第16章

Wewouldn’tbehappyuntiltheydid，andasIsay，’ereweare！"

Thebird—facedofficershoutedtohimtobequiet，andthenbeganaconversationwiththePrince。

"Britishcitizen，"saidBert。"Youain’tobligedtolisten，butIain’tobligedtoshutup。"

AndforsometimehecontinuedhisdissertationuponImperialism，militarism，andinternationalpolitics。Buttheirtalkingputhimout，andforatimehewascertainlymerelyrepeatingabusiveterms，"prancin’nincompoops"andthelike，oldtermsandnew。

Thensuddenlyherememberedhisessentialgrievance。"’Owever，look’ere——’ere！——thethingIstartedthistalkaboutiswhere’sthatfoodtherewasinthatshed？That’swhatIwanttoknow。

Whereyouputit？"

Hepaused。TheywentontalkinginGerman。Herepeatedhisquestion。Theydisregardedhim。Heaskedathirdtimeinamannerinsupportablyaggressive。

Therefellatensesilence。Forsomesecondsthethreeregardedoneanother。ThePrinceeyedBertsteadfastly，andBertquailedunderhiseye。SlowlythePrincerosetohisfeetandthebird—facedofficerjerkedupbesidehim。Bertremainedsquatting。

"Bequaiat，"saidthePrince。

Bertperceivedthiswasnomomentforeloquence。

ThetwoGermansregardedhimashecrouchedthere。Deathforamomentseemednear。

ThenthePrinceturnedawayandthetwoofthemwenttowardstheflying—machine。

"Gaw！"whisperedBert，andthenutteredunderhisbreathonesinglewordofabuse。Hesatcrouchedtogetherforperhapsthreeminutes，thenhesprangtohisfeetandwentofftowardstheChineseaeronaut’sgunhiddenamongtheweeds。

8

TherewasnopretenceafterthatmomentthatBertwasundertheordersofthePrinceorthathewasgoingonwiththerepairingoftheflying—machine。ThetwoGermanstookpossessionofthatandsettoworkuponit。Bert，withhisnewweaponwentofftotheneighbourhoodofTerrapinRock，andtheresatdowntoexamineit。Itwasashortriflewithabigcartridge，andanearlyfullmagazine。Hetookoutthecartridgescarefullyandthentriedthetriggerandfittingsuntilhefeltsurehehadtheuseofit。

Hereloadedcarefully。Thenherememberedhewashungryandwentoff，gununderhisarm，tohuntinandabouttherefreshmentshed。HehadthesensetoperceivethathemustnotshowhimselfwiththeguntothePrinceandhiscompanion。Solongastheythoughthimunarmedtheywouldleavehimalone，buttherewasnoknowingwhattheNapoleonicpersonmightdoifhesawBert’sweapon。Alsohedidnotgonearthembecauseheknewthatwithinhimselfboiledareservoirofrageandfearthathewantedtoshootthesetwomen。Hewantedtoshootthem，andhethoughtthattoshootthemwouldbeaquitehorriblethingtodo。Thetwosidesofhisinconsistentcivilisationwarredwithinhim。

Neartheshedthekittenturnedupagain，obviouslykeenformilk。Thisgreatlyenhancedhisownangrysenseofhunger。Hebegantotalkashehuntedabout，andpresentlystoodstill，shoutinginsults。HetalkedofwarandprideandImperialism。

"AnyotherPrincebutyouwouldhavediedwithhismenandhisship！"hecried。

ThetwoGermansatthemachineheardhisvoicegoingeverandagainamidsttheclamourofthewaters。Theireyesmetandtheysmiledslightly。

Hewasdisposedforatimetositintherefreshmentshedwaitingforthem，butthenitoccurredtohimthatsohemightgetthembothatclosequarters。HestrolledoffpresentlytothepointofLunaIslandtothinkthesituationout。

Ithadseemedacomparativelysimpleoneatfirst，butasheturneditoverinhisminditspossibilitiesincreasedandmultiplied。Boththesemenhadswords，——hadeitherarevolver？

Also，ifheshotthemboth，hemightneverfindthefood！

Sofarhehadbeengoingaboutwiththisgununderhisarm，andasenseoflordlysecurityinhismind，butwhatiftheysawthegunanddecidedtoambushhim？GoatIslandisnearlyallcover，trees，rocks，thickets，andirregularities。

Whynotgoandmurderthembothnow？

"Icarn’t，"saidBert，dismissingthat。"Igottobeworkedup。"

Butitwasamistaketogetrightawayfromthem。Thatsuddenlybecameclear。Heoughttokeepthemunderobservation，oughtto"scout"them。Thenhewouldbeabletoseewhattheyweredoing，whethereitherofthemhadarevolver，wheretheyhadhiddenthefood。Hewouldbebetterabletodeterminewhattheymeanttodotohim。Ifhedidn’t"scout"them，presentlytheywouldbeginto"scout"him。Thisseemedsoeminentlyreasonablethatheacteduponitforthwith。Hethoughtoverhiscostumeandthrewhiscollarandthetell—taleaeronaut’swhitecapintothewaterfarbelow。Heturnedhiscoatcollaruptohideanygleamofhisdirtyshirt。Thetoolsandnutsinhispocketsweredisposedtoclank，butherearrangedthemandwrappedsomelettersandhispocket—handkerchiefaboutthem。Hestartedoffcircumspectlyandnoiselessly，listeningandpeeringateverystep。Ashedrewnearhisantagonists，muchgruntingandcreakingservedtolocatethem。HediscoveredthemengagedinwhatlookedlikeawrestlingmatchwiththeAsiaticflying—machine。Theircoatswereoff，theirswordslaidaside，theywereworkingmagnificently。

Apparentlytheywereturningitroundandwerehavingagooddealofdifficultywiththelongtailamongthetrees。Hedroppedflatatthesightofthemandwriggledintoalittlehollow，andsolaywatchingtheirexertions。Everandagain，topassthetime，hewouldcoveroneorotherofthemwithhisgun。

Hefoundthemquiteinterestingtowatch，sointerestingthatattimeshecamenearshoutingtoadvisethem。Heperceivedthatwhentheyhadthemachineturnedround，theywouldthenbeinimmediatewantofthenutsandtoolshecarried。Thentheywouldcomeafterhim。Theywouldcertainlyconcludehehadthemorhadhiddenthem。Shouldhehidehisgunanddoadealforfoodwiththesetools？Hefelthewouldnotbeabletopartwiththegunagainnowhehadoncefeltitsreassuringcompany。Thekittenturnedupagainandmadeagreatfusswithhimandlickedandbithisear。

Thesunclamberedtomidday，andoncethatmorninghesaw，thoughtheGermansdidnot，anAsiaticairshipveryfartothesouth，goingswiftlyeastward。

Atlasttheflying—machinewasturnedandstoodpoisedonitswheel，withitshookspointinguptheRapids。Thetwoofficerswipedtheirfaces，resumedjacketsandswords，spokeandborethemselveslikemenwhocongratulatedthemselvesonagoodlaboriousmorning。Thentheywentoffbrisklytowardstherefreshmentshed，thePrinceleading。Bertbecameactiveinpursuit;buthefounditimpossibletostalkthemquicklyenoughandsilentlyenoughtodiscoverthehiding—placeofthefood。Hefoundthem，whenhecameintosightofthemagain，seatedwiththeirbacksagainsttheshed，platesonknee，andatinofcornedbeefandaplatefulofbiscuitsbetweenthem。Theyseemedinfairlygoodspirits，andoncethePrincelaughed。AtthisvisionofeatingBert’splansgaveway。Fiercehungercarriedhim。Heappearedbeforethemsuddenlyatadistanceofperhapstwentyyards，guninhand。

"’Andsup！"hesaidinahard，ferociousvoice。

ThePrincehesitated，andthenupwenttwopairsofhands。

Thegunhadsurprisedthembothcompletely。

"Standup，"saidBert……"Dropthatfork！"

Theyobeyedagain。

"Whatnex’？"saidBerttohimself。"’Orfstage，Isuppose。Thatway，"hesaid。"Go！"

ThePrinceobeyedwithremarkablealacrity。Whenhereachedtheheadoftheclearing，hesaidsomethingquicklytothebird—facedmanandtheyboth，withanentirelackofdignity，RAN！

Bertwasstruckwithanexasperatingafterthought。

"Gord！"hecriedwithinfinitevexation。"Why！Ioughtto’avetooktheirswords！’Ere！"

ButtheGermanswerealreadyoutofsight，andnodoubttakingcoveramongthetrees。Bertfellbackuponimprecations，thenhewentuptotheshed，cursorilyexaminedthepossibilityofaflankattack，puthisgunhandy，andsettowork，withaconvulsivelisteningpausebeforeeachmouthfulonthePrince’splateofcornedbeef。Hehadfinishedthatupandhandeditsgleaningstothekittenandhewasfalling—toonthesecondplateful，whentheplatebrokeinhishand！Hestared，withthefactslowlycreepinguponhimthataninstantbeforehehadheardacrackamongthethickets。Thenhesprangtohisfeet，snatcheduphisguninonehandandthetinofcornedbeefintheother，andfledroundtheshedtotheothersideoftheclearing。Ashedidsocameasecondcrackfromthethickets，andsomethingwentphwit！byhisear。

Hedidn’tstbprunninguntilhewasinwhatseemedtohimastronglydefensiblepositionnearLunaIsland。Thenhetookcover，panting，andcrouchedexpectant。

"Theygotarevolverafterall！"hepanted……

"Wonderiftheygottwo？Ifthey’ave——Gord！I’mdone！

"Where’sthekitten？Finishin’upthatcornedbeef，Isuppose。

Littlebeggar！"

9

SoitwasthatwarbeganuponGoatIsland。Itlastedadayandanight，thelongestdayandthelongestnightinBert’slife。HehadtoliecloseandlistenAndwatch。Alsohehadtoschemewhatheshoulddo。Itwasclearnowthathehadtokillthesetwomenifhecould，andthatiftheycould，theywouldkillhim。

Theprizewasfirstfoodandthentheflying—machineandthedoubtfulprivilegeoftrying’torideit。Ifonefailed，onewouldcertainlybekilled;ifonesucceeded，onewouldgetawaysomewhereoverthere。ForatimeBerttriedtoimaginewhatitwaslikeoverthere。Hismindranoverpossibilities，deserts，angryAmericans，Japanese，Chinese——perhapsRedIndians！（WeretherestillRedIndians？）

"Gottotakewhatcomes，"saidBert。"NowayoutofitthatI

cansee！"

Wasthatvoices？Herealisedthathisattentionwaswandering。

Foratimeallhissenseswereveryalert。TheuproaroftheFallswasveryconfusing，anditmixedinallsortsofsounds，likefeetwalking，likevoicestalking，likeshoutsandcries。

"Sillygreatcatarac’，"saidBert。"Thereain’tnosenseinit，fallin’andfallin’。"

Nevermindthat，now！WhatweretheGermansdoing？

Wouldtheygobacktotheflying—machine？Theycouldn’tdoanythingwithit，becausehehadthosenutsandscrewsandthewrenchandothertools。Butsupposetheyfoundthesecondsetoftoolshehadhiddeninatree！Hehadhiddenthethingswell，ofcourse，buttheyMIGHTfindthem。Onewasn’tsure，ofcourse——onewasn’tsure。Hetriedtorememberjustexactlyhowhehadhiddenthosetools。Hetriedtopersuadehimselftheywerecertainlyandsurelyhidden，buthismemorybegantoplayantics。Hadhereallyleftthehandleofthewrenchstickingout，shiningoutattheforkofthebranch？

Ssh！Whatwasthat？Someonestirringinthosebushes？Upwentanexpectantmuzzle。No！Wherewasthekitten？No！Itwasjustimagination，noteventhekitten。

TheGermanswouldcertainlymissandhuntaboutforthetoolsandnutsandscrewshecarriedinhispockets;thatwasclear。，Thentheywoulddecidehehadthemandcomeforhim。Hehadonlytoremainstillundercover，therefore，andhewouldgetthem。

Wasthereanyflawinthat？Wouldtheytakeoffmoreremovablepartsoftheflying—machineandthenlieupforhim？No，theywouldn’tdothat，becausetheyweretwotoone;theywouldhavenoapprehensionofhisgettingoffintheflying—machine，andnosoundreasonforsupposinghewouldapproachit，andsotheywoulddonothingtodamageordisableit。Thathedecidedwasclear。Butsupposetheylayupforhimbythefood。Well，thattheywouldn’tdo，becausetheywouldknowhehadthiscornedbeef;therewasenoughinthiscantolast，withmoderation，severaldays。Ofcoursetheymighttrytotirehimoutinsteadofattackinghim——

Herousedhimselfwithastart。Hehadjustgraspedtherealweaknessofhisposition。Hemightgotosleep！

Itneededbuttenminutesunderthesuggestionofthatidea，beforeherealisedthathewasgoingtosleep！

Herubbedhiseyesandhandledhisgun。HehadneverbeforerealisedtheintenselysoporificeffectoftheAmericansun，oftheAmericanair，thedrowsy，sleep—compellinguproarofNiagara。

Hithertothesethingshadonthewholeseemedstimulating……

Ifhehadnoteatensomuchandeatenitsofast，hewouldnotbesoheavy。Arevegetariansalwaysbright？……

Herousedhimselfwithajerkagain。

Ifhedidn’tdosomething，hewouldfallasleep，andifhefellasleep，itwastentoonetheywouldfindhimsnoring，andfinishhimforthwith。Ifhesatmotionlessandnoiseless，hewouldinevitablysleep。Itwasbetter，hetoldhimself，totakeeventherisksofattackingthanthat。Thissleeptrouble，hefelt，wasgoingtobeathim，mustbeathimintheend。Theywereallright;onecouldsleepandtheothercouldwatch。That，cometothinkofit，waswhattheywouldalwaysdo;onewoulddoanythingtheywanteddone，theotherwouldlieundercovernearathand，readytoshoot。Theymighteventraphimlikethat。Onemightactasadecoy。

Thatsethimthinkingofdecoys。Whatafoolhehadbeentothrowhiscapaway。Itwouldhavebeeninvaluableonastick——

especiallyatnight。

Hefoundhimselfwishingforadrink。Hesettledthatforatimebyputtingapebbleinhismouth。Andthenthesleepcravingreturned。

Itbecamecleartohimhemustattack。Likemanygreatgeneralsbeforehim，hefoundhisbaggage，thatistosayhistinofcornedbeef，aseriousimpedimenttomobility。Atlasthedecidedtoputthebeeflooseinhispocketandabandonthetin。

Itwasnotperhapsanidealarrangement，butonemustmakesacrificeswhenoneiscampaigning。Hecrawledperhapstenyards，andthenforatimethepossibilitiesofthesituationparalysedhim。

Theafternoonwasstill。Theroarofthecataractsimplythrewupthatimmensestillnessinrelief。Hewasdoinghisbesttocontrivethedeathoftwobettermenthanhimself。Alsotheyweredoingtheirbesttocontrivehis。What，behindthissilence，weretheydoing。

Supposehecameuponthemsuddenlyandfired，andmissed？

10

Hecrawled，andhaltedlistening，andcrawledagainuntilnightfall，andnodoubttheGermanAlexanderandhislieutenantdidthesame。AlargescalemapofGoatIslandmarkedwithredandbluelinestoshowthesestrategicmovementswouldnodoubthavedisplayedmuchinterlacing，butasamatteroffactneithersidesawanythingoftheotherthroughoutthatage—longdayoftediousalertness。Bertneverknewhownearhegottothemnorhowfarhekeptfromthem。Nightfoundhimnolongersleepy，butathirst，andneartheAmericanFall。HewasinspiredbytheideathathisantagonistsmightbeinthewreckageoftheHohenzollerncabinsthatwasjammedagainstGreenIsland。Hebecameenterprising，brokefromanyattempttoconcealhimself，andwentacrossthelittlebridgeatthedouble。Hefoundnobody。Itwashisfirstvisittothesehugefragmentsofairships，andforatimeheexploredthemcuriouslyinthedimlight。Hediscoveredtheforwardcabinwasnearlyintact，withitsdoorslantingdownwardandacornerunderwater。Hecreptin，drank，andthenwasstruckbythebrilliantideaofshuttingthedoorandsleepingonit。

Butnowhecouldnotsleepatall。

Henoddedtowardsmorningandwokeuptofinditfullyday。Hebreakfastedoncornedbeefandwater，andsatforalongtimeappreciativeofthesecurityofhisposition。Atlasthebecameenterprisingandbold。Hewould，hedecided，settlethisbusinessforthwith，onewayortheother。Hewastiredofallthiscrawling。Hesetoutinthemorningsunshine，guninhand，scarcelytroublingtowalksoftly。Hewentroundtherefreshmentshedwithoutfindinganyone，andthenthroughthetreestowardstheflying—machine。Hecameuponthebird—facedmansittingonthegroundwithhisbackagainstatree，bentupoverhisfoldedarms，sleeping，hisbandageverymuchoveroneeye。

Bertstoppedabruptlyandstoodperhapsfifteenyardsaway，guninhandready。WherewasthePrince？Then，stickingoutatthesideofthetreebeyond，hesawashoulder。Berttookfivedeliberatepacestotheleft。Thegreatmanbecamevisible，leaningupagainstthetrunk，pistolinonehandandswordintheother，andyawning——yawning。Youcan’tshootayawningmanBertfound。Headvanceduponhisantagonistwithhisgunlevelled，somefoolishfancyof"handsup"inhismind。ThePrincebecameawareofhim，theyawningmouthshutlikeatrapandhestoodstifflyup。Bertstopped，silent。Foramomentthetworegardedoneanother。

HadthePrincebeenawisemanhewould，Isuppose，havedodgedbehindthetree。Instead，hegaveventtoashout，andraisedpistolandsword。Atthat，likeanautomaton，Bertpulledhistrigger。

Itwashisfirstexperienceofanoxygen—containingbullet。A

greatflamespurtedfromthemiddleofthePrince，ablindingflare，andtherecameathudlikethefiringofagun。SomethinghotandwetstruckBert’sface。Thenthroughawhirlofblindingsmokeandsteamhesawlimbsandacollapsing，burstbodyflingthemselvestoearth。

Bertwassoastonishedthathestoodagape，andthebird—facedofficermighthavecuthimtotheearthwithoutastruggle。Butinsteadthebird—facedofficerwasrunningawaythroughtheundergrowth，dodgingashewent。Bertrousedhimselftoabriefineffectualpursuit，buthehadnostomachforfurtherkilling。

Hereturnedtothemangled，scatteredthingthathadsorecentlybeenthegreatPrinceKarlAlbert。Hesurveyedthescorchedandsplashedvegetationaboutit。Hemadesomespeculativeidentifications。Headvancedgingerlyandpickedupthehotrevolver，tofindallitschambersstrainedandburst。Hebecameawareofacheerfulandfriendlypresence。Hewasgreatlyshockedthatonesoyoungshouldseesofrightfulascene。

"’Ere，Kitty，"hesaid，"thisain’tnoplaceforyou。"

Hemadethreestridesacrossthedevastatedarea，capturedthekittenneatly，andwenthiswaytowardstheshed，withherpurringloudlyonhisshoulder。

"YOUdon’tseemtomind，"hesaid。

Foratimehefussedabouttheshed，andatlastdiscoveredtherestoftheprovisionshiddenintheroof。"Seems’ard，"hesaid，asheadministeredasaucerfulofmilk，"whenyougetthreemenina’olelikethis，theycan’tworktogether。But’imand’isprincingwasjestabittoothick！"

"Gaw！"hereflected，sittingonthecounterandeating，"whatathinglifeis！’EreamI;Iseen’ispicture，’eard’isnamesinceIwasakidinfrocks。PrinceKarlAlbert！Andifanyone’adtolemeIwasgoingtoblowlimtosmithereens——there！I

shouldn’t’avebelievedit，Kitty。

"ThatchapatMargitoughtto’avetolemeaboutit。All’etolemewasthatIgotaweakchess。

"Thatotherchap，’eain’tgoingtodomuch。WonderwhatIoughttodoabout’im？"

Hesurveyedthetreeswithakeenblueeyeandfingeredthegunonhisknee。"Idon’tlikethiskilling，Kitty，"hesaid。"It’slikeKurtsaidaboutbeingblooded。Seemstomeyougottobebloodedyoung……IfthatPrince’adcomeuptomeandsaid，’Shake’ands！’I’d’aveshook’ands……Now’ere’sthatotherchap，dodgingabout！’E’sgot’is’ead’urtalready，andthere’ssomethingwrongwithhisleg。Andburns。Golly！itisn’tthreeweeksagoIfirstseteyeson’im，andthen’ewassmartandsetup——’andsfullof’air—brushesandthings，andswearin’atme。A

regulargentleman！Now’e’s’arfwaytoawildman。WhatamItodowith’im？Whatthe’ellamItodowith’im？Ican’tleave’im’avethatflying—machine;that’sabittoogood，andifI

don’tkill’im，’e’lljest’angaboutthisislandandstarve……

"’E’sgotasword，ofcourse"……

Heresumedhisphilosophisingafterhehadlitacigarette。

"War’sasillygaim，Kitty。It’sasillygaim！Wecommonpeople——wewerefools。Wethoughtthosebigpeopleknewwhattheywereupto——andtheydidn’t。Lookatthatchap！’E’adallGermanybe’ind’im，andwhat’as’emadeofit？Smeshin’andblunderin’anddestroyin’，andthere’e’is！Jestamessofbloodandbootsandthings！Jestan’orridsplash！PrinceKarlAlbert！Andallthemen’eledandtheships’e’ad，theairships，andthedragon—fliers——allscatteredlikeapaper—chasebetweenthis’oleandGermany。Andfightin’goingonandburnin’

andkillin’that’estarted，warwithoutendallovertheworld！

"IsupposeIshall’avetokillthatotherchap。IsupposeI

must。Butitain’tatallthesortofjobIfancy，Kitty！"

Foratimehehuntedabouttheislandamidsttheuproarofthewaterfall，lookingforthewoundedofficer，andatlasthestartedhimoutofsomebushesneartheheadofBiddleStairs。

Butashesawthebentandbandagedfigureinlimpingflightbeforehim，hefoundhisCockneysoftnesstoomuchforhimagain;

hecouldneithershootnorpursue。"Icarn’t，"hesaid，"that’sflat。I’aven’tthegutsforit！’E’ll’avetogo。"

Heturnedhisstepstowardstheflying—machine……

Heneversawthebird—facedofficeragain，noranyfurtherevidenceofhispresence。Towardseveninghegrewfearfulofambushesandhuntedvigorouslyforanhourorso，butinvain。

HesleptinagooddefensiblepositionattheextremityoftherockypointthatrunsouttotheCanadianFall，andinthenighthewokeinpanicterrorandfiredhisgun。Butitwasnothing。

Hesleptnomorethatnight。Inthemorninghebecamecuriouslyconcernedforthevanishedman，andhuntedforhimasonemightforanerringbrother。

"IfIknewsomeGerman，"hesaid，"I’d’oller。It’sjestnotknowingGermandoesit。Youcan’texplain’"

Hediscovered，later，tracesofanattempttocrossthegapinthebrokenbridge。Aropewithaboltattachedhadbeenflungacrossandhadcaughtinafenestrationofaprojectingfragmentofrailing。Theendoftheropetrailedintheseethingwatertowardsthefall。

Butthebird—facedofficerwasalreadyrubbingshoulderswithcertaininertmatterthathadoncebeenLieutenantKurtandtheChineseaeronautandadeadcow，andmuchotheruncongenialcompany，inthehugecircleoftheWhirlpooltwoandaquartermilesaway。Neverhadthatgreatgatheringplace，thatincessant，aimless，unprogressivehurryofwasteandbatteredthings，beensocrowdedwithstrangeandmelancholyderelicts。

Roundtheywentandround，andeverydaybroughtitsnewcontributions，lucklessbrutes，shatteredfragmentsofboatandflying—machine，endlesscitizensfromthecitiesupontheshoresofthegreatlakesabove。MuchcamefromCleveland。Itallgatheredhere，andwhirledaboutindefinitely，andoveritallgathereddailyagreaterabundanceofbirds。

CHAPTERX

THEWORLDUNDERTHEWAR

1

BertspenttwomoredaysuponGoatIsland，andfinishedallhisprovisionsexceptthecigarettesandmineralwater，beforehebroughthimselftotrytheAsiaticflying—machine。

Evenatlasthedidnotsomuchgooffuponitasgetcarriedoff。Ithadtakenonlyanhourorsotosubstitutewingstaysfromthesecondflying—machineandtoreplacethenutshehadhimselfremoved。Theenginewasinworkingorder，anddifferedonlyverysimplyandobviouslyfromthatofacontemporarymotor—bicycle。Therestofthetimewastakenupbyavastmusinganddelayingandhesitation。ChieflyhesawhimselfsplashingintotherapidsandwhirlingdownthemtotheFall，clutchinganddrowning，butalsohehadavisionofbeinghopelesslyintheair，goingfastandunabletoground。

Hismindwastooconcentrateduponthebusinessofflyingforhimtothinkverymuchofwhatmighthappentoanindefinite—spiritedCockneywithoutcredentialwhoarrivedonanAsiaticflying—machineamidstthewar—infuriatedpopulationbeyond。

Hestillhadalingeringsolicitudeforthebird—facedofficer。

HehadahauntingfancyhemightbelyingdisabledorbadlysmashedinsomewayinsomenookorcrannyoftheIsland;anditwasonlyafteramostexhaustivesearchthatheabandonedthatdistressingidea。"IfIfound’im，"hereasonedthewhile，"whatcouldIdowiv’im？Youcan’tblowachap’sbrainsoutwhen’e’sdown。AndIdon’see’owelseIcan’elp’im。"

Thenthekittenbotheredhishighlydevelopedsenseofsocialresponsibility。"IfIleave’er，she’llstarve……Oughttocatchmicefor’erself……AREtheremice？……Birds？……She’stooyoung……She’slikeme;she’sabittoocivilised。"

Finallyhestuckherinhissidepocketandshebecamegreatlyinterestedinthememoriesofcornedbeefshefoundthere。Withherinhispocket，heseatedhimselfinthesaddleoftheflying—machine。Big，clumsythingitwas——andnotabitlikeabicycle。Stilltheworkingofitwasfairlyplain。Yousettheenginegoing——SO;kickedyourselfupuntilthewheelwasvertical，SO;engagedthegyroscope，SO，andthen——then——youjustpulledupthislever。

Ratherstiffitwas，butsuddenlyitcameover——

Thebigcurvedwingsoneithersideflappeddisconcertingly，flappedagain’click，clock，click，clock，clitter—clock！

Stop！Thethingwasheadingforthewater;itswheelwasinthewater。Bertgroanedfromhisheartandstruggledtorestorethelevertoitsfirstposition。Click，clock，clitter—clock，hewasising！Themachinewasliftingitsdrippingwheeloutoftheeddies，andhewasgoingup！Therewasnostoppingnow，nogoodinstoppingnow。InanothermomentBert，clutchingandconvulsiveandrigid，withstaringeyesandafacepaleasdeath，wasflappingupabovetheRapids，jerkingtoeveryjerkofthewings，andrising，rising。

Therewasnocomparisonindignityandcomfortbetweenaflying—machineandaballoon。Exceptinitsmomentsofdescent，theballoonwasavehicleoffaultlessurbanity;thiswasabuck—

—jumpingmule，amulethatjumpedupandnevercamedownagain。