第17章

Click，clock，click，clock;witheachbeatofthestrangelyshapedwingsitjumpedBertupwardandcaughthimneatlyagainhalfasecondlateronthesaddle。Andwhileinballooningthereisnowind，sincetheballoonisapartofthewind，flyingisawildperpetualcreationofandplungingintowind。Itwasawindthataboveallthingssoughttoblindhim，toforcehimtoclosehiseyes。Itoccurredtohimpresentlytotwisthiskneesand。

legsinwardandgripwiththem，orsurelyhewouldhavebeenbumpedintotwoclumsyhalves。Andhewasgoingup，ahundredyardshigh，twohundred，threehundred，overthestreaming，frothingwildernessofwaterbelow——up，up，up。Thatwasallright，buthowpresentlywouldonegohorizontally？Hetriedtothinkifthesethingsdidgohorizontally。No！Theyflappedupandthentheysoareddown。Foratimehewouldkeeponflappingup。Tearsstreamedfromhiseyes。Hewipedthemwithonetemerariouslydisengagedhand。

Wasitbettertoriskafalloverlandoroverwater——suchwater？

HewasflappingupabovetheUpperRapidstowardsBuffalo。ItwasatanyrateacomfortthattheFallsandthewildswirlofwatersbelowthemwerebehindhim。Hewasflyingupstraight。

Thathecouldsee。Howdidoneturn？

Hewaspresentlyalmostcool，andhiseyesgotmoreusedtotherushofair，buthewasgettingveryhigh，veryhigh。Hetiltedhisheadforwardsandsurveyedthecountry，blinking。HecouldseealloverBuffalo，aplacewiththreegreatblackenedscarsofruin，andhillsandstretchesbeyond。Hewonderedifhewashalfamilehigh，ormore。ThereweresomepeopleamongsomehousesneararailwaystationbetweenNiagaraandBuffalo，andthenmorepeople。Theywentlikeantsbusilyinandoutofthehouses。HesawtwomotorcarsglidingalongtheroadtowardsNiagaracity。

ThenfarawayinthesouthhesawagreatAsiaticairshipgoingeastward。"Oh，Gord！"hesaid，andbecameearnestinhisineffectualattemptstoalterhisdirection。Butthatairshiptooknonoticeofhim，andhecontinuedtoascendconvulsively。

Theworldgotmoreandmoreextensiveandmaplike。Click，clock，clitter—clock。Abovehimandveryneartohimnowwasahazystratumofcloud。

Hedeterminedtodisengagethewingclutch。Hedidso。Theleverresistedhisstrengthforatime，thenoveritcame，andinstantlythetailofthemachinecockedupandthewingsbecamerigidlyspread。Instantlyeverythingwasswiftandsmoothandsilent。Hewasglidingrapidlydowntheairagainstawildgaleofwind，hiseyesthree—quartersshut。

Alittleleverthathadhithertobeenobduratenowconfesseditselfmobile。Heturneditovergentlytotheright，andwhiroo！——theleftwinghadinsomemysteriouswaygivenatitsedgeandhewassweepingroundanddownwardinanimmenseright—handedspiral。Forsomemomentsheexperiencedallthehelplesssensationsofcatastrophe。Herestoredthelevertoitsmiddlepositionwithsomedifficulty，andthewingswereequalisedagain。

Heturnedittotheleftandhadasensationofbeingspunroundbackwards。"Toomuch！"hegasped。

Hediscoveredthathewasrushingdownataheadlongpacetowardsarailwaylineandsomefactorybuildings。Theyappearedtobetearinguptohimtodevourhim。Hemusthavedroppedallthatheight。Foramomenthehadtheineffectualsensationsofonewhosebicycleboltsdownhill。Thegroundhadalmosttakenhimbysurprise。"’Ere！"hecried;andthenwithaviolenteffortofallhisbeinghegotthebeatingengineatworkagainandsetthewingsflapping。Heswoopeddownandupandresumedhisquiveringandpulsatingascentoftheair。

Hewenthighagain，untilhehadawideviewofthepleasantuplandcountryofwesternNewYorkState，andthenmadealongcoastdown，andsoupagain，andthenacoast。Thenashecameswoopingaquarterofamileaboveavillagehesawpeoplerunningabout，runningaway——evidentlyinrelationtohishawk—likepassage。Hegotanideathathehadbeenshotat。

"Up！"hesaid，andattackedthatleveragain。Itcameoverwithremarkabledocility，andsuddenlythewingsseemedtogivewayinthemiddle。Buttheenginewasstill！Ithadstopped。Heflungtheleverbackratherbyinstinctthandesign。Whattodo？

Muchhappenedinafewseconds，butalsohismindwasquick，hethoughtveryquickly。Hecouldn’tgetupagain，hewasglidingdowntheair;hewouldhavetohitsomething。

Hewastravellingattherateofperhapsthirtymilesanhourdown，down。

Thatplantationoflarcheslookedthesoftestthing——mossyalmost！

Couldhegetit？Hegavehimselftothesteering。Roundtotheright——left！

Swirroo！Crackle！Hewasglidingoverthetopsofthetrees，ploughingthroughthem，tumblingintoacloudofgreensharpleavesandblacktwigs。Therewasasuddensnapping，andhefelloffthesaddleforward，athudandacrashingofbranches。Sometwigshithimsmartlyintheface……

Hewasbetweenatree—stemandthesaddle，withhislegoverthesteeringleverand，sofarashecouldrealise，nothurt。Hetriedtoalterhispositionandfreehisleg，andfoundhimselfslippinganddroppingthroughbrancheswitheverythinggivingwaybeneathhim。Heclutchedandfoundhimselfinthelowerbranchesofatreebeneaththeflying—machine。Theairwasfullofapleasantresinoussmell。Hestaredforamomentmotionless，andthenverycarefullyclambereddownbranchbybranchtothesoftneedle—coveredgroundbelow。

"Goodbusiness，"hesaid，lookingupatthebentandtiltedkite—wingsabove。

"Idroppedsoft！"

Herubbedhischinwithhishandandmeditated。"BlowedifI

don’tthinkI’maratherluckyfellow！"hesaid，surveyingthepleasantsun—bespatteredgroundunderthetrees。Thenhebecameawareofaviolenttumultathisside。"Lord！"hesaid，"Youmustbe’arfsmothered，"andextractedthekittenfromhispocket—handkerchiefandpocket。Shewastwistedandcrumpledandextremelygladtoseethelightagain。Herlittletonguepeepedbetweenherteeth。Heputherdown，andsheranadozenpacesandshookherselfandstretchedandsatupandbegantowash。

"Nex’？"hesaid，lookingabouthim，andthenwithagestureofvexation，"Deshit！Ioughtto’avebroughtthatgun！"

Hehadresteditagainstatreewhenhehadseatedhimselfintheflying—machinesaddle。

Hewaspuzzledforatimebytheimmensepeacefulnessinthequalityoftheworld，andthenheperceivedthattheroarofthecataractwasnolongerinhisears。

2

Hehadnoveryclearideaofwhatsortofpeoplehemightcomeuponinthiscountry。Itwas，heknew，America。Americanshehadalwaysunderstoodwerethecitizensofagreatandpowerfulnation，dryandhumorousintheirmanner，addictedtotheuseofthebowie—knifeandrevolver，andinthehabitoftalkingthroughthenoselikeNorfolkshire，andsaying"allow"and"reckon"and"calculate，"afterthemannerofthepeoplewholiveontheNewForestsideofHampshire。Alsotheywereveryrich，hadrocking—chairs，andputtheirfeetatunusualaltitudes，andtheychewedtobacco，gum，andothersubstances，withuntiringindustry。Commingledwiththemwerecowboys，RedIndians，andcomic，respectfulniggers。Thishehadlearntfromthefictioninhispubliclibrary。Beyondthathehadlearntverylittle。

Hewasnotsurprisedthereforewhenhemetarmedmen。

Hedecidedtoabandontheshatteredflying—machine。Hewanderedthroughthetreesforsometime，andthenstruckaroadthatseemedtohisurbanEnglisheyestoberemarkablywidebutnotproperly"made。"Neitherhedgenorditchnorcurbeddistinctivefootpathseparateditfromthewoods，anditwentinthatlongeasycurvewhichdistinguishesthetracksofanopencontinent。

Aheadhesawamancarryingagununderhisarm，amaninasoftblackhat，ablueblouse，andblacktrousers，andwithabroadround—fatfacequiteinnocentofgoatee。Thispersonregardedhimaskanceandheardhimspeakwithastart。

"CanyoutellmewhereaboutsIamatall？"askedBert。

Themanregardedhim，andmoreparticularlyhisrubberboots，withsinistersuspicion。Thenherepliedinastrangeoutlandishtonguethatwas，asamatteroffact，Czech。HeendedsuddenlyatthesightofBert’sblankfacewith"Don’tspikEnglish。"

"Oh！"saidBert。Hereflectedgravelyforamoment，andthenwenthisway。

"Thenks，"he，saidasanafterthought。Themanregardedhisbackforamoment，wasstruckwithanidea，begananabortivegesture，sighed，gaveitup，andwentonalsowithadepressedcountenance。

PresentlyBertcametoabigwoodenhousestandingcasuallyamongthetrees。Itlookedableak，bareboxofahousetohim，nocreepergrewonit，nohedgenorwallnorfenceparteditofffromthewoodsaboutit。Hestoppedbeforethestepsthatleduptothedoor，perhapsthirtyyardsaway。Theplaceseemeddeserted。Hewouldhavegoneuptothedoorandrapped，butsuddenlyabigblackdogappearedatthesideandregardedhim。

Itwasahugeheavy—jaweddogofsomeunfamiliarbreed，andit，woreaspike—studdedcollar。Itdidnotbarknorapproachhim，itjustbristledquietlyandemittedasinglesoundlikeashort，deepcough。

Berthesitatedandwenton。

Hestoppedthirtypacesawayandstoodpeeringabouthimamongthetrees。"IfI’aven’tbeenandlef’thatkitten，"hesaid。

Acutesorrowwrenchedhimforatime。Theblackdogcamethroughthetreestogetabetterlookathimandcoughedthatwell—bredcoughagain。Bertresumedtheroad。

"She’lldoallright，"hesaid……"She’llcatchthings。

"She’lldoallright，"hesaidpresently，withoutconviction。

Butifithadnotbeenfortheblackdog，hewouldhavegoneback。

Whenhewasoutofsightofthehouseandtheblackdog，hewentintothewoodsontheothersideofthewayandemergedafteranintervaltrimmingaverytolerablecudgelwithhispocket—knife。

Presentlyhesawanattractive—lookingrockbythetrackandpickeditupandputitinhispocket。Thenhecametothreeorfourhouses，woodenlikethelast，eachwithanill—paintedwhiteverandah（thatwashisnameforit）andallstandinginthesamecasualwayupontheground。Behind，throughthewoods，hesawpig—stysandarootingblacksowleadingabrisk，adventurousfamily。Awild—lookingwomanwithsloe—blackeyesanddishevelledblackhairsatuponthestepsofoneofthehousesnursingababy，butatthesightofBertshegotupandwentinside，andheheardherboltingthedoor。Thenaboyappearedamongthepig—stys，buthewouldnotunderstandBert’shail。

"IsupposeitisAmerica！"saidBert。

Thehousesbecamemorefrequentdowntheroad，andhepassedtwootherextremelywildanddirty—lookingmenwithoutaddressingthem。Onecarriedagunandtheotherahatchet，andtheyscrutinisedhimandhiscudgelscornfully。Thenhestruckacross—roadwithamono—railatitsside，andtherewasanoticeboardatthecomerwith"Waithereforthecars。""That’sallright，any’ow，"saidBert。"Wonder’owlongIshould’avetowait？"Itoccurredtohimthatinthepresentdisturbedstateofthecountrytheservicemightbeinterrupted，andasthereseemedmorehousestotherightthantheleftheturnedtotheright。

Hepassedanoldnegro。"’Ullo！"saidBert。"Goo’morning！"

"Goodday，sah！"saidtheoldnegro，inavoiceofalmostincrediblerichness。

"What’sthenameofthisplace？"askedBert。

"Tanooda，sah！"saidthenegro。

"Thenks！"saidBert。

"ThankYOU，sah！"saidthenegro，overwhelmingly。

Bertcametohousesofthesamedetached，unwalled，woodentype，butadornednowwithenamelledadvertisementspartlyinEnglishandpartlyinEsperanto。Thenhecametowhatheconcludedwasagrocer’sshop。Itwasthefirsthousethatprofessedthehospitalityofanopendoor，andfromwithincameastrangelyfamiliarsound。"Gaw！"hesaidsearchinginhispockets。"Why！

I’aven’twantedmoneyforfreeweeks！IwonderifI——Grubb’admostofit。Ah！"Heproducedahandfulofcoinsandregardedit;threepennies，sixpence，andashilling。"That’sallright，"

hesaid，forgettingaveryobviousconsideration。

Heapproachedthedoor，andashedidsoacompactlybuilt，grey—facedmaninshirtsleevesappearedinitandscrutinisedhimandhiscudgel。"Mornin’，"saidBert。"CanIgetanythingtoeat’rdrinkinthisshop？"

Themaninthedoorreplied，thankHeaven，inclear，goodAmerican。"This，sir，isnotAshop，itisAstore。"

"Oh！"saidBert，andthen，"Well，canIgetanythingtoeat？"

"Youcan，"saidtheAmericaninatoneofconfidentencouragement，andledthewayinside。

TheshopseemedtohimbyhisBunHillstandardsextremelyroomy，welllit，andunencumbered。Therewasalongcountertotheleftofhim，withdrawersandmiscellaneouscommoditiesrangedbehindit，anumberofchairs，severaltables，andtwospittoonstotheright，variousbarrels，cheeses，andbaconupthevista，andbeyond，alargearchwayleadingtomorespace。Alittlegroupofmenwasassembledroundoneofthetables，andawomanofperhapsfive—and—thirtyleantwithherelbowsonthecounter。Allthemenwerearmedwithrifles，andthebarrelofagunpeepedabovethecounter。Theywerealllisteningidly，inattentively，toacheap，metallic—tonedgramophonethatoccupiedatablenearathand。FromitsbrazenthroatcamewordsthatgaveBertaqualmofhomesickness，thatbroughtbackinhismemoryasunlitbeach，agroupofchildren，red—paintedbicycles，Grubb，andanapproachingballoon:——

"Ting—a—ling—a—ting—a—ling—a—ting—aling—a—tang……

WhatPriceHair—pinsNow？"

Aheavy—neckedmaninastrawhat，whowaschewingsomething，stoppedthemachinewithatouch，andtheyall，turnedtheireyesonBert。Andalltheireyesweretiredeyes。

"Canwegivethisgentlemananythingtoeat，mother，orcanwenot？"saidtheproprietor。

"Hekinhavewhathelikes？"saidthewomanatthecounter，withoutmoving，"rightupfromacrackertoasquaremeal。"Shestruggledwithayawn，afterthemannerofonewhohasbeenupallnight。

"Iwantameal，"saidBert，"butI’aven’tverymuchmoney。I

don’wanttogivemor’nashillin’。"

"Mor’naWHAT？"saidtheproprietor，sharply。

"Mor’nashillin’，"saidBert，withasuddendisagreeablerealisationcomingintohismind。

"Yes，"saidtheproprietor，startledforamomentfromhiscourtlybearing。"Butwhatinhellisashilling？"

"Hemeansaquarter，"saidawise—looking，lankyoungmaninridinggaiters。

Bert，tryingtoconcealhisconsternation，producedacoin。

"That’sashilling，"hesaid。

"HecallsAstoreAshop，"saidtheproprietor，"andhewantsA

mealforAshilling。MayIaskyou，sir，whatpartofAmericayouhailfrom？"

Bertreplacedtheshilling，inhispocketashespoke，"Niagara，"

hesaid。

"AndwhendidyouleaveNiagara？"

"’Boutanhourago。"

"Well，"saidtheproprietor，andturnedwithapuzzledsmiletotheothers。"Well！"

Theyaskedvariousquestionssimultaneously。

Bertselectedoneortwoforreply。"Yousee，"hesaid，"IbeenwiththeGermanair—fleet。Igotcaughtupbythem，sortofbyaccident，andbroughtoverhere。"

"FromEngland？"

"Yes——fromEngland。WayofGermany。IwasinagreatbattlewiththemAsiatics，andIgotlef’onalittleislandbetweentheFalls。"

"GoatIsland？"

"Idon’knowwhatitwascalled。Butany’owIfoundaflying—machineandmadeasortofflywithitandgothere。"

Twomenstoodupwithincredulouseyesonhim。"Where’stheflying—machine？"theyasked;"outside？"

"It’sbackinthewoodshere——’boutarfamileaway。"

"Isitgood？"saidathick—lippedmanwithascar。

"Icomedownratherasmash——。"

Everybodygotupandstoodabouthimandtalkedconfusingly。

Theywantedhimtotakethemtotheflying—machineatonce。

"Look’ere，"saidBert，"I’llshowyou——onlyI’aven’t’adanythingtoeatsinceyestiday——exceptmineralwater。"

Agauntsoldierly—lookingyoungmanwithlongleanlegsinridinggaitersandabandolier，whohadhithertonotspoken，intervenednowonhisbehalfinanoteofconfidentauthority。"That’sawright，"hesaid。"Givehimafeed，Mr。Logan——fromme。I

wanttohearmoreofthatstoryofhis。We’llseehismachineafterwards。Ifyouaskme，Ishouldsayit’saremarkablyinterestingaccidenthaddroppedthisgentlemanhere。Iguesswerequisitionthatflying—machine——ifwefindit——，forlocaldefence。"

3

SoBertfellonhisfeetagain，andsateatingcoldmeatandgoodbreadandmustardanddrinkingverygoodbeer，andtellingintheroughestoutlineandwiththeomissionsandinaccuraciesofstatementnaturaltohistypeofmind，thesimplestoryofhisadventures。Hetoldhowheanda"gentlemanfriend"hadbeenvisitingtheseasidefortheirhealth，howa"chep"camealonginaballoonandfelloutashefellin，howhehaddriftedtoFranconia，howtheGermanshadseemedtomistakehimforsomeoneandhad"tookhimprisoner"andbroughthimtoNewYork，howhehadbeentoLabradorandback，howhehadgottoGoatIslandandfoundhimselftherealone。HeomittedthematterofthePrinceandtheButteridgeaspectoftheaffair，notoutofanydeepdeceitfulness，butbecausehefelttheinadequacyofhisnarrativepowers。Hewantedeverythingtoseemeasyandnaturalandcorrect，topresenthimselfasatrustworthyandunderstandableEnglishmaninasoundmediocreposition，towhomrefreshmentandaccommodationmightbegivenwithfreedomandconfidence。

WhenhisfragmentarystorycametoNewYorkandthebattleofNiagara，theysuddenlyproducednewspaperswhichhadbeenlyingaboutonthetable，andbegantocheckhimandquestionhimbythesevehementaccounts。Itbecameevidenttohimthathisdescenthadrevivedandrousedtoflamesagainadiscussion，atopic，thathadbeenburningcontinuously，thathadsmoulderedonlythroughsheerexhaustionofmaterialduringthetemporarydiversionofthegramophone，adiscussionthathaddrawnthesementogether，rifleinhand，theonesupremetopicofthewholeworld，theWarandthemethodsoftheWar。Hefoundanyquestionofhispersonalityandhispersonaladventuresfallingintothebackground，foundhimselftakenforgranted，andnomorethanasourceofinformation。Theordinaryaffairsoflife，thebuyingandsellingofeverydaynecessities，thecultivationoftheground，thetendingofbeasts，wasgoingonasitwerebyforceofroutine，asthecommondutiesoflifegooninahousewhosemasterliesundertheknifeofsomesupremeoperation。TheoverrulinginterestwasfurnishedbythosegreatAsiaticairshipsthatwentuponincalculablemissionsacrossthesky，thecrimson—cladswordsmenwhomightcomeflutteringdowndemandingpetrol，orfood，ornews。Thesemenwereasking，allthecontinentwasasking，"Whatarewetodo？Whatcanwetry？Howcanwegetatthem？"Bertfellintohisplaceasanitem，ceasedeveninhisownthoughtstobeacentralandindependentthing。

Afterhehadeatenanddrunkenhisfillandsighedandstretchedandtoldthemhowgoodthefoodseemedtohim，helitacigarettetheygavehimandledtheway，withsomedoubtsandtrouble，totheflying—machineamidstthelarches。Itbecamemanifestthatthegauntyoungman，whosename，itseemed，wasLaurier，wasaleaderbothbypositionandnaturalaptitude。Heknewthenamesandcharactersandcapabilitiesofallthemenwhowerewithhim，andhesetthemtoworkatoncewithvigourandeffecttosecurethispreciousinstrumentofwar。Theygotthethingdowntothegrounddeliberatelyandcarefully，fellingacoupleoftreesintheprocess，andtheybuiltawideflatroofoftimbersandtreeboughstoguardtheirpreciousfindagainstitschancediscoverybyanypassingAsiatics。Longbeforeeveningtheyhadanengineerfromthenexttownshipatworkuponit，andtheywerecastinglotsamongtheseventeenpickedmenwhowantedtotakeitforitsfirstflight。AndBertfoundhiskittenandcarrieditbacktoLogan’sstoreandhandeditwithearnestadmonitiontoMrs。Logan。AnditwasreassuringlycleartohimthatinMrs。

Loganbothheandthekittenhadfoundacongenialsoul。

Laurierwasnotonlyamasterfulpersonandawealthypropertyownerandemployer——hewaspresident，Bertlearntwithawe，oftheTanoodaCanningCorporation——buthewaspopularandskilfulintheartsofpopularity。Intheeveningquiteacrowdofmengatheredinthestoreandtalkedoftheflying—machineandofthewarthatwastearingtheworldtopieces。Andpresentlycameamanonabicyclewithanill—printednewspaperofasinglesheetwhichactedlikefuelinablazingfurnaceoftalk。ItwasnearlyallAmericannews;theold—fashionedcableshadfallenintodisuseforsomeyears，andtheMarconistationsacrosstheoceanandalongtheAtlanticcoastlineseemedtohavefurnishedparticularlytemptingpointsofattack。

Butsuchnewsitwas。

Bertsatinthebackground——forbythistimetheyhadgaugedhispersonalqualityprettycompletely——listening。Beforehisstaggeringmindpassedstrangevastimagesastheytalked，ofgreatissuesatacrisis，ofnationsintumultuousmarch，ofcontinentsoverthrown，offamineanddestructionbeyondmeasure。

Everandagain，inspiteofhiseffortstosuppressthem，certainpersonalimpressionswouldscamperacrossthewelteringconfusion，thehorriblemessoftheexplodedPrince，theChineseaeronautupsidedown，thelimpingandbandagedbird—facedofficerblunderingalonginmiserableandhopelessflight……

Theyspokeoffireandmassacre，ofcrueltiesandcountercruelties，ofthingsthathadbeendonetoharmlessAsiaticsbyrace—madmen，ofthewholesaleburningandsmashingupoftowns，railwayjunctions，bridges，ofwholepopulationsinhidingandexodus。"Everyshipthey’vegotisinthePacific，"heheardonemanexclaim。"Sincethefightingbegantheycan’thavelandedonthePacificslopelessthanamillionmen。They’vecometostayintheseStates，andtheywill——livingordead。"

Slowly，broadly，invincibly，theregrewuponBert’smindrealisationoftheimmensetragedyofhumanityintowhichhislifewasflowing;theappallinganduniversalnatureoftheepochthathadarrived;theconceptionofanendtosecurityandorderandhabit。Thewholeworldwasatwaranditcouldnotgetbacktopeace，itmightneverrecoverpeace。

Hehadthoughtthethingshehadseenhadbeenexceptional，conclusivethings，thatthebesiegingofNewYorkandthebattleoftheAtlanticwereepoch—makingeventsbetweenlongyearsofsecurity。Andtheyhadbeenbutthefirstwarningimpactsofuniversalcataclysm。Eachdaydestructionandhateanddisastergrew，thefissureswidenedbetweenmanandman，newregionsofthefabricofcivilisationcrumbledandgaveway。Below，thearmiesgrewandthepeopleperished;above，theairshipsandaeroplanesfoughtandfled，rainingdestruction。

Itisdifficultperhapsforthebroad—mindedandlong—perspectivedreadertounderstandhowincrediblethebreakingdownofthescientificcivilisationseemedtothose，whoactuallylivedatthistime，whointheirownpersonswentdowninthatdebacle。Progresshadmarchedasitseemedinvincibleabouttheearth，nevernowtorestagain。ForthreehundredyearsandmorethelongsteadilyaccelerateddiastoleofEuropeanisedcivilisationhadbeeninprogress:townshadbeenmultiplying，populationsincreasing，valuesrising，newcountriesdeveloping;thought，literature，knowledgeunfoldingandspreading。Itseemedbutapartoftheprocessthateveryyeartheinstrumentsofwarwerevasterandmorepowerful，andthatarmiesandexplosivesoutgrewallothergrowingthings……

Threehundredyearsofdiastole，andthencametheswiftandunexpectedsystole，liketheclosingofafist。Theycouldnotunderstanditwassystole。

Theycouldnotthinkofitasanythingbutajolt，ahitch，amereoscillatoryindicationoftheswiftnessoftheirprogress。

Collapse，thoughithappenedallaboutthem，remainedincredible。Presentlysomefallingmasssmotethemdown，orthegroundopenedbeneaththeirfeet。Theydiedincredulous……

Thesemeninthestoremadeaminute，remotegroupunderthisimmensecanopyofdisaster。Theyturnedfromonelittleaspecttoanother。WhatchieflyconcernedthemwasdefenceagainstAsiaticraidersswoopingforpetrolortodestroyweaponsorcommunications。Everywherelevieswerebeingformedatthattimetodefendtheplantoftherailroadsdayandnightinthehopethatcommunicationwouldspeedilyberestored。Thelandwarwasstillfaraway。Amanwithaflatvoicedistinguishedhimselfbyadisplayofknowledgeandcunning。HetoldthemallwithconfidencejustwhathadbeenwrongwiththeGermandrachenfliegerandtheAmericanaeroplanes，justwhatadvantagetheJapaneseflyerspossessed。HelaunchedoutintoaromanticdescriptionoftheButteridgemachineandrivetedBert’sattention。"ISEEthat，"saidBert，andwassmittensilentbyathought。Themanwiththeflatvoicetalkedon，withoutheedinghim，ofthestrangeironyofButteridge’sdeath。AtthatBerthadalittletwingeofrelief——hewouldnevermeetButteridgeagain。ItappearedButteridgehaddiedsuddenly，verysuddenly。

"Andhissecret，sir，perishedwithhim！Whentheycametolookfortheparts——nonecouldfindthem。Hehadhiddenthemalltoowell。"

"Butcouldn’thetell？"askedthemaninthestrawhat。"Didhediesosuddenlyasthat？"

"Struckdown，sir。Rageandapoplexy。AtaplacecalledDymchurchinEngland。"

"That’sright，saidLaurier。"IrememberapageaboutitintheSundayAmerican。AtthetimetheysaiditwasaGermanspyhadstolenhisballoon。"

"Well，sir，"saidtheflat—voicedman，"thatfitofapoplexyatDyrnchurchwastheworstthing——absolutelytheworstthingthateverhappenedtotheworld。ForifithadnotbeenforthedeathofMr。Butteridge——"

"Nooneknowshissecret？"

"Notasoul。It’sgone。Hisballoon，itappears，waslostatsea，withalltheplans。Downitwent，andtheywentwithit。"

Pause。

"WithmachinessuchashemadewecouldfighttheseAsiaticfliersonmorethanequalterms。Wecouldoutflyandbeatdownthosescarlethumming—birdswherevertheyappeared。Butit’sgone，it’sgone，andthere’snotimetoreinventitnow。Wegottofightwithwhatwegot——andtheoddsareagainstus。THAT

won’tstopusfightin’。No！butjustthinkofit！"

Bertwastremblingviolently。Heclearedhisthroathoarsely。

"Isay，"hesaid，"lookhere，I——"

Nobodyregardedhim。Themanwiththeflatvoicewasopeninganewbranchofthesubject。

"Iallow——"hebegan。

Bertbecameviolentlyexcited。Hestoodup。