinaryandunmanageablefacts。HestaredattheshatteredcabinsoftheHohenzollernanditswidow’sgarmentofdishevelledsilkforatime，butwithoutanyideaofitscontaininganylivingthing;itwasallsotwistedandsmashedandentirelyupsidedown。Thenforawhilehegazedattheeveningsky。Acloudhazewasnowappearingandnotanairshipwasinsight。Aswallowflewbyandsnappedsomeinvisiblevictim。"Likeadream，"herepeated。

Thenforatimetherapidsheldhismind。"Roaring。Itkeepsonroaringandsplashin’alwaysandalways。Keepson……"

Atlasthisinterestsbecamepersonal。"WonderwhatIoughttodonow？"

Hereflected。"Notanidee，"hesaid。

HewaschieflyconsciousthatafortnightagohehadbeeninBunHillwithnoideaoftravelinhismind，andthatnowhewasbetweentheFallsofNiagaraamidstthedevastationandruinsofthegreatestairfightintheworld，andthatintheintervalhehadbeenacrossFrance，Belgium，Germany，England，Ireland，andanumberofothercountries。Itwasaninterestingthoughtandsuitableforconversation，butofnogreatpracticalutility。

"Wonder’owIcangetorfthis？"hesaid。"Wonderifthereisawayout？Ifnot……rummy！"

Furtherreflectiondecided，"IbelieveIgotmyselfinabitofa’olecomingoverthatbridge……

"Any’ow——gotmeoutofthewayofthemJapanesychaps。Wouldn’t’avetaken’emlongtocutMYfroat。No。Still——"

HeresolvedtoreturntothepointofLunaIsland。Foralongtimehestoodwithoutstirring，scrutinisingtheCanadianshoreandthewreckageofhotelsandhousesandthefallentreesoftheVictoriaPark，pinknowinthelightofsundown。Notahumanbeingwasperceptibleinthatsceneofheadlongdestruction。

ThenhecamebacktotheAmericansideoftheisland，crossedclosetothecrumpledaluminiumwreckageoftheHohenzollerntoGreenIslet，andscrutinisedthehopelessbreachinthefurtherbridgeandthewaterthatboiledbeneathit。TowardsBuffalotherewasstillmuchsmoke，andnearthepositionoftheNiagararailwaystationthehouseswereburningvigorously。Everythingwasdesertednow，everythingwasstill。Onelittleabandonedthinglayonatransversepathbetweentownandroad，acrumpledheapofclotheswithsprawlinglimbs……

"’Avealookround，"saidBert，andtakingapaththatranthroughthemiddleoftheislandhepresentlydiscoveredthewreckageofthetwoAsiaticaeroplanesthathadfallenoutofthestrugglethatendedtheHohenzollern。